Private Practice in the Field of Disordered Eating (DE) and Eating Disorders (ED)

Becoming a Nutritional Professional
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Everybody know that being a dietitian is not an easy job. Most of the time, treating a patient requires more than just an analysis of one's physiological and nutritional status and needs. There are plenty of times when you have to consult with other professionals and teams in other fields to completely solve the patient's problem. However, in my opinion, this is also the thing that makes it filled with excitement and fulfillment. The ability to help someone in all facets of their life - body, mind, and soul - by working with others in doing so. In the future, I would like to pursue my career as a dietitian and conduct my own private practice in the field of Disordered Eating (DE) and Eating Disorders (ED). More particularly, I would like to have my own clinic in Aspen, Colorado and/or Sta. Monica, California.
State Level Credentialing
Practicing nutrition in any state requires credentials, and, of course, license. However, the importance of a license and the requirements for getting it can differ from one state to another. Thus, for someone who wants to make a career and a name as a dietitian in any state, knowing the basic rules of practice and the process and requirements for certification are both important. Here are the specifics in state-level credentialing for both of my prospective states - California and Colorado. In Colorado "there are no specific regulations for dietetics and nutrition practice" (nutritionadvocacy.org, 2016). However, there is an act that was passed in 2013 that limits the scope of one’s practice. This act is the Colorado Natural Health Consumer Protections Act, which limits the methods and strategies that a dietitian or a nutritionist can employ to only those which they have a proper training of. To be licensed in the same state, one must pass the CDR (Commission on Dietetic Registration) and receive the license and dietitian credentials from them (Nutritioned.org, n.d.). In contrast with this, California is more open in its rules and regulations as to the scope of one’s dietary practice. Furthermore, there are currently no requirements in order to conduct one’s practice as a nutritionist in the same state (Nutritioned.org, n.d.). In terms of the process of getting a license as a Registered Dietitian, the state still requires getting a certified from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
National Level Credentialing
In order to become a nutritionist, one must have a bachelor’s degree first (LearnHowtoBecome.org, n.d.). Even though a prior degree that is health- or food-related is not requ...