Dietitians, Nutritionists and Holistic Nutritionists: Titles and Regulation

Urgent first

Severe allergic reaction, trouble breathing, fainting, confusion, or signs of an eating disorder with physical danger need urgent medical care: call 911 in the US. A person who restricts food heavily, binges or purges should see a doctor first, not only a nutrition adviser. This page is information only.

The short version

"Dietitian", "nutritionist" and "holistic nutritionist" sound alike, but the law treats them differently from place to place. In some places "dietitian" is a protected title and "nutritionist" is not. The facts below come from professional bodies and government labor statistics, and they describe training and rules, not the worth of any person.

Dietitians (registered dietitians)

• United States. To become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says a person must complete an accredited program and supervised practice, earn a graduate degree, then pass a national exam. [1] The Commission on Dietetic Registration lists a minimum of a graduate degree from an accredited institution (or equivalent) for exam eligibility. [2]
• State rules. The Academy says many states have licensure laws for food and nutrition practitioners, and all states accept the RDN credential for licensure. [3] The Bureau of Labor Statistics says a few states have no regulations for the occupation. [4]
• Canada. Dietitians of Canada, the professional association, says dietitian is a protected title across Canada. [5]
• United Kingdom. The British Dietetic Association says dietitians are the only nutrition profession with statutory (legal) regulation, so the title is protected by law. [6]

Nutritionists

• United States. The Academy says the title "nutritionist" alone may not tell you what education or training someone has completed, and requirements vary by state. [1] The Bureau of Labor Statistics says many states require dietitians and nutritionists to be licensed, while others require only state registration or certification to use certain titles. [4] It also notes that many states accept the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential or exam for licensure. [4]
• Canada. Dietitians of Canada says nutritionist is also a protected title in Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia. [5] Its province-by-province table lists the nutritionist title only for those three.
• United Kingdom. The Association for Nutrition says the term "nutritionist" is not regulated by law. [7] Only people on the voluntary UK register should call themselves a Registered Nutritionist. [6] The British Dietetic Association adds that membership of a professional association is not the same as being registered with a regulatory body. [6]

"Holistic nutritionist" and "nutritional therapist"

Dietitians of Canada says titles such as Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Certified Nutritional Practitioner and similar initials are not the same as Registered Dietitian and do not indicate a provincially regulated health professional. It adds that they are often used by people who completed privately owned training programs that vary in length and rigor. [5] That is one association's view, and it applies to Canada. We did not find a US government or regulator page that defines "holistic nutritionist", so we cannot say what training the title implies in the US. In the UK the British Dietetic Association says "nutritional therapist" is not a statutory regulated title, though people may join a voluntary register. [6] The Bureau of Labor Statistics says a few US states have no regulations for dietitians and nutritionists, so check your own state. [4]

How to read a title: a quick table

Naturopaths and nutrition advice

Dietary and lifestyle advice is one of the treatment approaches NCCIH lists for naturopathic practitioners. [8] In a state where a license to give nutrition advice exists, that rule applies to whoever gives the advice; check with your state. For the naturopathic side see nutrition counseling in naturopathic care and naturopath, dietitian and nutritionist compared.

Safety and who should check first

• Diet advice for a medical condition (diabetes, kidney disease, celiac disease, food allergy, cancer, pregnancy) should involve your own clinician, who can coordinate with a licensed dietitian.
• Be cautious about plans that cut out whole food groups, promise cures, or require buying the adviser's supplements. See red flags in marketing.
• Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine because of a diet plan without talking to your prescriber.
• Pregnant people, children, older adults, people with an eating-disorder history and people taking several medicines should check with a clinician first.

Related reading

See credentials, titles and scope and how to verify a credential.