What is the difference between a Registered Dietitian or Dietetic Technician, Registered and a Nutritionist?

Registered Dietitian and Dietetic Technician, Registered can only be used by dietetics practitioners who are currently authorized to use the credential by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association.
These are legally protected titles.
Individuals with these credentials have completed specific academic and supervised practice requirements, successfully completed a registration examination, and maintained requirements for recertification.
Some RDs or DTRs call themselves nutritionists. However, the definition and requirements for the term "nutritionist" vary.
Some states have licensure laws that define the scope of practice for someone using the designation nutritionist.

What do I need to do to become a Dietetic Technician, Registered?

Components of Dietetic Technician registration include academic preparation, supervised practice, and successful completion of the Registration Examination for Dietetic Technicians.

There are two pathways to become eligible to become a Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR):

Completion of an associate degree and curriculum requirements of a Dietetic Technician Program accredited/approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association.
Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a US regionally accredited college or university; completion of a CADE-accredited/approved Didactic Program in Dietetics, and supervised practice under the auspices of a CADE-accredited/approved Dietetic Technician Program.

What factors should I consider when deciding on a school?

This decision is a very personal one that should be made based on a variety of factors that are important to you such as:

Size of school and program
Cost
Available financial aid
Geographic location
Faculty composition and qualifications
Degree awarded
Success of graduates in pursuing career goals

Talk with the program directors at the schools you are interested in attending, discuss the program, and ask to visit.

It is sometimes helpful to talk with current students and graduates and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTRs) located in the area near the program to acquire information that may be helpful in making a decision.

Is the Dietetic Technician Program a stepping-stone to the to becoming a RD?

Individuals who complete an associate degree in a CADE-accredited/approved Dietetic Technician Program may be able to transfer academic credits to a Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP) or Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).
Some Dietetic Technician Programs have established articulation agreements that specify the coursework that will be accepted as transfer credit.

Can I complete the requirements by distance education?

Currently it is not possible to complete all the academic requirements for becoming a dietetic technician, registered (DTR) through distance education.
Because distance education is evolving you will need to contact the individual program to determine current information about coursework available by distance.

Laptops are required for the nutrition degree programs. Do I need to know how to use computers to be accepted into the program?

Students are not required to have computer skills to be accepted into the program.
Many of the basic computer skills that you will use in the program are taught in several courses.

What is field experience?

Field experience is on the job training that students complete as part of their coursework at Morrisville.
Field experience is held at various hospitals, nursing homes, and community agencies in Syracuse and Utica.
An instructor is present with the students at all times.
In these courses students learn how to conduct dietary interviews, nutrition assessments and are involved in food production and nutrition programs.

How is transportation to field experience handled and what other fees should I expect to pay?

The college provides transportation to and from field experience sites. The transportation fee is approximately $35.00 per semester.
Other curriculum fees include a required mandatory uniform for field experience courses and food lab courses. Uniforms costs are approximately $150.00. The uniforms are used several times throughout the two years of study.
Students should also expect to pay for nutrition conferences and other activities as they arise during the semester. All of these activities are intended to expose the student to professional issues in the field of nutrition.