Those interested in becoming a nutritionist doctor can experience a rewarding and in-demand career. As a nutritionist doctor, you can help a wide variety of people use their diets to fight illness and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Depending on your interests, you can work at a physician's office helping families, at a nursing home facility helping the elderly, or at a hospital, offering your services to the general population. Follow the steps below to learn how to become a nutritionist doctor.
Take science, math and health classes in high school to prepare for both college and your upcoming career.
Pursue a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. To become a nutritionist doctor in the U.S., you must have a bachelor's degree in one of the following areas: Dietetics, Foods and Nutrition, Food Service Systems Management or a related field. Course studies may include food, nutrition, chemistry, biology and physiology.
Complete an internship. While not required in all instances, many nutritionist doctor degree programs include a designated amount of supervised work experience in a health care setting before you can graduate and move on to your new career as a nutritionist. Think of it as on-the-job training.
Check licensing requirements in your state. According to the Department of Labor, 46 states have laws regarding the requirements for becoming -- and serving as -- a nutritionist doctor. The requirements vary by state, with some requiring that nutritionist doctors carry up-to-date licenses and others requiring certification.
Find a job as a nutritionist doctor. Start by contacting local health care facilities and asking if they have any openings for a nutritionist doctor. You can also check job boards in the region where you'd like to work. See the Resources section for an online job board.
