High School Diploma

• Dietitians are required to have post-secondary school training, so a high school diploma or GED equivalent is necessary for admission. Students are advised to take courses in health, biology, chemistry, communications, mathematics and English. Foreign language proficiency may also be beneficial; being bilingual can increase a dietitian's marketability, employment and income potential.
  
  

Bachelor's Degree

• Dietitians are required to earn a four-year bachelor's degree from a college or university the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has accredited. Future dietitians typically major in foods and nutrition, dietetics, food service systems management or similar subjects. The curriculum should include chemistry, biology, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, institution management and foods and nutrition, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Students are also advised to take courses in statistics, mathematics, business, psychology, computer science, economics and sociology.
  
  

Master's Degree

• Dietitians aspiring to advance to teaching, administrative or research positions are required to earn a master's degree from an ADA-accredited program. These typically take one year of full-time study to complete. Education-Portal.com reports master's degree students can expect to research nutrition of the life cycle and food and culture. Students may also participate in dietetic seminars and will have to complete an originally-researched thesis as a graduation requirement.
  
  

Licensure

• States have varying licensing, certification and registration requirements for dietitians. Forty-six states have some sort of laws in effect governing the practice of dietetics, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thirty-three require licensure; 12 require dietitians to hold statutory certifications and one requires state registration. Licensing, certification and registration prerequisites generally include proof of formal training and successful completion of a competency exam.
  
  

Voluntary Certification

• Applicants meeting certain professional and educational requirements are granted the title of Registered Dietitian (RD) from the Commission of Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association. Certification prerequisites include the completion of a bachelor's degree program the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the ADA has accredited; completion of a CADE-accredited six- to 12-month supervised practice program at a community agency, health-care facility or food service company; and passing a certification exam. RDs must complete certain continuing education requirements to remain actively registered.