Sports Nutritionist
By: Julia Muchow
Description of Occupation
A sports nutritionist helps athletes improve their health and advance their performance. They do this by providing information about good nutrition, exercise, or special vitamins.
Diet & Nutrition : What Is a Sports Nutritionist?
Certifications Necessary to Practice
State dictated (Missouri):
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- Pass the Registered Dietician exam
- 900 hours of clinical experience
Daily Activities
- Analyze patient data to determine the patient's goals
- Provides health and wellness advice to the patient or doctor
- Assess the individual's nutritional needs
- Counsel people on good nutrition, and eating habits
Education Requirements
Earn a Bachelor's degree in dietetics, foods and nutrition, clinical nutrition, public health nutrition, or a related field. However, the more education you complete, the more job opportunities you will have.
Payday- What is average income? Beginning and Potential
Average income of $53,250
Low of $33,330
High of $75,480
What skills are necessary to be successful in this profession?
- Reading comprehension - understanding work related documents
- Active listening - listening to the patient's goals and wants
- Critical thinking - using logic and reasoning to identify alternative solutions or seek improvements
- Monitoring - assess the improvements of the patient
- Speaking - convey information effectively
Practice Settings
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Clinics
- Cafeterias
- for state and local governments
Job Outlook & 3 fun facts
Projected to grow 16% from 2014 to 2024 (that is faster than the average for all occupation).