H O W T O B E C O M E A

S P O R T S N U T R I T I O N I S T

To earn a Sports Nutrition degree, students can enroll in accredited bachelor’s degree programs. Typically, students must have fulfilled prerequisites such as chemistry and biology in order to begin. Once accepted, coursework usually includes Physiology, Holistic Sports Nutrition, Biochemistry, and more.

APPLY F O R REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE

To become a registered dietician, an internship of at least 1,000 hours is often required. Depending on the institution, an internship may be factored into your coursework, or graduates might be asked to seek an internship outside of school. Students can typically find Sports Nutrition internships available through local non-profits or school districts.

Requirements vary throughout the United States: most states require that nutritionists and dieticians be licensed, whereas others ask only for state registration or certification – or have no state regulations at all. Typically, licenses are issued based on education and experience. To become registered, students must pass an exam that may vary from a standard licensure exam.

GET L ICENSED A N D REGISTERED

BECOME CERTIFIED Sports Nutrition is not a federally regulated field, so various states have different requirements for certification. Even if you’re not required to become certified in your state, professionals often earn credentials through a national agency such as the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), in order to establish professional competency. In addition to being personally and socially beneficial, certification is one of the best ways to obtain a private practice which can result in plentiful financial gains.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

A N D CERTIFICATIONS To maintain RD status, the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics requires dieticians to earn continuing education credits. Some states also ask RDs to receive continuing education credits to maintain licensure. To satisfy continuing education requirements, students can:

• Earn a master’s degree in Sports Nutrition

• Complete certificate programs or online courses

• Attend lectures or seminars

TYPICAL SALARY As of 2013, the average annual wage for dietitians and Sports Nutritionists in the United States was $56,300 and a typical hourly wage was $27.07.1 Individual salary is dependent on many factors, including:

• Experience

• Level of formal education

• Specialized training

• Industry

• Geographic location

WHO’S HIRING? The job market is expanding for Sports Nutritionists, and it’s common for dieticians to find careers in settings that combine nutrition concepts with physical activity, such as:

• Physical rehabilitation centers

• Colleges and universities

• Sports organizations and clubs

• Businesses that manufacture health, nutrition, and wellness products

• Fitness centers

THE DAY-TO-DAY

Typical duties for Sports Nutritionists include:

• Mentoring athletes on daily nutritional needs and supplements.

• Preparing menus for athletes and teams in order to maximize their performance levels.

• Working with upper-level administration to ensure athletes are receiving proper nutrition.

• Creating teaching material to support a healthy diet and nutrition, to be distributed to athletes and teams.

The University of Natural Health & College of Natural Health are accredited distance learning schools dedicated to providing students with an elite Holistic Education. We offer highly sophisticated Sports Certification Nutrition Programs and Sports Nutrition Degree Programs to teach maximum athletic power, strength, and endurance. For those interested in Sports Management Careers or Sports Marketing Careers, we also offer new Sports Management Graduate Programs. For more info, call 1-888-397-9394 or visit http://www.naturalhealthcollege.org/.