31121 – Dietitians and nutritionists
31121 – Dietitians and nutritionists
Dietitians and nutritionists assess nutrition related issues of individuals and groups and develop, implement and evaluate nutrition care plans to prevent, treat and manage disease. They manage food and nutrition service systems, and plan health promotion programs. They are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, home health-care agencies and extended care facilities, community health centres, the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, educational institutions, and government and sports organizations, or they may work as private consultants.
Profile
Index of titles
Administrative dietitian
Administrative nutritionist
Clinical dietitian
Clinical nutritionist
Community dietitian
Community nutritionist
Consultant dietitian
Consultant nutritionist
Dietetic consultant
Dietician
Dietitian
Dietitian-nutritionist
Nutrition and dietetics researcher
Nutrition consultant
Nutrition researcher
Nutrition specialist
Nutritionist
Private practice dietitian
Professional dietitian (P.Dt.)
Professional nutritionist
Public health dietitian
Public health nutritionist
Registered dietitian (RD)
Registered dietitian-nutritionist (RDN)
Registered nutritionist
Registered professional dietitian
Registered professional nutritionist
Research dietitian
Research nutritionist
Therapeutic dietitian
Therapeutic nutritionist
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Develop, implement and evaluate nutrition programs and services for individuals, communities and populations
Manage food service systems in hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, privately owned-food service outlets or similar settings
Provide nutrition guidance, label interpretation and consultation services to health professionals, individuals, dietetic interns, community groups, government and the media
Evaluate nutritional status of individuals and aid in the prevention and/or treatment of inadequate nutrition
Plan, evaluate and conduct nutrition education programs and develop educational materials for various audiences
Practice on an individual basis or as a member of an interdisciplinary team to determine nutritional needs of patients and to plan, implement and evaluate normal and therapeutic diets to maintain and enhance general health
Analyze current scientific nutritional studies, conduct research and evaluate program effectiveness to improve the nutritional value, taste, appearance and preparation of food
Work within industry in the development, testing and evaluation, and marketing of food and nutrition products or as a company representative supplying product related information to health professionals
Confer with other health professionals, community groups, government and the media to provide consultation and advice in areas of nutrition interpretation, intervention and policy
Supervise training of dietetic interns.
Employment requirements
Dietitians require a bachelor's degree in dietetics, nutrition or a related field such as food and nutritional science from a program accredited by the Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP), and a period of supervised practical training.
Successful completion of the Canadian Dietetic Registration Exam (CDRE) is required in all provinces except Quebec.
Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces for dietitians.
Membership in the national association, Dietitians of Canada, is voluntary.
Registration with a regulatory body is required for nutritionists in Nova Scotia, Quebec and Alberta. In the remaining provinces, nutritionists may require the same education and practical training as dietitians.
Membership with the national association, Dietitians of Canada, and/or a provincial regulatory body is available for nutritionists who have the same education and practical training as dietitians.
Additional information
Dietitians and nutritionists may progress to management positions through additional experience.
Dietitians and nutritionists may specialize in areas such as administrative dietetics, clinical dietetics, community dietetics, public health nutrition or research dietetics.
Dietitions and nutritionists are protected titles and used interchangeably in Nova Scotia, Quebec and Alberta. In these provinces, nutritionists require the same level of education and training as dietitians.
In some provinces, dietitians who work as Public Health Nutritionists and dietetic education program coordinators may require a Master’s degree.
Exclusions
Dietary technician (in 32129 Other medical technologists and technicians)
Director of dietetics; director of dietetics (in 30010 Managers in health care)
Holistic nutritionist (in 32209 Other practitioners of natural healing )
Home economist (in 41403 Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers)
Food service supervisors (62020)
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