For international students, here’s the process for how to become a dietitian in the United States.

By Tamsin Jordan, MS, R.D.

As diet-related diseases continue to rise in the U.S., demand for dietitians has never been higher. That said, training to become a dietitian in the States is no easy feat, especially as an international student. Read on to find out what steps you need to take to get qualified and start your career.

Getting Started

My journey to becoming a dietitian began in the U.K., just over five years ago. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences in 2010, I worked in financial communications in London for a few years. I had always found my work rewarding, but I became increasingly unsatisfied with the traditional 9 – 5 career path as time went by. Working within the nutrition field had appealed to me since school, but it wasn’t until my twenties that I started to read about the health benefits of improving your diet.  This marked a turning point in my life.  I was fascinated to read about how different foods can prevent and treat diseases. From that point onwards, I was set on the idea of sharing this knowledge with others. At a similar time, I was presented with an exciting opportunity to move to the States. I decided it was time to make the switch.

Choosing the Right Course

As with any big life decision, it is essential to do your due diligence.  The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition & Dietetics (ACEND) is the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, the main governing body representing dietitians all over the country.  ACEND is responsible for dictating the requirements for qualifying and maintaining your dietetics credential. Only those that have obtained specific academic qualifications and completed supervised practice hours approved by ACEND are eligible to sit a national examination and call themselves a Registered Dietitian (or R.D. for short).

It is important to note that the title ‘Registered Dietitian’ and ‘Nutritionist’ are not interchangeable in the U.S. Dietitians must maintain specific standards of practice that are legally regulated. Nutritionists are free from any government regulation and do not have any previous education or training in the field. I highly recommend reviewing the ACEND website for further information about the academic requirements and next steps for students looking to move into the profession (see Resources below).

There are two paths you can take. These options apply to both U.S. and international students. The first option is to enroll in an ACEND- accredited coordinated program in dietetics. This can be either a bachelor’s or master’s degree at an approved university (known as a college in the U.S.) that combines in-classroom learning with supervised practice in the field. These programs take anywhere between 3-4 years to complete, depending on your prior academic qualifications. Once you have completed the program, you can sit the registration exam to obtain the R.D. credential. The second option is to enroll in an ACEND -accredited, academic didactic program. These programs typically take around two years of complete-time study, depending on the agenda. After completing the program, you will be eligible to complete a dietetic internship, more about that later.

Prerequisite Courses

I’ve included this as a separate section because students can so easily overlook pre-requisite requirements. Before applying to any dietetics program, it is essential to contact the college you wish to use and ask about their specific entry requirements. In my case, I researched dietetics programs available in New York.  Ultimately, I applied and was accepted onto the master’s degree program offered by Hunter College. The program is an ACEND -accredited didactic course (essential to check); it is state-funded, making it cheaper than private colleges and takes two years, full time, to complete. As I did not have a background in nutrition, I was required to complete, or be enrolled in, several pre-requisite courses at the time of my application.

Pre-requisite courses for nutrition degrees usually include anatomy and physiology, organic and inorganic chemistry, microbiology, and food science. However, each program will have its requirements, so you must check with the admissions department. If you have a nutrition or biological sciences background, you may be exempt from taking specific courses. Some colleges may also require you to sit the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). This is a standardized test used by most graduate schools throughout the U.S. Any international, college-level course will also need to be converted into the U.S. equivalent, known as a Grade Point Average (GPA) for the application. Many companies offer this service. I went with the World Education Service (see Resources).

When considering which college to apply to, weighing up all the pros and cons is essential. Would you be more comfortable at a smaller privately-run college, or would you prefer a more prominent, state college?  Can you afford private college tuition, or would you be better off opting for a more cost-effective, state-funded alternative? Education in the U.S. is expensive compared to many other countries, and most student visas do not allow you to work while you are enrolled in an academic program.  Some colleges offer great value for money, so it is essential to consider all your options before applying.

Student Visas

 If you want to study in the States and are not a U.S. citizen, you will have to apply for a student visa. Applying for a visa can take a long time, so it is essential to plan. There are generally two types of tickets that students can use, either an F visa, for academic purposes or an M visa for vocational training. Before your visa application, you must receive an acceptance letter from a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved school and pay the SEVIS fee. The steps and requirements for applying for a student visa can be found on the U.S. consulate website of your respective country. In a nutshell, the application involves extensive paperwork, proof of financial support, and an in-person interview at the consulate. Generally, student visas can be issued 120 days before the start date of your program. There are strict work restrictions on student visas. However, students can work on their school campus for up to 20 hours per week in some cases.

The Dietetic Internship

If you have completed a standalone academic didactic program instead of a coordinated program, you must apply and complete a dietetic internship. These internships are unpaid and involve 1,200 hours of supervised practice working with experienced R.D.’s in different settings. Rotations usually include; food service management, community nutrition, and clinical (generally working in a hospital or long-term care facility). There are only a limited number of accredited dietetic internships in the U.S., making getting a spot highly competitive, especially in the major cities. It is therefore essential to gain as much voluntary work experience as possible while you’re studying. This will set you apart from other applicants and demonstrate your motivation and commitment to the profession. Internships typically take between 9 months – 1 year to complete full time (longer for part-time) and can cost anywhere from $3,000 (generally distance programs, where you plan your rotations) and $20,000. As with the coordinated program option, you will become eligible to sit the registration exam after completing the internship. A word of warning. It is important to note that by 2019, ACEND will make it mandatory for all R.D.’s to have a master’s degree on entering the profession.

Optional Practical Training

 Immigration services offer international student’s the opportunity to remain in the States after completing their studies to obtain practical training. The program is known as Optional Practical Training (OPT). Students can stay in the country for 12 months, and activity must be related to the student’s major field of study. To obtain this permission, your designated school official (usually head of the international student’s department) will need to endorse your I-20 form and file it with immigration services. 

To stay longer in the States, you will be required to apply for an extension to your visa. Depending on your eligibility, you may be able to apply for a green card which will allow you to work indefinitely in different settings.  

Please note that this article was written before the COVID-19 pandemic. Please check with your country’s respective consulate and admissions dept of the college you are applying to meet the entry requirements.

Resources

U.S. Department of State – Student visa information: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html

Accredited dietetics programs:  http://www.eatrightpro.org/acend

All Access Dietetics Accredited Dietetic Internship Database – Get in the FREE DICAS Starter Pack here!

Dietetic Internships:  http://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/accredited-programs/dietetic-internships

Transcript conversions: World Education Evaluation Services: http://www.wes.org

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employment Information: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm

Optional Practical Training Information: https://www.uscis.gov/opt

 

References

(1) Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dietitians and Nutritionists, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm (visited July 30, 2018).

About the Author

Tamsin Jordan is a Registered Dietitian and wellness expert based in New York City. She works with bariatric surgery patients and high-risk pregnant women in outpatient doctor’s offices throughout the city. You can learn more about her on her website: http://www.tamsinjordan.com or follow her foodie adventure on I.G.: @nutritionbytamsin    

 

 

 

 

P.S. Our website offers excellent resources to help you through your dietetics journey; make sure to check them out!