Nutritionists help people lead healthier lives by providing expert advice on eating well and making positive lifestyle choices. Practitioners may find the field to be rewarding because they can make an impact on a client’s life.

But with an overwhelming number of schooling options, from graduate programs to online certificates and courses, it may be hard to choose a path into the field. In this guide, we share information about online nutrition courses and certificate programs, the pros and cons of both, and some general insights into the field so you can decide whether you’d like to pursue nutrition education.  

If you’re considering a career in nutrition, completing a course or certificate may be one way to decide if it’s a good fit for you. A number of schools offer online nutrition certificate programs that may allow you to complete courses from home while also maintaining a full-time work schedule. If you’re only interested in taking a single course, there are options for this, as well. 

Check out this collection of some online programs and courses from accredited schools: 

Generally, a nutrition course is much shorter than a certificate or degree program in nutrition. They may last for a week or two, or as long as several months. There are health care certificate courses that are available to both the general public and working health care professionals like doctors, pharmacists, and nurses with nursing degrees who are trying to acquire more knowledge about nutrition to better help their patients or complete continuing education hours. 

In some cases, universities may offer certificates of completion for the nutrition course. This may be helpful for personal trainers, wellness coaches, or health care professionals hoping to differentiate themselves in a competitive industry and demonstrate their dedication to the field.  

No two courses are the same. Each school designs its nutrition course with a specific audience and specific learning outcomes in mind. Depending on the coursework, an online nutrition course may introduce you to the metabolic and chemical side of nutrition, or macro-level aspects like creating a diet plan and exercising. Some courses heavily involve the medical side of nutrition, while others focus more on theories that guide public health policy decisions in the field, preparing candidates to analyze nutrition-related research and claims

Every class is different, so be sure to read course descriptions to get a sense of what you can expect to learn. Regardless of the course you choose, after completing it, you should have a better understanding of the basic science behind nutrition.  

From personal gratification and goals to earning potential, there are several reasons why someone might enroll in an online nutrition course. Ultimately, only you can decide whether completing a nutrition course will benefit you.  

In order to practice, nutritionists and dietitians typically need a bachelor’s degree, supervised internship experience, and licensure. If you’re serious about following this career path, then completing a bachelor’s or graduate degree may allow you to kickstart a career in the field. 

You may choose to work in a hospital, where you’ll make nutritional plans for patients and advise them on eating plans. Or, you might prefer to work in a residential care facility, public health clinic, government agency, nonprofit, or school. In any one of these settings, you may end up working with patients to help them tackle digestive disorders or obesity and obesity-related conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

However, if you’re unsure whether you’d like to commit to a full degree program yet, an online course may give you a snapshot of the topics you would learn in a bachelor’s or graduate program. Alternatively, if you’re a professional who could benefit from acquiring more knowledge about nutrition—like a nurse or physician—an online course may help you make informed decisions and offer better guidance to your patients. 

Those interested in becoming a full-time nutritionist may be wondering about job outlook. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that employment of nutritionists and dietitians will grow by 11% between 2020 and 2030, much faster than the national average. When it comes to pay, those figures vary by location, employer and work setting, among other factors. The BLS however found that nutritionists earned a median salary of $69,660 in 2020. The highest 10% earned more than $90,000.    

Workplace settings for nutritionists are wide-ranging, with some professionals working for food or pharmaceutical companies. Others may even run a private practice. Online nutrition courses may be catered to professionals with a particular background. Whether you’re a health practitioner or a journalist who could benefit from an introduction to the field, you may find a course that fits your needs. 

Online nutrition certificates may also come in handy if you’re planning on launching a career as a personal trainer or fitness instructor. In this case, it may help to prepare you to offer credible advice to your clients when it comes to diets that optimize their athletic performance. Be sure to check professional requirements and standards in the field to determine the right level of education for your career.

Keep in mind that while certificates might be a positive addition to your resume, you still need a license to practice in many states. Licensure requirements vary by state, and so does scope of practice. Some nutritionists pursue the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential, which involves obtaining a master’s or doctoral degree and 1,000 hours of supervised practice. Administered by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists, the CNS credential is accepted in a number of states for licensure purposes. 

Similarly, those entering the field may choose to earn the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential. According to the BLS, the RDN credential is not always required, but “the qualifications are often the same as those necessary for becoming a licensed dietitian in states that require a license,” and certain employers may look out for it. The Commission on Dietetic Registration administers this credential, which requires candidates to hold a bachelor’s degree.

From performing patient assessments and prescribing nutrition plans to overseeing procedures and outcomes, you may find that working as a licensed nutritionist may be a rewarding career for you. There are also alternative jobs, like corporate nutritional consultant and culinary specialist that may allow you to put the knowledge gained from your course or certificate program to use. 

Still wondering whether an online certificate or course in nutrition is right for you? We’ve answered a few common questions about the nutrition field to help you make an informed decision about this career path.                  

Information on this page was last retrieved in January 2022.