Do Registered Dietitians Need Graduate Degrees?

Posted by in Healthcare


The general rule of thumb in most professions is that the more education you have, the higher your earnings potential and the more qualified you are to dispense sound advice. But does that necessarily hold true for Registered Dieticians
 
According to an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Compensation and Benefits Survey nearly half of all RDs hold master’s degrees while four percent possess PhDs. Graduate degrees not only enable RDs to concentrate on a certain area, but they also open the playing field for managerial posts, often with higher pay. A 2011 AND Compensation and Benefits Survey revealed that RDs with a master’s degree earn almost $5,000 more per year than those with only a bachelor’s degree.
 
Christine Karpinski, PhD, RD, CSSD, LDN, and Mary Beth R. Gilboy, PhD, MPH, RD, LDN point out that dietitians at any level are often regarded as assistants rather than leaders in nutrition care, a view that can stifle career advancement. A 2012 AND Visioning Report, suggests that future entry-level RDs hold a graduate degree, master’s degree, or a practice doctorate (a degree that mandates clinical experience). The report projects that the demand for advanced-level RDs will rise in many areas, especially in the areas of aging, diabetes and obesity. The report also notes that such advanced practitioners would hold at least a master’s degree, have eight or more years of experience as an RD or a DTR, and ideally be board-certified as a specialist. They may even hold an advanced practice credential in their practice area.
 
Some oppose the AND, saying that it’s trying to monopolize medical nutrition therapy, and that many master’s degree and PhD nutritionists and Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are just as qualified as degreed and credentialed RDs. Rosanne Rust, MS, RD, LDN believes that most RDs aren't concerned with master’s degree or PhD nutritionists or Certified Clinical Nutritionists (CCN). What alarms RDs are the undereducated self-proclaimed “nutritionists” who seek to practice nutrition without a license. RDs are also concerned about billing for medical nutrition therapy (MNT), something for which they're educated and trained. The concern, notes Rust, is that consumers may be misled by fad diets or other radical methods espoused by unqualified nutritionists to treat or “cure” disease. These methods/diets are often not based on science. In contrast, MS, PhD, CCN, ND professionals have the necessary education in nutrition to offer sound advice.
 
If you’re an RD with a bachelor’s degree, you might consider earning an advanced degree, which could enable you to acquire more certifications in your area of specialty, make you more promotable, and equip you to provide better patient care. 
 
Image courtesy of imagerymajestic /FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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  • Hope Wade
    Hope Wade
    This was very helpful and informative information thank you and I'm going to get my master's and phD
  • Alex Kecskes
    Alex Kecskes
    Thank you for your real-world insights and comments.
  • Bruce T
    Bruce T
    Knowledge is indeed the key; not necessarily degrees or certificates per se. The concept of "practicing nutrition without a license" is contrived and laughable, especially as varied and ill informed as so many institutional nutritionists are in area such as diabetic nutrition, the value of the naturopathic side of medicine and the effective ness of nutritional supplementation, as applied to specific physical maladies.
  • Cindy F
    Cindy F
    "under educated-self proclaimed nutritionist"-practicing nutrition without a license -- I like to think of it as practicing "eating" without a license. Do you need to have a license to understand the  health-value of whole-"real" food and the damaging effects of "highly processed -industrial foods. Call them whatever you wish, but I think this world needs more of them because the ages of my patients have declined from the 70-80's to the 50-60's. Im a critical care RN/health coach want-to-be  and the proof is in the pudding. People who eat more vegetables, practice yoga and meditation, get regular aerobic and strength training exercise and who have healthy loving relationships are healthier than those who do less of these things. And the more people who are around to help us all do those things, I say the Better for Human-Kind.  
  • Sanaa E
    Sanaa E
    That's great for RDs what about the DTRs??  That their chances in the field becoming less and less.  Hospitals now DO not hire DTRs only LTC  mainly for food service not clinical.  Also, despite a long years of experience they are not compensated for their hard work.  
  • Arthuretta K. Z
    Arthuretta K. Z
    I feel that the more knowledge one has qualifies and enables them to provide more comprehensive care to their client.

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