It’s no secret that what you eat has an impact on how you feel. A career as a nutritional therapist may be right for you if you’re passionate about using food and nutrition to help others prevent, treat, and overcome illnesses and ailments. To practice as a nutritional therapist, you must complete the necessary training and obtain regional, national, or trade certification.
Nutritional therapists believe that eating a healthy diet, the body can heal itself, a belief that is backed up science. Nutritional therapy helps patients achieve optimal health correcting vitamin, nutrient, and mineral deficiencies while maintaining a healthy balance. This knowledge cannot be absorbed or learned quickly on one’s own; to become a nutritional therapist, students must apply to a college or university.
Certificate and diploma programs in nutrition and dietetics are available at colleges and universities. Nutritional therapist training programs can last anywhere from one to four years, with the option of continuing your education in a post-graduate nutritional therapist education program for up to four years. The amount of education needed to practice varies depending on where you live.
Many nutritionists choose to do an internship while pursuing their certification as a nutritional therapist. Internships, also known as clinicals or clinical hours, provide students with real-world experience in the field while being supervised a licensed or practicing clinician. Students in some nutritional therapy programs are required to complete a certain number of clinical hours. Students who wish to gain a better understanding of the material may wish to participate in clinicals on a voluntary basis in programs where they are not required.
To work as a nutritionist or nutritional therapist in some areas, you must be certified. Students must pass an exam and be recognized a governing body before they can practice in areas that require licensure or certification. Other locations do not have certification requirements. To learn more about education and licensure requirements in your area, contact your local government or a college that offers nutritional therapy courses.
Finding a job in the field of nutrition or dietetics is the next step in becoming a nutritional therapist after obtaining education and recognition in the field. Hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and public health agencies all have these positions. Private companies that deal with food or provide public services may also hire nutritional therapists to ensure that their product or service meets governmental nutritional standards and requirements.