Home | About | News | Publications | Employment | Contact

ECFMG Home > Acculturation > IHCT > Team Members > Registered Dietitian

• Acculturation Program
• Goal & Objectives
• IMG Advisors Network (IAN)
• Interdisciplinary Health Care Team (IHCT)
• From the Director of ECFMG’s Acculturation Program
• Team Members
• Consultants
• Directory of Contributors
• ACGME Core Competencies
• One Dozen Things
• “Medicalese” Glossary
• Downloads

Interdisciplinary Health Care Team

Team Members - Registered Dietitian

Who is a Registered Dietitian?

A Registered Dietitian is a food and nutrition expert who has met the minimum academic and professional requirements to qualify for the RD credential. In addition to RD credentialing, many states have regulatory laws for dietitians and nutrition practitioners. State requirements frequently are met through the same education and training required to obtain the RD credential.

What does a Registered Dietitian do?

The majority of Registered Dietitians work in the treatment and prevention of disease by administering medical nutrition therapy in hospitals, HMOs, private practice, or other health care facilities. In addition, a large number of Registered Dietitians work in community and public health settings, academia, and research. A growing number of Registered Dietitians work in the food and nutrition industry, in business, journalism, sports nutrition, corporate wellness programs, and other non-traditional work settings.

What education, training, and experience must one have to function as a Registered Dietitian?

Students wishing to become Registered Dietitians study such subjects as food and nutrition sciences, food service systems management, business, economics, computer science, culinary arts, sociology, communications, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, anatomy, and chemistry. Registered Dietitians must meet the following criteria to earn the RD credential:

• receive a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. university or college, including course work approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association
• complete a CADE-accredited supervised practice program at a health care facility, community agency or food service corporation, or some combination of undergraduate or graduate studies. Typically, the practice program is six to 12 months in length.
• pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for the American Dietetic Association and other medical and nutrition organizations.

Registered Dietitians must also complete continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

Some Registered Dietitians hold additional certifications in specialized areas of practice, such as pediatric or renal nutrition, nutrition support, or diabetes education. These certifications are awarded through the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Though recognized within the profession, these certifications are not required.

How and by whom is a Registered Dietitian supervised?

Supervision differs depending upon the Registered Dietitian’s practice location. Many Registered Dietitians are self-employed in private practice, while others work alongside a health care team in a hospital or other health care facility.

What are the typical day-to-day activities of a Registered Dietitian?

The duties of Registered Dietitians vary from office to office, depending upon where they are employed. (See “What types of patients would benefit from the care of a Registered Dietitian?” below)

Must a Registered Dietitian be licensed or certified to function in his or her role as part of the health care team?

To maintain registered status, Registered Dietitians must participate in the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s mandatory Professional Development Portfolio recertification system and remit an annual registration maintenance fee. The Commission on Dietetic Registration protects the public through credentialing of dietetics practitioners. Registration is mandatory for Dietitians.

Each state differs in its provisions regarding professional regulation of Dietitians and/or Nutritionists.

What types of patients would benefit from the care of a Registered Dietitian?

Since Registered Dietitians have a variety of areas of expertise, a broad range of patients could benefit from their care:

• patients who have diabetes, cardiovascular problems or high blood pressure. A Registered Dietitian serves as an integral part of the health care team by helping safely change eating plans without compromising taste or nutrition.
• patients who are thinking of having or have had gastric bypass surgery. A Registered Dietitian will help these patients learn to eat again. Since their stomachs can only manage small servings, it’s a challenge to get the right amount of nutrients. A Registered Dietitian will work with the patient and the physician to develop an eating plan for the patient’s new needs.
• patients who have digestive problems. A Registered Dietitian will work with physicians to help fine-tune the patient’s diet to avoid aggravating the condition with fried foods, too much caffeine, or carbonation.
• patients who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. A Registered Dietitian can help make sure these patients get enough nutrients like folate, especially during the first three months of pregnancy.
• patients who are breastfeeding. A Registered Dietitian can help make sure these patients ingest enough iron, vitamin D, fluoride, and B vitamins for the health of mother and child.
• teenagers who have issues with food and eating healthfully. A Registered Dietitian can assist with eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and overweight issues.
• patients who need to gain or lose weight. A Registered Dietitian can suggest additional calorie sources for healthy weight gain or a restricted-calorie eating plan plus regular physical activity for weight loss.
• family members caring for an aging parent. A Registered Dietitian can help with food or drug interaction, proper hydration, and special diets for hypertension.

How and when does a Registered Dietitian become involved in the care of a particular patient?

In a hospital setting, a Registered Dietitian is a part of the health care team and can work with other health care providers to care for a patient. Often, patients are referred by their doctors to a Registered Dietitian for care. Also, patients may seek out a Registered Dietitian directly for consultation on their diets.

[last update: April 15, 2009]