OPT Clinical Dietitian Jobs
Clinical Dietitian jobs on OPT require a registered dietitian credential, which means passing the RD exam and meeting state licensure requirements before you can practice. Most roles qualify as STEM-adjacent under healthcare science, supporting a 24-month STEM OPT extension for eligible F-1 students with qualifying degrees.
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OHSU is Oregon’s only public academic health center. We are a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and southwest Washington. We are an institution of higher learning, with schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and public health – and with a network of campuses and partners throughout Oregon. We are a national research hub, with thousands of scientists developing lifesaving therapies and deeper understanding. We are a statewide economic engine and Portland’s largest employer. And as a public organization, we provide services for the most vulnerable Oregonians, and outreach to improve health in communities across the state.
The purpose of this position is to provide specialized medical nutrition therapy to pediatric patients with congenital and/or acquired diseases of infancy and childhood using the nutrition care process of assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and monitoring and evaluation; to reduce morbidity and mortality due to malnutrition, and to promote wellness. Position includes Adolescent Health (Eating Disorders), Weight Management, and GI. May also provide care to adult patients as dictated by staffing needs.
Function/Duties of Position:
Provides medical nutrition therapy to pediatric outpatient population
Nutrition Assessment:
- Consults medical team, nursing, social work, and other therapies (PT/OT/Speech and Language, etc.) concerning problems affecting patient's food habits and needs; interviews parents or care giver to obtain diet history, food or formula tolerances, allergies, social/economic/cultural information, food preparation habits and cooking facilities; inquiries about food preferences, chewing or swallowing difficulties, completes anthropometric measurements; analyzes patient's data (diagnosis, medications, medical history) to determine nutritional status and develop nutrition care plan.
Nutrition Care Plan:
- Recommends and documents appropriate medical nutrition therapy; advises physicians, nurses, and other health care team regarding implementation of nutrition care; selects types and amounts of food for special diets based on indicated physiological, psychological and biochemical needs of patients and integrates them with food preferences; indicates mode of feeding for infants or children with chewing or swallowing difficulties; assesses the need for alternate means of nutrition support (i.e. enteral vs. parenteral) and develops appropriate formulation.
Nutrition Care Plan Follow-up:
- Evaluates meals served for conformance to prescribed diet and standards of palatability and appearance; conducts nutrition rounds to note patient's adherence to nutritional plan; monitors anthropometric, biochemical indices and caloric intake to determine appropriateness of care plan; modifies nutritional intervention as necessary; participates in patient care conferences and multi-disciplinary team meetings; plans for patient, parent or care giver counseling for nutrition modification.
Nutrition Instruction:
- Counsels' patient, parents, or care giver in appropriate diet and/or formula modifications; provides educational materials and verbal instruction to support inpatient and outpatient nutrition care plan; provides education material to other health team members regarding infant formulas, nutrition supplements or diet modifications; acts a resource for OHSU and surrounding community in the area of pediatric nutrition.
Required Qualifications:
- A bachelor’s degree with specialization in dietetics, nutrition, institution management, or a closely related field and completion of a pre-planned professional experience in dietetics at a facility approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
- Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
- Licensed Dietitian in the state of Oregon
- Additional certifications may be required based on the specific department the position resides in, as indicated by the position description.
Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):
- Must be proficient in the nutrition care process.
- Must be able to determine the nutrient requirements of the pediatric inpatient and outpatient to ensure adequate nutrient intake and/or replacement of nutrients loss secondary to medical condition;
- determine the nutrient make-up of patients meal patterns and medications (dosage and timing) that affect nutrient and/or drug bioavailability;
- determine malnutrition and recommend and administer medical nutrition therapy to improve digestion, absorption and metabolism of nutrients;
- make recommendations concerning adjustment of some medications that relate to nutrition, in order to promote increased well-being of the patient, maintenance of acceptable blood chemistries, increased bioavailability of drugs, decreased hospitalization days, and cost-effectiveness of regimens.
- Must complete annual age specific competency training and post test.
