Your Career in Nutrition & Dietetics

The role of food in preventing and treating diseases, such as diabetes, is now well known. More dietitians and nutritionists will be needed to provide care for patients with medical conditions and to advise people who want to improve their overall health. As a result, job opportunities in this field are projected to grow much faster than the average through 2028. The median annual pay for nutritionists and dietitians in 2020 was $63,090, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Career Services for Life

Seton Hill's award-winning Career and Professional Development Center will support you in your career development from your first semester to after graduation. Services are provided on-campus and online. The Center provides:

• Job search & career development services
• Resume help & interview preparation skills
• Internship & experiential learning opportunities

Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

As of January 1, 2024, the Commission of Dietetics Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master's degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In addition, CDR requires a verification of completion of dietetics coursework and supervised experiential learning by an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) program. Graduates of Seton Hill's Integrated Master's in Nutrition and Dietetics Program will be eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

National Registration Examination for Dietitians 

Upon successful completion of program requirements (all courses and competencies), the student will be awarded a Master of Science (M.S.) degree from Seton Hill University and will receive a Verification Statement that identifies the student as having completed an ACEND-accredited program. The Integrated Master’s graduates will be eligible to take the National Registration Examination for Dietitians. Following completion of all the program requirements, documentation will be sent to the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to verify student eligibility to take the National Registration Examination for Dietitians. The Commission on Dietetic Registration’s testing agency will then send each student the “Application for the Registration Examination for Dietitians.” After the application has been processed, each student will receive an “Authorization to Test Letter” and information regarding testing facilities to schedule an appointment to take the computer-based examination. The examination will be administered year-round; however, the examination authorization letter will expire after 1 year. The credentialing exam requirements are set by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For additional information on the registration examination, please see the Commission on Dietetic Registration website. Graduates passing the registration exam are eligible for licensure in Pennsylvania by the Board of Nursing.

Licensure Information

Graduates of the Integrated Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics at Seton Hill University who earn their RDN credential and want to practice as dietitians/nutritionists may need to apply for licensure before they are eligible to practice dietetics/nutrition. Licensing statutes include an explicitly defined scope of practice, and the performance of the profession is illegal without first obtaining a license. A list of the states that require licensure is available on the Commission on Dietetic Registration website.