Dietician

Dietitians assess the nutritional needs of sick and healthy people to develop and implement nutrition programs based on individual needs. Dietitians work as clinicians, administrators, educators, researchers, and private practitioners in a variety of settings. People who plan to become dietitians should have organizational and administrative skills, an interest in science, and should enjoy working with people of all ages.

Work Environment
Dietitians may be employed in hospitals, government settings, schools, day-care centers, nursing homes, company cafeterias, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), health clubs, food companies, research laboratories, public health clinics, and private practice.

Job Outlook
Employment in Texas is predicted at 3,200 jobs by the year 2000, with 125 yearly job openings. A growing and aging population will increase demand for meals and nutritional counseling in nursing homes, prisons, schools, community health programs, and home health care agencies.

Length of Training/
Requirements
There are two education paths to become a registered dietitian (RD). A Coordinated Program (CP) is a bachelor's or master's degree program that combines classroom and supervised practical experience and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation/Approval for Dietetics Education (CAADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). A Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is an academic program, providing at least a bachelor's degree, that is approved by the CAADE of the ADA.

Salary
Salary depends on education, geography, job setting, and experience. Current salaries range from $34,000. - $56,000.

Educational Programs
Bachelor's Degree
Abilene Christian University
Baylor University
Incarnate Word College
Lamar University
Prairie View A&M University
Sam Houston State University
Southwest Texas State University
Stephen F. Austin University
Tarleton State University
Texas A&M University -
College Station
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Texas Christian University
Texas Southern University
Texas Tech University
Texas Woman's University
University of Houston
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas Houston Health Science Center
The University of Texas Pan American at Edinburg
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
University of the Incarnate Word

Professional Associations
American Dietetic Association
216 W. Jackson Blvd., Ste. 800
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
800/877-1600
312/899-0040
Fax: 312/899-1979