The term “dietitian” is legally protected. Dietitians are registered with the American Dietetic Association and are only able to use the title “dietitian” when they have met strict, specific educational and experiential prerequisites and passed a national registration examination.

The title “nutritionist” is protected and designated by many but not all states in the United States. It is important that a person seeking the counsel of a nutritionist, check with their local state’s licensing agency to find out if prospective practitioners are duly licensed.

Traditionally, dietitians work in institutional settings, such as hospitals, schools and prisons, rather than in private practice. Nutritionists sometimes work in such institutional but more often work in private practice, in education and research. Some overlap exists within the two professions.