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Dietetic internship vs nutritional consultant

The differences between dietetic interns and nutritional consultants 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 nutritional consultant. Additionally, a dietetic internship has an average salary of $64,038, which is higher than the $62,346 average annual salary of a nutritional consultant.

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

Dietetic internship vs nutritional consultant overview

Dietetic InternshipNutritional Consultant
Yearly salary$64,038$62,346
Hourly rate$30.79$29.97
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs52,76515,581
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
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 nutritional consultant do?

A Nutritional Consultant provides assistance regarding food service and nutritional programs. They help patients improve their health and control of disease.

Dietetic internship vs nutritional consultant salary

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

Dietetic InternshipNutritional Consultant
Average salary$64,038$62,346
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $132,000Between $30,000 And $125,000
Highest paying City-San Jose, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Wayne County, Michigan
Best paying industry-Agriculture

Differences between dietetic internship and nutritional consultant education

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

Dietetic InternshipNutritional Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorDieteticsFood And Nutrition
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Dietetic internship vs nutritional consultant demographics

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

Dietetic InternshipNutritional Consultant
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 10.2% Female, 89.8%Male, 22.6% Female, 77.4%
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, 9.1% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between dietetic internship and nutritional consultant 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

Nutritional consultant example responsibilities.

  • Manage the in-store dietitian program providing nutrition education, culinary workshops, food demonstrations, and nutritional assessments.
  • Specialize in weight loss, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and lactose intolerance
  • Provide nutrition assessments, counseling and diabetes education to visually impair population individually and in group setting.
  • Ensure compliance to USDA requirements.
  • Conduct BMI and weigh-ins for insurance members during health insurance out reach events.
  • Help clients with food allergies and auto immune disorders to construct a healing diet.
  • Show more

Dietetic internship vs nutritional consultant skills

Common dietetic internship skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Diabetes Education, 5%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%
  • Nutrition Assessments, 4%
  • Long-Term Care, 4%
Common nutritional consultant skills
  • Diabetes, 9%
  • Weight Loss, 7%
  • Nutrition Assessments, 6%
  • Food Service, 6%
  • Menu Planning, 5%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 4%

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