Page 13 - CP D2.2.book

PREFACE

It’s a great time to be in the dietetic field!
In 2012, the government reported the employment of 67,400 dieti-
tians and nutritionists across the country. By 2022, this figure is
expected to climb to 81,600. The field of dietetics is expected to
grow over 20% in the next five years as a result of an increased
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emphasis on wellness, public interest in following a healthier life-
style, and advances in science and medicine. Retiring baby boom-
For Evaluation Only
ers are seeing the value of eating right to live longer and more
active lives in retirement, and experienced dietitians and nutrition-
ists are in demand. Dietitians are present not just in health care sys-
tems and hospitals, but are promoting healthy lifestyles in the food
industry, sports medicine, research, food safety, journalism, corpo-
rate wellness, and personal coaching and consulting.

As a dietitian, you are an agent of change... and that takes not only
a person skilled in the nutritional care process, but someone who
has a science and food background, who can stay abreast of new
trends and research and apply it to solve problems. It takes a per-
son who can communicate in a way that makes people stop and lis-
ten, who can manage the resources and people around him or her,
especially those people who really don’t understand all the things a
dietetic professional can do.
The field of dietetics is also supported by the Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics, and their credentialing agency, The Commission on
Dietetic Registration (CDR), which sets the standards required to be
a practicing dietitian. Your career path includes an exacting educa-
tional program, a competitive internship experience, a comprehen-
sive exam, and lifelong continuing education once you have become
a registered dietitian.

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