Some possible jobs within this career area are:
Your career goal will determine the type of certification you need. In fields related to the culinary arts, you could earn a:
- Certificate
- Associate’s Degree
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Master’s Degree
- PhD
Many careers in the culinary arts stem from entrepreneurship. In short, a lot of people who are successful in these careers start their own business. If you want to own a restaurant or be a chef, you’ll need to be a self-starter who can devote the time to grow a business. Beyond self-owned businesses, the culinary arts are related to luxury, or dispensable income items. People tend to eat in restaurants more when they have more money on hand, which means restaurant and food careers are more plentiful when the economy is good. The same is true for hospitality management and catering careers.
The time it takes to complete your degree or course of study depends on your career goal. You could get your Associate’s Degree and become a certified chef in two years, or you could continue school and get a four-year degree in business.
How to Become a Nutritionist
A nutritionist, also known by the title “dietician,” plans nutrition and food programs, oversees food preparation, and provides medical nutrition information and therapy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) most people with a career in nutrition work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, nursing home facilities, and outpatient care centers. You will need to earn a four-year bachelor’s degree before you can pass your state’s license or certification requirements, and those with advanced degrees and certifications enjoy the best job prospects and income.
To become a nutritionist, you should look for a school that offers a program that has been accredited by the American Dietetic Association's Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education. You will need to major in a degree program such as dietetics, food service systems management, or food and nutrition depending on the state in which you plan to practice. You can expect to take classes such as biology, biochemistry, physiology, nutrition, and foods as well as courses such as economics, mathematics, statistics, sociology, psychology, and computer science.
A master’s degree with a focus in a specialized area such as diabetic, renal, pediatric, or gerontological nutrition will add to your job prospects, as will a nutritionist career focusing on public health, research, or advanced clinical positions.
Nutritionist Salaries
The lowest 10 percent median wage group of nutritionist salaries, reflecting those with the least amount of experience and education, earned under $31,500 in 2008. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the median nutritionist salary was $50,590, and the top ten percent earned over $73,400. The highest paying industries for nutritionist salaries were as follows:
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services $75,450
- Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) $69,610
- Health and Personal Care Stores $65,560
- Insurance Carriers $63,530
- Home Health Care Services $62,280
(Salary data retrieved 5/24/11)
To get the education you need to become a nutritionist, find a degree program now!