Helping Athletes Excel Is the Work of a Sports Nutritionist

Sports nutritionists combine science and nutrition to help athletes perform their best.

Becoming a sports nutritionist is a great choice for people who are passionate about sports and helping athletes perform at a peak level through nutrition. Most sports nutritionists have a bachelor's degree in nutrition or a science-related field, complete an internship, and earn specialized certifications. 

A Focus on Sports and Athletes

Nutritionists, in general, use nutrition to promote or improve health in response to disease. Sports nutritionists focus on helping athletes or athletic individuals improve their performance through nutrition.

They create nutrition plans that increase stamina for training, workouts, and competition, and provide treatment after strenuous exercise and injuries.

Sports nutritionists work with sports teams or athletes at all levels, and they also work with recreational athletes.

“Understanding nutrition on a macro and micro level is paramount for sports nutritionists,” says Lisa Moskovitz, RD and CEO of NY Nutrition Group. “Unlike more sedentary individuals, athletes require additional nutrients. Calculations must be specific to ensure adequate energy intake and absorption.”

Job Description

According to Moskovitz, the top responsibilities of a sports nutritionist include:

Education to Become a Sports Nutritionist

The education requirements to become a sports nutritionist are becoming increasingly strict.

“While anyone can call themselves a ‘nutritionist,' a sports dietitian must complete more rigorous education and training,” says Moskovitz. “First, in order to become a dietitian, one must fulfill college-level coursework.

Then, they must apply to, and successfully complete, an accredited dietetic internship. Finally, in order to receive the registered dietitian credential, they must be validated by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and pass the official RD exam.” 

If you decide to become a sports nutritionist, you'll likely need to earn a master's degree to advance your career and qualify for more prestigious positions.

Sports nutritionists have a bachelor's degree in nutrition, physiology, kinesiology, or a related field. Those who decide to pursue sports nutrition as a career after earning a different four-year degree can take postgraduate classes through certificate programs.

If you decide to become a sports nutritionist, it's likely that you'll need to earn a master's degree to advance your career and qualify for more prestigious positions.

In fact, starting in 2024, you'll need a master's degree to take the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) exam, which is a requirement for licensure in most states.

What You'll Study

Sports nutritionists advise athletes on how to balance rigorous physical activities with a proper diet. Their education focuses largely on subjects like biology, physiology, and kinesiology, as these all relate to how the body moves and reacts to different stimuli.

Here are the most common subjects that are required for studying sports nutrition. Many are about science and will include labs:

Clinical Hours

Most states require nutritionists to earn the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential. To do this, you'll need to complete an internship.

Some undergraduate programs weave internship experience into their programs. If your program doesn't, you'll need to secure an internship after graduation. You'll need to complete 1,000 to 1,200 hours of supervised training in nutrition assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and management. The number of hours will depend on the state in which you're seeking your RDN certification.

Most states require nutritionists to earn the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential. To do this, you'll need to complete an internship.

Online Programs

There are online bachelor's programs and certificate prep courses for sports nutrition. Some internships moved online due to COVID-19, but it remains to be seen whether these will continue in the future.

In general, hybrid and online nutritionist programs are a great option for those who work or have a family or other daytime obligations. These programs allow you to take many classes online at your convenience while fulfilling clinical work or internship requirements in person.

Sports Nutritionist Licensing and Certification

Most states require nutritionists to earn the RDN credential and apply for state licensure separately. States that don't require separate licensure still require the RDN credential.

Licenses and RDN credentials must be renewed on a regular basis.

Specialty Certifications

In most professions, credentials are a sign of your expertise and competency. Sports nutritionists aren't required to have additional credentials beyond the RDN, but there are others they can earn.

“After becoming a registered dietitian, it is optional to earn additional credentials such as the Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) credential,” says Moskovitz. “This requires maintenance of RD status for a minimum of two years, documentation of 2,000 hours of sports dietetics practice experience, and continued hours of practice experience for recertification.”

In addition to the CSSD, you can also pursue Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) certification, which focuses on the science behind nutrition plans.

Where Sports Nutritionists Work

Sports nutritionists most commonly work for:

Career and Salary Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nutritionist jobs are expected to grow by 11% through 2030, which is faster than the average job growth rate overall. The median salary for nutritionists is $61,650, with the lowest 10% making $42,530 per year and the highest 10% making over $93,000 per year.

Geographic location can significantly impact your salary. Here's how states rank in terms of pay for sports nutritionists.

In terms of cities, California has some of the best-paid sports nutritionists. The 10 top-paying metropolitan areas are all in the state, according to the BLS.

How to Stay Informed in this Field

Sports nutrition is a career that relies heavily on the latest research, so it's important to read up on industry trends and findings. Here is a short list of resources to help you stay up to date.