Posts: 9,577
6/5/10 9:03 P

I have been an accountant for 30 years and I have just gone back to school to become a dietitian. I have enrolled in the local community college and am taking my first class - Fundamentals of Nutrition - online. Most of the classes are offered online and they may take some of my credits from my original degree. I wasn't sure if I should join this team, but once I saw your post I decided to!

Posts: 929
6/4/10 5:46 P

It's definitely worth changing careers if dietetics is something you want to do! Most colleges would work with you about going part time and doing an internship part time, just have to find one that is willing. The University of Alabama has their master's degree all online (they tape the actual current class and mail you a DVD), but I am not sure about how the internship part would work. Good luck!

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Posts: 87
5/24/10 4:34 P

I have a few friends who were career-changers. I'll ask them how they did it. I think one went back to school full time and another did part time. If your degree is at all health or science related I'm sure classes will tranfer over, plus all your college pre-reqs are covered. I don't think that there are any part-time internships, but there might be. I would talk with an advisor at a college nearby to see what your options are. I am sure you can go part time with the school part. www.eatright.org has all the dietetic internships listed and you can see if any are part time or if they pay. For example, the VA Internship gives a small stipend. Its nothing to write home about, but it was helpful.
Good luck, and let me know if you have more questions!

Posts: 71
5/24/10 4:16 P

becoming a RD requires a bachelors degree in related field (mine is food and nutrition) plus a 1 year internship or masters degree (2 years that includes internship). I guess feasibility of going part-time depends on how many pre-reqs you already meet w/ your current degree. i love dietetics and have worked in clinical for 5 years. good luck!

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Posts: 1,263
5/24/10 4:01 P

But seriously considering schooling to become one! Dietitian Becky suggested I join this group and ask you some of my questions.

Were any of you "career changers?" I have a college degree in a completely unrelated subject, and while I'm really interested in becoming an RD, I don't know if I can do a whole other degree. Were you able to go to school part-time for it and still work? My thoughts are still in the formative stages, but I'm just looking for some insights and asnwers.

Thank you!