Preferred Qualifications:
- MS in Nutrition or related field
- 2 years clinical experience with 1 year working in pediatrics strongly preferred
- Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition or other qualifying certification to meet the criteria of Clinical Dietitian Specialist. If employee meets criteria the position will be reclassified as a Clinical Dietitian Specialist.
- WA Certificate (CD) required within six months of hire.
Additional Details:
Day Shift; days may vary; includes evening clinics. Weekend and holiday rotations. Shares office with 4-10 other dietitians, position may include hybrid-telework.
Why apply to OHSU?: We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.edu
Department Overview:
OHSU is Oregon’s only public academic health center. We are a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and southwest Washington. We are an institution of higher learning, with schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and public health – and with a network of campuses and partners throughout Oregon. We are a national research hub, with thousands of scientists developing lifesaving therapies and deeper understanding. We are a statewide economic engine and Portland’s largest employer. And as a public organization, we provide services for the most vulnerable Oregonians, and outreach to improve health in communities across the state.
The purpose of this position is to provide specialized medical nutrition therapy to pediatric patients with congenital and/or acquired diseases of infancy and childhood using the nutrition care process of assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and monitoring and evaluation; to reduce morbidity and mortality due to malnutrition, and to promote wellness. Position includes Adolescent Health (Eating Disorders), Weight Management, and GI. May also provide care to adult patients as dictated by staffing needs.
Function/Duties of Position:
Provides medical nutrition therapy to pediatric outpatient population
Nutrition Assessment:
- Consults medical team, nursing, social work, and other therapies (PT/OT/Speech and Language, etc.) concerning problems affecting patient's food habits and needs; interviews parents or care giver to obtain diet history, food or formula tolerances, allergies, social/economic/cultural information, food preparation habits and cooking facilities; inquiries about food preferences, chewing or swallowing difficulties, completes anthropometric measurements; analyzes patient's data (diagnosis, medications, medical history) to determine nutritional status and develop nutrition care plan.
Nutrition Care Plan:
- Recommends and documents appropriate medical nutrition therapy; advises physicians, nurses, and other health care team regarding implementation of nutrition care; selects types and amounts of food for special diets based on indicated physiological, psychological and biochemical needs of patients and integrates them with food preferences; indicates mode of feeding for infants or children with chewing or swallowing difficulties; assesses the need for alternate means of nutrition support (i.e. enteral vs. parenteral) and develops appropriate formulation.
Nutrition Care Plan Follow-up:
- Evaluates meals served for conformance to prescribed diet and standards of palatability and appearance; conducts nutrition rounds to note patient's adherence to nutritional plan; monitors anthropometric, biochemical indices and caloric intake to determine appropriateness of care plan; modifies nutritional intervention as necessary; participates in patient care conferences and multi-disciplinary team meetings; plans for patient, parent or care giver counseling for nutrition modification.
Nutrition Instruction:
- Counsels' patient, parents, or care giver in appropriate diet and/or formula modifications; provides educational materials and verbal instruction to support inpatient and outpatient nutrition care plan; provides education material to other health team members regarding infant formulas, nutrition supplements or diet modifications; acts a resource for OHSU and surrounding community in the area of pediatric nutrition.
Required Qualifications:
- A bachelor’s degree with specialization in dietetics, nutrition, institution management, or a closely related field and completion of a pre-planned professional experience in dietetics at a facility approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
- Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
- Licensed Dietitian in the state of Oregon
- Additional certifications may be required based on the specific department the position resides in, as indicated by the position description.
Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):
- Must be proficient in the nutrition care process.
- Must be able to determine the nutrient requirements of the pediatric inpatient and outpatient to ensure adequate nutrient intake and/or replacement of nutrients loss secondary to medical condition;
- determine the nutrient make-up of patients meal patterns and medications (dosage and timing) that affect nutrient and/or drug bioavailability;
- determine malnutrition and recommend and administer medical nutrition therapy to improve digestion, absorption and metabolism of nutrients;
- make recommendations concerning adjustment of some medications that relate to nutrition, in order to promote increased well-being of the patient, maintenance of acceptable blood chemistries, increased bioavailability of drugs, decreased hospitalization days, and cost-effectiveness of regimens.
