The first step toward becoming a certified nutritionist is most usually earning an accredited bachelor's degree in a health-related field. Many schools offer degrees that focus on nutrition. From there, you may complete an internship or clinical externship depending on your school's requirements and gain hands-on experience working with clients. While not all states require nutritionists to be certified, many employers do prefer to hire applicants that have industry-recognized certifications or credentials on their resume. Depending on which certification you pursue, you may also be expected to complete a graduate degree in nutrition to meet education requirements.