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Nutrition internship vs consultant dietitian

The differences between nutrition 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 nutrition internship and a consultant dietitian. Additionally, a consultant dietitian has an average salary of $59,637, which is higher than the $36,506 average annual salary of a nutrition internship.

The top three skills for a nutrition internship include patients, nutrition education programs and nutrition education materials. The most important skills for a consultant dietitian are patients, nutrition assessments, and weight loss.

Nutrition internship vs consultant dietitian overview

Nutrition InternshipConsultant Dietitian
Yearly salary$36,506$59,637
Hourly rate$17.55$28.67
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs48,20410,584
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does a nutrition internship do?

Nutrition interns are individuals who are on the job training for the tasks performed by licensed nutritionists or dieticians. The interns provide a nutrition care process that includes prescription of parenteral and enteral recommendations and analysis of laboratory values. They prepare a case study presentation that applies evidence-based guidelines and nutrition care process research. It is also part of their responsibilities to provide nutrition services, meal plans, and lesson plans.

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.

Nutrition internship vs consultant dietitian salary

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

Nutrition InternshipConsultant Dietitian
Average salary$36,506$59,637
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $53,000Between $42,000 And $82,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between nutrition internship and consultant dietitian education

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

Nutrition InternshipConsultant Dietitian
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorFood And NutritionDietetics
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Nutrition internship vs consultant dietitian demographics

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

Nutrition InternshipConsultant Dietitian
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 18.0% Female, 82.0%Male, 7.1% Female, 92.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 10.1% White, 66.4% 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 nutrition internship and consultant dietitian duties and responsibilities

Nutrition internship example responsibilities.

  • Research foods available in VT grocery stores that meet the WIC criteria for eligible food products in VT.
  • Complete nutrition assessments and design interventions for hospital patients and long term care facility residents.
  • Enter recipes and analyze nutrient levels of school lunches via USDA approve software program, NutriKids.
  • Create agendas, identify potential speakers and topics, connect communities and individuals to USDA resources and programs.
  • Research on various topics such as corporate wellness, exercise, food allergies, and other health relate concerns.
  • Create diabetes educational handouts for an outpatient clinic.
  • 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

Nutrition internship vs consultant dietitian skills

Common nutrition internship skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Nutrition Education Programs, 9%
  • Nutrition Education Materials, 5%
  • RD, 5%
  • Diabetes, 4%
  • Food Safety, 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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