Shannan Carter Nutrition

05/05/2025

03/13/2025

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts with a minimum of a graduate degree from an accredited dietetics program and who completed a supervised practice requirement, passed a national exam and continue professional development throughout their careers. There also are specialty credentials in areas of gerontological nutrition (CSG), sports dietetics (CSSD), pediatric nutrition (CSP), renal nutrition (CSR) and oncology nutrition (CSO). Board-certified specialists are credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In addition to RDN credentialing, many states have regulatory laws for dietitians and nutrition practitioners.

"Registered dietitian nutritionist" are legally protected titles. Only practitioners who have completed specific educational requirements, passed a national exam and continue learning through ongoing education can use these titles and credentials.
However, there is no specific, standardized meaning for "nutritionist." Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, and unfortunately, unqualified health care recommendations can cause people serious harm. So whether someone calls themselves "dietitian" or "nutritionist," check for credentials to ensure they are qualified nutrition experts with an “RD” after their name.

03/13/2024

As the nation's largest food and nutrition experts, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) are committed to improving the health of their patients, clients and communities. Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day and National Nutrition Month® promote the Academy and RDNs to the public and the media as the most valuable and credible source of timely, scientifically-based food and nutrition information.

The Academy's mission is to accelerate improvements in global health and well-being through food and nutrition. With more than 112,000 credentialed practitioners, the Academy is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists are the food and nutrition experts who can translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living.

Between what you hear on TV and read in the news, eating well can seem like a real challenge. But it doesn't have to be. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist(RD or RDN) will partner with you to develop a safe and realistic eating plan that you can stick with for the long haul. To guide and motivate you, an RDN will use creative and out-of-the-box strategies to help with meal planning, grocery shopping and mindful eating.

RDN’s are the only qualified medical professionals to perform Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). Its a scientific process that requires the ability to understand clinical data, apply research to practice and customize recommendations to meet an individual's unique needs.

Only a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist has completed multiple layers of education and training established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. All RDNs must:

Obtain a minimum of a graduate degree, which includes a specially designed, accredited nutrition curriculum.
Complete an extensive residency supervised program of practice at a hospital.
Pass a rigorous national registration board exam.
Maintain continuing education credits throughout their career.

As the only health care providers who extensively study food science along with evidence-based nutrition guidelines, RDNs understand the subtle differences in how foods are digested and the benefits that nourishing foods have on the body.
What's more, many RDNs have certifications in specialized fields, such as sports, pediatric, renal, oncology or gerontological nutrition.

Every Registered Dietitian is a Nutritionist, but every Nutritionist is not an RDN.