Nutritionist - How to become a Nutritionist

Nutritionist known by different names and designation in different fields and countries such as nutrition scientist, public health nutritionist, dietitian-nutritionist, clinical nutritionist, and sports nutritionist to name a few is a professional who is well trained in giving useful  advise on matters of food and nutrition that can have good impacts on health of an individual.

With the increasing globalization and upward lift in the standard of living of masses there is marked growth of fitness industry coupled with an overall movement toward healthier lifestyles thereby increasing the demand of professional like Nutritionist that can help to maintain good health with their expert advice on food patterns and nutrition.

Job description of Nutritionist involves working towards prevention and treatment of illnesses of their patients through proper dietary care. Nutritionists evaluate the diets of their patients suffering from medical problems and analyse their food intake and suggest ways of curing their health problems by modifying the patient’s diet.

Keeping in view the growing incidence of   Diabetes, Heart attacks, Hypertension and  problems related to obesity among the general masses there is a great scope for persons adopting  the profession as a career as they can use their expertise working in communities, schools, hospitals, prisons, clinics, and nursing homes etc.

Although improved standard of living has given a big push to a career in Nutrition but nutritionists must be prepared to work in environments that may not be always equipped with modern conveniences. In fact in condition not so conducive for work Nutritionist’s main task will be to bring the work environment up to standard by enforcing health and safety codes.

Although anyone who have good knowledge of food products and their nutrition value can claim and act as a Nutritionist unlike Dietitian who must have formal qualification to be designated so yet to be a successful Nutritionist the aspiring candidate should have at least a bachelor’s degree with dietetics, food and nutrition, food service systems management, or a related subject as majors. Aspiring candidate can follow the steps given below to pursue career as a Nutritionist.

Eligibility to become a Nutritionist

Educational Qualification

Eligibility conditions for joining Three years B.Sc. Nutrition course or Four Years food Technology course one should be 10+2 Class pass with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) as main subjects and for some institutions of repute with at least 60% marks.

Basic education in subjects like microbiology, mathematics, statistics, psychology, and sociology etc can also help get admission in bachelor course.

How to become a Nutritionist?

The Aspiring candidates have to follow the following given steps to become a Nutritionist.

Step 1

Candidates aspiring to become Nutritionist has to appear in an Entrance Exam conducted by the various state and Independent bodies to admit candidates in various institutions attached with it according to the rank of the candidate in the Entrance Exam.

The Entrance Exam is objective type and it tests students rigorously in subjects like physics, chemistry and biology.

These exams are generally held in the month of May-June. The results of these exams are generally out by June/July.

Step 2

After competing in the entrance exam the selected candidates can pursue:

1. B.Sc. Home Science (Three year course) or
2. B.Sc. Nutrition (Three years course)or
3. B.E. Food Technology (Four Year Course)

In the above mentioned courses, one has to study (subjects which include biochemistry, nutrition, applied physiology, food, microbiology, administration, therapeutic nutrition, and public health nutrition). One can opt for some job in private or state run hospitals as assistant dietician or go for privates practice after obtaining the necessary affiliation with respective medical councils or go for higher specialized studies in the respective fields like  M.Sc. - Post graduation programme, Ph.D to do research in Food and Nutrition. 

Nutritionist Career prospects

There is a lot of scope for those who wants to be Nutritionist in both private as well as public sector. Besides working in Government and Corporate Hospitals Nutritionist can get absorbed  with  Food manufacturers, advertisers, marketers, and  five star Hotels and Restaurants that  employ nutritionists to organize, develop, analyze, test, and prepare meals that are low in fat and cholesterol and devoid of chemical additives.

Nutritionist Salary

Nutritionist can draw starting salary anywhere between Rs.15,000 to Rs.20,000 depending upon the competence of the individual Nutritionist. However there is no upper limit of income for those who are in private practice and it only gets better and better as they win the trust of the patients. A couple of years dedicated work and some experience along with a masters degree can lead a Nutritionist to a pay package of nearly Rs.4-5 Lakhs per annum.