How to Become a Sports Nutritionist
Educational Requirements to Earn a Dietician Degree
Jul 17, 2009
Sports nutritionists play an important role in helping people reach their dietary and fitness goals. They organize diet plans and exercise routines that are aimed at enhancing athletic abilities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs for sports nutritionists is expected to increase as more people become interested in eating healthy and staying fit.
Creating individualized plans for diet and nutrition for sports athletes is crucial to their success. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), young athletes can increase their endurance, strength and power by putting the right foods in their bodies. Athletic teams often turn to sports nutritionists to help them do this.
Sports Nutritionist Courses
Students interested in becoming sports nutritionists should have a bachelor's degree in Nutrition, Food, Dietetics, or a similar field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most nutritionist courses are related to math and science. They include chemistry, biology, psychology, and computer science. Other nutritionist courses are business, economics, and sociology.
It is important for students to attend a sports nutritionist school that has the accreditation of the American Dietetic Association's Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE). According to the American Dietetic association, the C.A.D.E. helps ensure students that they are getting a quality education and it lets them know if the nutritionist school they are attending meets the set guidelines.
Students interested in furthering their sports nutritionist training should consider getting a graduate degree. They will need to know how to accurately determine body composition, calculate height and body weight, and take measurements. Students who want to eventually work with college and professional athletes will also need to learn rules regarding the use of supplements and enhancement products.
Certification
Another way for students to further their sports nutritionist training is by becoming certified. In order to try for certification, a student must first graduate from an accredited sports nutritionist school and complete a supervised internship. The student must then pass an exam administered by the American Dietetic Association. Sports nutritionists are required to earn 75 credit hours from an approved continuing education program every five years, in order to stay certified.
Many states require students to get a license before they can become sports nutritionists. Therefore, students should decide which state they want to practice in before seeking a license. The licensing requirements vary by state. Students who live in states that require licensing can still become sports nutritionists. However, they cannot use certain professional titles.
See the article titled How to Earn a Nutritionist Degree for more information on nutritionist education requirements. There are a lot of career options for students who graduate from nutritionist programs.
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