Washington State University’s
new Honey Bee and Pollinator Research, Extension and Education Facility in Othello is concerned with more than just the study of bees. Agriculture experts are stressing to the public the importance of honey bees to humanity’s food supply. Their study is a necessary part of understanding nutrition and food production. Among other things, the honey bee lab plans to study indoor winter storage of honey bees, which is important to bee keepers in northern states, as well as effects of parasites, pesticides and fungi.
While registered dietitians in Washington do not work directly with honey bees or other agricultural food sources that humans eat, they do study nutritional requirements for all ages, and make recommendations to clients on foods to eat for optimal health. If you would like to work in dietetics in Washington state, you must become registered nationally and certified by the state. We will explain both of these necessary processes within this article.
Working Towards Registered Dietitian Status in Washington State
The first part of becoming a dietitian in Washington is to earn registration status. This is achieved through the national Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). You must fulfill its mandates regarding education, experience, and examination in order to earn Registered Dietitian credentials. This starts with choosing a dietetic education program that is approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition & Dietetics (ACEND). Washington offers programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, on-campus and online, a complete list of Registered Dietitian Schools. However, the CDR is changing its rules: by January 1, 2024, all registered dietitians will be expected to have a minimum of a master’s degree. The types of programs that you may choose from are formatted in these ways:
- Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)- If you choose a DPD, you will receive only the didactic (lecture) coursework necessary for the dietetic education program, and not the experiential portion. Three DPD programs currently exist in Washington state.
- Dietetic Internship (DI)- After completing a DPD, you must complete a DI, which consists of 1000 hours’ supervised dietetic practice. Washington state has five approved DIs from which you may choose.
- Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP) – Choosing a CP means that your coursework and experiential practice are integrated into the same program. In Washington, there are two CPs at present.
Taking the CDR’s Registration Examination for Dietitians in Washington State
Next up, once you have graduated from your dietetic education program, passing the CDR’s Registration Examination for Dietitians is vital. The Registration Examination for Dietitians Handbook for Candidates is a valuable resource that will explain, in detail, what you can expect to find on the examination. You must register for the exam online and pay the exam fee of $200, then choose a Pearson VUE exam center, which, in Washington, may be found in Seattle, Northgate, Yakima, and Spokane. Centers are also located in nearby British Columbia, in Victoria, Surrey, Burnaby, and Vancouver, if that’s more convenient for you.
You will find out if you passed or failed the exam as soon as you have completed taking it. If you have passed, the CDR will send your Registered Dietitian card by US postal mail to you in a couple of weeks.
Working Towards Certification as a Dietitian in Washington State
Once registered, you must become certified as a dietitian in Washington before you may legally work there. You have the choice of applying online or using the paper Dietitian/Nutritionist Certification Application Packet. A background check will also be performed. Pay all necessary fees online and upload or mail required documentation as requested.
When you are certified, that certification will expire yearly on your birthday (unless your initial certification has been issued within 90 days of your birthday). Make sure to pay the renewal fee and fulfill any continuing education requirements in a timely manner. The CDR will also demand that you complete 75 hours of continuing education every five years to maintain your registration with them, as well as pay a renewal fee.
Salaries as a Dietitian in Washington State
The annual median wage for Washington dietitians, as of May 2021, is $70,260, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages may vary depending where in Washington state you work, as is notable in this table:
| Metropolitan Area of Washington | Annual Median Wage for Dietitians |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $74,640 |
| Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue | $70,260 |
| Olympia/Tumwater | $62,220 |
| Spokane/Spokane Valley | $61,940 |
| Kennewick/Richland | $61,370 |
| Yakima | $60,110 |
Jobs for Washington State Registered, Certified Dietitians
Once you have obtained registration and certification as a dietitian in Washington state, finding a job should not be a problem. Here are just a few examples of the many jobs for registered dietitians in Washington posted in October 2022:
- Registered Dietician- University of Washington, Seattle
- Wages: $5777 to $9034/month
- Must be a Registered Dietitian
- Must be a Certified Dietitian in Washington
- Master’s degree preferred
- Certification as a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist or Certified Nutrition Support Clinician preferred
- Diabetic and Nutrition Educator – Trios Health, Kennewick
- Wages: $53,400 to $67,700/year
- Must be a Registered Dietitian
- Must be a Certified Dietitian in Washington
- Must possess at least a bachelor’s degree in nutrition or a related field
- Must have six months to one year of experience in the field
- Registered Dietitian I/II – Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle
- Wages: $66,000 to $83,600/year
- Must be a Registered Dietitian
- Must be a Certified Dietitian in Washington
- Must have a bachelor’s degree in nutrition or a related field
- Master’s degree preferred
- 24 months of experience preferred
- Certification as Specialist in Oncology Nutrition preferred
- Medical Weight Loss Specialist Dietitian – MultiCare Clinics, Tacoma
- Wages: $59,200 to $75,000/year
- Must be a Registered Dietitian
- Must be a Certified Dietitian in Washington
- Must have a bachelor’s degree in nutrition or a related field
- Master’s degree preferred
- Must have one year of related experience
- Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management preferred (or obtainable within two to three years of hire)
- Registered Dietitian – Kaiser Permanente, Bellevue
- Wages: $87,800 to $111,000/year
- Must be a Registered Dietitian
- Must be a Certified Dietitian in Washington
- Must have a bachelor’s degree in nutrition or a related field
- Master’s degree preferred
- Must have 12 months of experience as a dietitian in an outpatient setting