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Dietetic internship vs consultant dietitian

The differences between dietetic interns and consultants dietitian can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a dietetic internship and a consultant dietitian. Additionally, a dietetic internship has an average salary of $64,038, which is higher than the $59,637 average annual salary of a consultant dietitian.

The top three skills for a dietetic internship include patients, diabetes education and medical nutrition therapy. The most important skills for a consultant dietitian are patients, nutrition assessments, and weight loss.

Dietetic internship vs consultant dietitian overview

Dietetic InternshipConsultant Dietitian
Yearly salary$64,038$59,637
Hourly rate$30.79$28.67
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs52,76510,584
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does a dietetic internship do?

In a dietetic internship, an intern primarily performs support tasks to gain industry insights and experience while under a dietitian's directives and supervision. Their duties typically include conducting research and analyses, gathering and analyzing data from previous projects and studies, participating in the development of new meal and nutritional plans, and assisting in food delivery operations. They also take part in assessing a patient's health and treatment plans, providing nutrition education as necessary. Additionally, an intern must produce regular reports and uphold the facility's policies.

What does a consultant dietitian do?

Consultant Dietitians are experts in food and nutrition. They explain nutrition issues to the public, promote healthy nutrition through giving talks to groups about nutrition and diet, and asses clients health needs and diet.

Dietetic internship vs consultant dietitian salary

Dietetic interns and consultants dietitian have different pay scales, as shown below.

Dietetic InternshipConsultant Dietitian
Average salary$64,038$59,637
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $132,000Between $42,000 And $82,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between dietetic internship and consultant dietitian education

There are a few differences between a dietetic internship and a consultant dietitian in terms of educational background:

Dietetic InternshipConsultant Dietitian
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorDieteticsDietetics
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Dietetic internship vs consultant dietitian demographics

Here are the differences between dietetic interns' and consultants dietitian' demographics:

Dietetic InternshipConsultant Dietitian
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 10.2% Female, 89.8%Male, 7.1% Female, 92.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 9.8% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 10.1% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between dietetic internship and consultant dietitian duties and responsibilities

Dietetic internship example responsibilities.

  • Collaborate with diabetes educator to achieve AADE accreditation for the diabetes education program and to provide education as an instructor.
  • Follow up with physician consults, educate patients on nutrition, and take part in IDT meetings and ICU rounds.
  • Complete clinical dietetic rotations which also include specialty rotations in pediatrics, kidney/liver transplant, oncology, and critical care.
  • Acquire excellent interdisciplinary communication skills through ICU and nursing rounds.
  • Communicate breastfeeding, proper infant feeding practices, and provide nutrition education to WIC participants.
  • Work alongside translators in culturally diverse environment to education patients on diabetes, hypertension and healthful eating.
  • Show more

Consultant dietitian example responsibilities.

  • Manage the anemia status of patients by reviewing necessary lab data and initiating or adjusting medication doses.
  • Provide individual outpatient diabetes, weight management and cardiovascular counseling.
  • Deliver medical nutrition therapy to patients, and offer culturally appropriate nutrition education to patients and their families.
  • Formulate menus and nutritional plans of care for regular and therapeutic diets base on medical/physical condition of patients.
  • Provide nutrition counseling for pediatric medical conditions including poor growth, feeding difficulties and food allergies.
  • Provide nutrition counseling & diabetes education to individuals in private practice setting.
  • Show more

Dietetic internship vs consultant dietitian skills

Common dietetic internship skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Diabetes Education, 5%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%
  • Nutrition Assessments, 4%
  • Long-Term Care, 4%
Common consultant dietitian skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Nutrition Assessments, 9%
  • Weight Loss, 6%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 6%
  • Long-Term Care Facilities, 5%
  • Nutrition Education, 5%

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