The job of a nutritionist is to study and develop a diet for a patient. They also offer counseling on healthy lifestyles, exercises and more. Because there has been such an increase in awareness about nutrition lately, becoming a certified nutritionist has become very in demand. Here’s what you need to know if this title strikes your fancy.

Requirements
Advanced planning is required to be a nutritionist. A nutritionist is required to have a Bachelor’s Degree, and in almost all states, a certification and license. If a person is in high school and wants a career as a nutritionist,

they should take courses in biology, communications, chemistry, health and math. Many colleges and universities have accredited programs that allow you to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Foods and Nutrition, Dietetics or Food Service Systems management and these are all very relevant. Courses must have been taken in nutrition, chemistry, biology, foods, institutional management, biochemistry, microbiology and physiology. Suggested classes are sociology, statistics, business and economics. Some programs require supervised experience, like an internship.

Skills
The field of nutrition is heavy in sciences. If you don’t enjoy the study of science, this may not be the field for you. Good verbal communication is required for nutritionists, because they interact with many professionals such as social workers, nurses and doctors. They must also know how to talk to family members and patients as well. Computer skills are necessary too, because most everything you will must be electronically documented. Often, a nutritionist oversees the operations of food services in a nursing home or facility, so having some good organizational and management skills is helpful.

State Regulations
The Department of Labor has laws regarding the standards for all nutritionists in 46 states. 30 of those states require a license, 15 require a certification and one requires that after the person graduates from the accredited program, they register with the state. Because the requirements vary in all states, it is a wise idea to check out the requirements that your state has in place before you begin any program.

Prospects
The number of jobs available in healthcare is steadily rising these days (largely because our health is declining). There is a shortage of workers when it comes to health care, and even more so in nursing. Regardless, the field of nutritionists is ever growing. Besides this, most people are interested in the job of a nutritionist because of the intrinsic benefits, not for the financial benefits, so keep that in mind.

However, the employment outlook for nutritionists is very good. General expectations are that nutritionist positions will increase by 20 percent from 2010 to 2020, which is faster than any other type of occupation. In the past few years, there has been a significant increase in the area of food, as it relates to promoting better health and wellness. Preventative healthcare in most medical offices and settings has become extremely popular too. The importance of preventing illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease through diet is becoming very common. Most nutritionists will have to care for people with these health conditions at some point in their working careers. Besides this, the aging population is also increasing, as is the need for nutritionists in elderly care homes.

– Jason Graham writes about nutrition, health promotion and career development. He has most recently written about how to get into the best Masters in Health Administration Degrees.