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Nutrition internship vs registered dietitian

The differences between nutrition interns and registered dietitians 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 registered dietitian. Additionally, a registered dietitian has an average salary of $58,227, 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 registered dietitian are patients, patient care, and home health.

Nutrition internship vs registered dietitian overview

Nutrition InternshipRegistered Dietitian
Yearly salary$36,506$58,227
Hourly rate$17.55$27.99
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs48,2046,144
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
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 registered dietitian do?

A Registered Dietitian assesses the health of individual patients with medical conditions such as diabetes or renal failure. They work in hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing homes, or other care facilities.

Nutrition internship vs registered dietitian salary

Nutrition interns and registered dietitians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Nutrition InternshipRegistered Dietitian
Average salary$36,506$58,227
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $53,000Between $43,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City-Richmond, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-CVS Health
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between nutrition internship and registered dietitian education

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

Nutrition InternshipRegistered Dietitian
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorFood And NutritionDietetics
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Nutrition internship vs registered dietitian demographics

Here are the differences between nutrition interns' and registered dietitians' demographics:

Nutrition InternshipRegistered Dietitian
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 18.0% Female, 82.0%Male, 7.9% Female, 92.1%
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, 11.1% Asian, 9.3% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between nutrition internship and registered 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

Registered dietitian example responsibilities.

  • Help patients maintain nutritional adequacy while managing food allergies.
  • Manage the anemia status of patients by reviewing necessary lab data and initiating or adjusting medication doses.
  • Manage the in-store dietitian program providing nutrition education, culinary workshops, food demonstrations, and nutritional assessments.
  • Develop and conduct weight loss programs; provide nutritional counseling for cardiac rehabilitation patients.
  • Diet education to nonsurgical patients on eating disorders, diabetes and other nutrition relate conditions.
  • Cover all topics ranging from weight management to oncology.
  • Show more

Nutrition internship vs registered dietitian skills

Common nutrition internship skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Nutrition Education Programs, 9%
  • Nutrition Education Materials, 5%
  • RD, 5%
  • Diabetes, 4%
  • Food Safety, 4%
Common registered dietitian skills
  • Patients, 33%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy, 6%
  • Culinary, 6%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%

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