Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions for students interested in a career in dietetics (along with links for the answers!!)

1.  Is dietetics the right career for me?

	Find out now! Clicking this link will direct you to the ADA website.

2.  What are the educational pathways I can take to become a registered dietitian (RD) or dietetic technician registered (DTR)?

	RD's Clicking on either of these links will direct you to the ADA website.
	DTR's

3.  What educational programs are available across the country?

	See ADA's list of programs Clicking this link will direct you to the ADA website.

4.  What benefits can students receive by joining ADA?

	Click to find out! Clicking on this link will direct you to the ADA website.

5.  How can I increase my chances of acceptance into a Dietetic Internship Program?

• Work hard at maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0; the higher the better. This is often used as a screening tool. • Acquire work experience in foodservice settings. • Establish good rapport with several professors who may potentially write letters of reference. • Acquire volunteer experience; you may find opportunities on your own or through a student group. • Develop leadership skills. Serve as a member of a student board or governing body, or learn leadership skills in an employed position. • Do research. Find some programs that appeal to you and learn what their individual requirements are so that you can work to meet them.

6.  What is the job outlook for careers in dietetics and how much money can I expect to earn?

RD’s: According to ADA's 2005 Dietetics Compensation and Benefits Survey, half of all RDs in the U.S. who have been working full-time in the field for five years or less earn between $35,000 and $46,000 per year. As with any profession, salaries and fees vary by region of the country, employment settings, scope of responsibility, and supply of RDs. Salaries increase with years of experience and many RDs, particularly those in management, business, and consulting earn incomes above $72,000. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dietitians is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2014 because of increased emphasis on disease prevention, a growing and aging population, and public interest in nutrition. Employment in hospitals is expected to show little change because of anticipated slow growth and reduced patients' lengths of hospital stay. Faster growth, however, is anticipated in nursing homes, residential care facilities, and physician clinics. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dietitians is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2014. DTR’s: According to ADA's 2005 Dietetics Compensation and Benefits Survey, half of all DTRs in the U.S. who have been working full-time in the field for four years or less earn between $26,500 and $36,800 per year. Salary levels vary with region, employment setting, geographical location, scope of responsibility, and supply of DTRs. The job market for dietetic technicians, registered is assumed to be similar to that for dietitians and nutritionists. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dietitians and nutritionists is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2014 because of increased emphasis on disease prevention, a growing and aging population, and public interest in nutrition. Employment in hospitals is expected to show little change because of anticipated slow growth and reduced patients' lengths of hospital stay; however, faster growth is anticipated in nursing homes, residential care facilities, and physician clinics. --Information taken from American Dietetic Association’s RD and DTR fact sheets.

7. What is the difference between a Coordinated Program (CP) and a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)?

	Find out now!Clicking this link will direct you to the ADA website.

8.  Should I get a graduate degree?  If so, When? ?

According to Karen Lacey, MS, RD,CD, Senior Lecturer, Human Biology, Director of Dietetic Programs, the Dietetics Education Task Force recommends pursuing a graduate-level degree.  However, she points out that there is no consensus within the profession. "There is no ideal time to pursue a graduate degree and a right decision depends on each individual student." Dr. Lacey also suggests that there is no ideal time to pursue a graduate degree and a right decision depends on each individual student.  She has seen as many successful students who begin graduate school immediately after finishing the dietetic internship as those that completed a graduate program before beginning their internships.  She adds that other students often benefit from gaining experience on the job before pursuing a graduate degree so that they know which area they want to focus on.

9.  What can dietetics students gain or learn by studying in another country?

	According to Joanne Slavin, PhD, RD, a professor in the Food Science and Nutrition department at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, it depends on where you go. She says “if they are in rural Africa, they will learn about hunger relief programs and AIDS. If they go to Europe, they will learn about fine dining and food prep, slower foods, food presentation, sustainable foods, [and] food policies to support local agriculture. If they go to Mexico, they will see the effects of a cheap food supply, diabetes, obesity. Even if they go to a place like Australia that is similar in many ways to the US (language, culture) they will learn a slower pace of life and ‘no worries mate.’” "If they go to Europe, they will learn about fine dining and food prep, slower foods, food presentation, sustainable foods, [and] food policies to support local agriculture."