How to become A Dietitian

• Registered Dietitian
• Food Technologist
• Food Scientist
• Clinical Dietitian
• Dietary Services Manager

What do Dietitians do?

A Dietitian would typically need to:

• Undertake nutritional assessments of patients with a range of complex medical conditions, using scientific methods
• Educate and advise patients with diet-related disorders on the practical ways to improve their health and prevent disease
• Devise, monitor, review and develop customized nutritional care plans taking both clients’ preferences and budgets into account
• Evaluate the effects of meal plans, change the plans as needed, develop new food products, and evaluate their nutritional content
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team; gain the patients' cooperation in following recommended dietary treatments
• Liaise with hospital staff and external agencies to ensure the smooth transition of patients discharged from hospital back into the community so that they can continue their diet plan
• Promote good health by writing and publishing articles to educate the public and other healthcare professionals about food and nutrition issues
• Set up and monitor clinical trials; record all assessments and interventions, write reports and case notes, and maintain accurate records
• Advise hospital catering departments about any specific dietary requirements of patients
• Support schools in providing healthy school meals and supervision of less experienced staff; run clinics in hospital outpatients departments or GP surgeries
• Prepare information packs, flyers and other promotional materials about healthy food choices; advise food and pharmaceutical industries
• Train and mentor pre-registration students while supporting and supervising less experienced staff
• Provide comprehensive advice on matters of well being to a range of audiences; keep up with or contribute to the latest food and nutritional science research

Travel to meet clients or official events is probable. A Dietitian may alternate between working in the lab or kitchen and behind a desk. Slacks teamed with a collared shirt, and a lab coat seems to be the most preferred dress code.

Most Dietitians work full-time and their hours vary depending on where they are employed. They may work evenings and weekends to meet with clients who are unavailable at other times. Some Dietitians become self-employed, where they may have a more flexible schedule tailored to suit the clients’ availability and may include evenings and weekends. Job-sharing, part-time work, and opportunities for career breaks are possible.

Opportunities exist in the voluntary sector and with international relief agencies. Jobs are available in most areas, with breaks in towns and cities. With experience, self-employment and freelance work are possible. Dietitians also work in war-torn regions and with refugee food programs like the UN. You may need additional qualifications for working abroad.

Dietitians are generally employed by:

• Hospitals, Nursing Homes & Clinics
• Food Industry
• State & Local Authorities
• Education & Research Institutes
• Media
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Public Health Organizations
• Sports Nutrition Companies
• Supermarket Chains
• Trade Associations & Promotional Groups
• Public Relations Companies
• Government & Non-Governmental Organizations

The International Confederation of Dietetic Associations (ICDA) is an organization of national associations of Dietitians and Nutritionists. They promote international standards of good practice, enhance the image of the profession, raise awareness of the profession, study the work and education of Dietitians and Nutritionists around the world, support collaboration among dietetics associations, and support dialogue among Dietitians and Nutritionists around the world.

• Demanding patient caseloads
• Cultural awareness
• Educating clients and meeting client expectations
• Funding for Pamphlets & Brochure

Aspiring Dietitians usually need to complete a Dietetic Internship (DI), which consists of at least 1200 hours of supervised experience. Some schools offer coordinated programs that allow students to complete supervised training as part of their undergraduate or graduate-level coursework.

A Voluntary / paid internship within a Dietetic department at the local hospital shows your commitment to and understanding of the field. Experience in care work, with a nutrition-related charity or as a healthcare assistant, is also useful.

A Dietitian typically requires a bachelor's degree in Dietetics, nutritional science, clinical nutrition, public health nutrition, food and nutrition management, food service systems management.

In some countries, you must be registered with the local Health organization after completing an approved undergraduate degree in dietetics. Applicants who have a degree in biochemistry, biomedical science, health sciences, and human nutrition, nutritional science, physiology will also be considered if they have an approved postgraduate degree. You may also join accredited programs lasting three to four years.

Entry into the profession without an approved degree or postgraduate qualification is possible as a Dietetic Assistant Practitioner. Your employer may support you in studying for an approved degree to become a Dietitian, many of who have an advanced academic degree.

Successful certification programs protect the public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. Investigating Dietitians that practice outside the Code earns trust and respect, which are the most critical elements in securing a professional’s future. Dietitians may choose to earn specialty certifications in topics such as oncology nutrition, pediatric nutrition, renal nutrition, or sports dietetics.

Licensing is done by individual government entities, and typically requires the passage of an examination and interview in addition to fulfillment of eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship.

A Dietitian may move up the career ladder to a Dietitian Specialist role. Once you have gained experience, you may progress to the management level with responsibility for a team, department, and budget. You may decide to specialize in an area such as gastroenterology, diabetes, cancer, or with a specific group of clients, such as children or older adults.

Dietitians in the food and drink industry can move into product development and marketing roles. There are also opportunities in sport, health education, public relations, scientific research, and journalism. You may choose to do further training and move into teaching, mentoring, and research. Self-employment might involve combining freelance work for organizations with writing for health publications.

Advanced degrees or certification in a specialty area may ensure better job prospects.

To maintain the registered Dietitian credential, Dietitians may need to complete continuing professional education credits regularly. Continuing professional development (CPD) is an important part of being a Dietitian and is an essential requirement of continued registration with professional organizations.

As a registered Dietitian, you can become a full member of The International Confederation of Dietetic Associations (ICDA), which runs regular post-registration training organized by special interest groups within the association and focuses on professionalism, leadership and management skills. Food manufacturers also offer Dietitian courses about new products via ancillaries of ICDA.

You may wish to undertake postgraduate study in your area of specialism. Masters modules are available in the areas of Dietetic practice, which can be taken either as stand-alone or master’s programs.

Anyone can call themselves a Nutritionist. To hold the registered Dietitian title, you must study nutrition at a university, complete a year-long dietetic internship, and take an RD exam. It’s a long process, so you can rest assured that every RD worked hard for that title–don’t call them a Nutritionist!

Specialization

The field of Dietetics holds greater scope than just healthy food, and Dietitians may choose to specialize in certain areas.

Clinical Dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy to patients with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, bariatric surgery, and much more. Community Registered Dietitians offer programs and counsel on proper diet while providing nutrition to underserved populations.

Management Dietitians plan meal programs in cafeterias, hospitals, prisons, and schools. They may also serve as instructors in dietary courses and training programs. Public Health Dietitians work to change nutrition and food public policy. Sports Dietitians teach athletes how to make the right food choices to boost their athletic performance.

Dietitian is derived from the word ‘dietetics’ which comes from the Greek word ‘diaitia’ and means ‘way of life.’

You may not be taken seriously by some healthcare professionals; the pay is terrible, but to be able to end the day knowing that you have reversed a disease rather than throwing drugs at it is the best feeling in the world.

You know that a majority of the medical costs that are bankrupting families, companies, and nations could be eliminated with better nutrition. If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have the safest way to health.