Nutritionist License and Certification in Iowa

Nutritionists have great insight of the various beneficial components of all food groups. They inform individuals on the appropriate food intake according to their health conditions and lifestyle. Dietitians and nutritionists know of the nutrients required to treat patients and eventually might ensure their overall health and well being. There are certain requirements to be fulfilled if one intends to gain nutritionist certification in Iowa.

Registration

One has to be a registered dietitian by fulfilling the requirements of the Commission of Dietetic Registration which comes under the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. One has to gain a baccalaureate degree and training from a regionally accredited institute. One must also earn a dietetics program that has accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

A person must complete supervised practical experience of at least 1,200 hours.

A person also has to comprehensively pass the registration examination for dietitians. This exam tests one’s knowledge and abilities in:

• Supportive Nutritional Sciences
• Screening, Assessing and Diagnosing Nutritional Needs
• Communication Abilities in Counseling
• Food Management
• Food Service Systems

Licensing and Certification

The Iowa Department of Public Health offers license for dietitians through the Iowa Board of Dietitians. As a license applicant in Iowa one has to fulfill certain requirements.

An applicant has to be able to assess nutritional needs of individuals and groups. One must be capable of establishing methods to advice one on the nutritional needs through priorities and objective goals. One must know the nutritional requirements of individuals with certain illnesses or poor health.

One has to provide the   official academic transcript sent by the educational institute. As an applicant one has to provide a verification of dietetics internship. Applicant must prove their status as a registered dietitian.

Iowa Department of Public Health: 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, Iowa

Education Required to be a Nutritionist

The Iowa State University has a department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. This department offers graduate and post graduate programs in Nutritional sciences. These programs provide one with an understanding in:

• Foundations of Dietetic Practice
• Advanced Human Nutrition and Metabolism
• Medical Nutrition and Disease
• Food Laws, Regulations and the Regulatory Process

The university also offers a degree program known as Masters of Family and Consumer Sciences-Dietetics. In this program one could study:

• Functional Foods
• Pediatric Clinical Nutrition
• Nutrition & Human Performance
• Nutrition & Physical Activity in Aging
• Obesity across the Lifespan
• Micronutrients in Human Nutrition

Employment Facts for Dietitians in Iowa

In the year 2011, there were 630 practicing nutritionists and dietitians in Iowa. They earned an hourly income of $24.18 in 2011 and on an annual basis a median pay of $50,300 was given to them (BLS).