5 Steps for Becoming a Sports Dietitian
You would think that as a sports dietitian, the number one question in my DMs on Instagram would be about how to improve performance through nutrition, right? Well, not quite. Actually, one of the top questions I get asked is, “how do I become a sports dietitian?” “how do I get into this career path?” “Do you have any advice for future dietitians?” and so on.
I love these questions because I love being a dietitian. I stumbled into this career path and later realized that it was God’s perfect plan for my life. I believe it’s partly my job to help others do the same! (And have an easier time than I did).
While there are many paths to becoming an RD, I will share my path and the tips I have if you want to take the same path! I can only speak from my own experience, so keep in mind that there may be other ways to achieve the same career goals.
1. Understand The Industry/Field
The first thing you need to do is understand the industry and decide what field of dietetics you are most passionate about.
There are many things you can do as a dietitian.
Just to name a few:
- a food service dietitian in a hospital
- a clinical dietitian
- a dietitian in a retirement home
- a sports dietitian with a college or professional team
- a private practice dietitian
- a specialist in diabetes
- a specialist in eating disorders…and so on.
Before you decide on your career path as a dietitian, do some research about whether that job is really what you’re interested in!
Sports dietitians that work in the collegiate setting will need to be ready for a fast-paced, self-motivated environment with a lot of last-minute changes. You will need to be able to communicate with coaches, athletes, catering companies, athletic directors, athletic trainers, and strength & conditioning coaches. The job involves long hours and weekends.
Sports dietitians can also start their own private practice, like me! This is something I will likely discuss in another blog post in detail, but it involves not only being a dietitian, but also being a social media “influencer”, a marketing expert, a business owner, a financial manager, a writer, a graphic designer, a sales representative, and more. You are a one-person show so it takes a lot of time, energy, motivation, and perseverance!! (For me personally, it takes a lot of prayer and faith in God).
2. Credibility is Key
Being credible in this industry is super important. There are many people that are entering this very saturated industry.
How will you set yourself apart from the competition?
For me, this looked like getting educated, getting a degree, and becoming licensed as a registered dietitian. Performance nutrition (i.e. what to eat before, during, and after exercise to improve performance), is generally easy to understand. It may be tempting to cut corners and get some “online certification” as a “nutritionist.” However, having a college degree in this field is essential.
Many people don’t know that with a degree in Dietetics, one can easily go on to medical school. With that information, you can understand that dietitians are required to know a lot more about the human body & its functions that go beyond just “eat carbs & protein.”
With a degree in dietetics, you can work in the hospital and help patients with tube feedings, patients who have severe burn wounds, patients with cancer, diabetes, ulcerative colitis, and so on. Understanding HOW nutrition impacts our bodies when they are in a SEVERE state will help you understand performance nutrition to a greater degree.
3. Internship & Experience
The second step, once you have your degree in dietetics, is to be matched with a dietetic internship program (hopefully one with rotations in sports nutrition). For those of you that are familiar with the process of becoming a dietitian, you know what I’m referring to.
The dietetic internship is a 1200+ hour supervised program that is required before you can take the registered dietitian exam. It involves rotations in clinical nutrition, outpatient renal treatment centers, food service, school nutrition, community nutrition, WIC, and sometimes pediatric nutrition, and sports nutrition.
I personally attended Lipscomb University’s dietetic internship with a concentration in sports nutrition.
If you are set on becoming a sports dietitian, completing an internship with a sports rotation will put you ahead of the competition!
4. Pass The RD Exam
After completing the dietetic internship, the next step is to pass the registered dietitian exam. The RD exam is a separate topic that I can discuss further in another blog post (and talk about how to study & pass on your first try).
This exam is another reason that registered dietitians are on another level from “nutritionists” who aren’t required to complete a college degree, internship, or pass an extensive exam such as this one.
Becoming a registered dietitian sets you apart not only in what you know but also in how much you can HELP people and that’s the ultimate reason to become educated & licensed. Cutting corners in this field will only lead to more work down the road when you are met with questions that you may not know the answer to or not know how to interpret research results to get those answers.
I am a firm believer that if you want to do something, you need to do it right and to the best of your ability. While the first 3 steps I’ve talked about will take a lot of time and financial investment, they are WORTH the effort in the long term.
5. Take The Leap or Get a Master’s Degree
The last step will depend on what career path you’re going into. The best part about being a registered dietitian is that the career paths are so different and you can change paths at any time without having to go back to school or get another degree.
However, if you’re looking to become a sports dietitian, especially at the collegiate or professional level, having a Master’s degree in Exercise or Sports Nutrition is always a good idea! This field is very competitive and having additional education will not only help set you apart but also give you further confidence in your knowledge and skills.
In conclusion…
If you’re serious about becoming a dietitian, then taking these steps will be worth it! Of course, like I mentioned before, there are many different paths you can take to become a dietitian, this is mine. I’m beyond thankful for the friends and family that made this career possible for me. But I am even more grateful to a God who has chosen me to do His work through my life as a registered dietitian.
If you’re interested in learning more about my one-on-one program, apply here!!
