Nutritionist School in California

Degree Options

The first thing you will need to consider in California is your degree options. Nutritional programs are typically offered as associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and master degrees; and these options will open up a wealth of opportunities for you.

Although associate’s programs are offered, most employers are more interested in hiring a nutritionist with the minimum of a bachelor’s education. Some of the education that you will be required to learn will include institution management, foods, chemistry, biology, and psychology. This will help to give you a firm grasp of how food is digested, how nutrition is handled at the clinical level, and how the relationship between the body and the mind functions.

Certifications

Certifications are offered by the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board (CNCB) and the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists (CBNS). Keep in mind that these certifications are mandated by each individual organization, not the State of California. Certifications help to identify you as a qualified and nationally recognized nutritionist, and, you should be aware that most clinics and hospitals will be looking to hire nutritionists that have such recognition.

There are two different levels of certification that you can choose to obtain: the certified clinical nutritionist (CCN) and the certified nutrition specialist (CNS). The CCN is one step below the CNS, can be claimed from the CNCB, and requires the minimum of a bachelor’s degree in nutrition. The CNS is issued by the CBNS and requires a master’s degree a major in nutrition.

A sit-in examination is required for both of these titles. The fee for the CCN examination is $450, and the fee for the CNS examination is $300.

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Nutritionists in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco, California may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including Laguna Honda Hospital, Community Regional Medical Center, L.A. County & USC Medical Center, and Huntington Hospital.