Sports Nutritionst
Desiree Johnson
What do they do
Sports Nutritionist specialize in enhancing an athletes performance by a healthy diet. They also advise people on what to eat in order to achieve that athletes goals and live healthier.
What education and certifications do I need to be a Sports Nutritionist?
To become a Sports Nutritionist you will need a 4-year bachelors degree in clinical nutrition and you will need to participate in an internship. They will also need a minimum of two year experience in counseling. Most states, but not all, require nutritionists and dietitians to be licensed. Certification/Licensure as required by the state of practice. Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) preferred.
What will I do on the job?
Sports Nutritionist will need to know their athletes very well. They work with either groups or individuals on their goals, so you will need to get to know each athlete and what they are trying to achieve individually. Sports Nutritionists also work with counseling individuals or groups of people on daily nutrition to help increase their performance. Sports Nutritionists will need to evaluate their athlete so they can correctly make a healthy meal plan for them. Sports Nutritionists will constantly be educating the athletes on what is healthy for their body. They will also travel with the teams.
Income of a Sports Nutritionist?
The 2012 medium pay for a Sports Nutritions is about $55,000 a year or $26.56 an hour. A sports nutritionist can make anywhere from $34,500 to $77,590 per year.
What skills are needed for this job?
A Sports Nutritionist will need to be good at speaking and presenting. They are constantly talking to their athletes and presenting and teaching about good eating habits. This also goes along with good counseling skills. Counseling is a big part of this job. They will also need to be aware of the eating disorders, the signs and symptoms. And they will need to know the rules and regulations of athletics governing bodies like the NCCA, USADA, and WADA regarding banned drugs and substances.
Where do I work?
Sports nutritionist can work at colleges and high-school, sports teams, physicians' departments, and wellness centers. They will work in their sports department and the college and high-school settings.
Fun Facts!
1) Sports Nutritionists jobs are growing 21% faster than the average job.
2) There are about 67,000 jobs that contain sports nutrition
3) The medium pay for a sports nutritionists is projected to increase over the years
Michael Robinson (Seattle Seahawks) interviews Shan Stratton (Sports Nutritionist to the Pros)