- Must complete annual age specific competency training and post test.
Preferred Qualifications:
- MS in Nutrition or related field
- 2 years clinical experience with 1 year working in pediatrics strongly preferred
- Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition or other qualifying certification to meet the criteria of Clinical Dietitian Specialist. If employee meets criteria the position will be reclassified as a Clinical Dietitian Specialist.
- WA Certificate (CD) required within six months of hire.
Additional Details:
Day Shift; days may vary; includes evening clinics. Weekend and holiday rotations. Shares office with 4-10 other dietitians, position may include hybrid-telework.
Why apply to OHSU?: We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.edu
See all 720+ OPT Clinical Dietitian Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Clinical Dietitian
Prioritize RD credential before your OPT start date
The RD exam through CDR is a hard requirement for most clinical dietitian roles. Sitting for and passing it before your OPT begins removes a major hiring barrier and signals to employers you're ready to work immediately without credential delays.
Target hospital systems with established HR infrastructure
Large hospital networks like academic medical centers and regional health systems have dedicated HR and legal teams familiar with OPT paperwork. Smaller private practices often lack the administrative capacity to manage work authorization documentation, making them less reliable OPT sponsors.
Confirm state licensure compatibility with your OPT timeline
Dietitian licensure requirements vary by state, and some states have processing times of six to twelve weeks. Apply for your state license as early as possible so licensure and your OPT employment authorization overlap cleanly from day one.
Frame your STEM OPT extension eligibility upfront
Nutrition and dietetics degrees from STEM-designated programs qualify graduates for 24-month STEM OPT extensions. Telling employers you have three years of total OPT eligibility significantly reduces their concern about short authorization windows and H-1B visa transition timelines.
Target roles with H-1B sponsorship history in healthcare
Hospitals and healthcare systems that have previously sponsored H-1B visas for dietitians are far more likely to continue doing so. Ask HR directly whether they have sponsored work visas before and whether their legal team is familiar with healthcare specialty occupation filings.
Highlight clinical rotations and supervised practice hours clearly
Employers want proof of hands-on clinical competency, not just coursework. Quantify your supervised practice hours, the patient populations you worked with, and any specialty areas like renal, oncology, or critical care nutrition to differentiate yourself from other new graduates.
Clinical Dietitian OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Clinical Dietitian jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree program's CIP code. Nutrition and dietetics programs classified under STEM-designated codes qualify graduates for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of total OPT work authorization. Confirm your program's designation with your DSO before assuming eligibility, as not every nutrition degree program holds STEM status.
How do I find Clinical Dietitian employers who sponsor OPT?
Migrate Mate is the most direct way to find clinical dietitian roles where employers are open to OPT work authorization. Searching general job boards makes it difficult to filter for sponsorship-friendly employers. Migrate Mate surfaces roles specifically relevant to F-1 OPT students, saving you the time of filtering through listings that won't work for your situation.
Do I need to be a Registered Dietitian to work on OPT as a Clinical Dietitian?
Yes, virtually all clinical dietitian roles require RD credentials from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Most states also require a state dietitian license before you can practice. Both credentials are independent of your immigration status, but they must be secured before or immediately at the start of your OPT employment period to avoid gaps in authorized work.
Is Clinical Dietitian considered a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. Clinical dietitian roles generally qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B rules because they require at minimum a bachelor's degree in dietetics, nutrition science, or a directly related field. The position's direct reliance on a specific body of specialized knowledge makes it a strong fit for H-1B petitions, which matters when you're evaluating employers for long-term sponsorship potential beyond OPT.
Can I work as a Clinical Dietitian at multiple healthcare facilities on OPT?
OPT work must be directly related to your degree and at least 20 hours per week for full-time OPT students. Working at multiple facilities is permitted if the combined work is consistent with your authorized field. Each employer must be reported to your DSO through your school's system. Unauthorized employment, even part-time at a second site, puts your OPT status at risk.