Early Education
If you have experience in the field of nutrition, you will be able to start early in the industry. For instance, if you are in high school and are taking nutrition and food science classes, this will be a big boost for you. Taking these classes will allow you to get a head start in the field and what you will be learning later on in college. You are also able to take personal training courses for certification outside of the classroom, such as biomechanics and exercise.
Undergraduate Work
One of the requirements of becoming a nutritionist is to acquire an undergraduate degree. You will need to have a degree in the field of either fitness or nutrition. Some of the majors you can select include health, nutrition, kinesiology, exercise science, biology and chemistry. You will be taking a lot of science classes throughout your years in college, including biomechanics and biochemistry.
Licensure
Once you have gotten your undergraduate degree, you will be able to take the exam to get a license. Not every state requires you to obtain a license, but 35 of them do. The requirements for licensure is different from state to state. In the exam, you will find a lot of material about nutritional practices, nutrition and client relations. It's important that you study thoroughly for the exam, so that you can pass and begin working in the field as a nutritionist.
Additional Education
To become a nutrition professional, you will have to obtain a degree and pass the exam, but there are also requirements that you will need to continue your education in order to keep your license. There are advanced degrees in fitness and nutrition that will allow you to have more opportunities.
