There are a number of possibilities for you to pursue. Most individuals complete one of the following 3 or 4 year university degrees:
- Nutrition and Dietetics (or a certified nutrition science degree)
- Exercise and/ or sport science
- Medicine or biomedical science
Most individuals have professional recognition through completion of an accredited degree (eg. Registered Dietitian or Exercise Physiologist). Further to this, most individuals complete further training and education in sports nutrition. This may include one of the following:
- Post graduate diploma
- Masters or PhD (research)
- Recognised sports nutrition course
- Industry experience
There are many courses that will offer training in sports nutrition or general nutrition. When considering training for a career in sports nutrition, please consider the following:
- Is the course is recognized by internationally recognized experts in this field?
- Will completion of the course allow you to be recognized as a sports nutrition professional by professional organisations?
- Does the course take an evidenced based approach to teaching nutrition?
If you are interested in completing a course in sports nutrition for your own interest, then it is still important that you consider the following:
- Is the course taught by individuals that have recognised training in sports nutrition or are recognised leaders in the field?
- Is the course taught at a reputable institution?
- Is the course backed by evidence, particularly in the area of nutrition science and performance nutrition?
- Who funds the course and do they have a vested interest in selling their product?
If you get the appropriate training in sports nutrition, you may be able to work in any of the following fields:
- Working with sporting teams
- Working with individual athletes in private practice (registered dietitian)
- Assisting with food provision for athletes
- Conducting research relevant to athletic performance, recovery and injury prevention
- Working with food industry to ensure development of foods that are appropriate for sports performance
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