Dietitian

A dietitian translates the science of nutrition into everyday information about food, advising people and helping them make informed and practical choices about their food and nutrition. Dietitians assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems. They support changes to food intake to address diabetes, food allergies, coeliac disease and metabolic diseases.

Dietitians can improve patient lives by offering them advice about diet early in their pathway within primary care, keeping them well, in work and in control of their symptoms. Find out more about working as a dietitian.

Dietitians have a huge role to play in primary and community care settings and dietetic care pathways can have a sustainable positive patient impact by promoting good health and preventing disease in individuals and communities.

Download Dietitian job role, job descriptions and case studies

Training

Portrait of cheerful young friends having fresh juice by Jacob Lund from Noun Project https://thenounproject.com

To practice, dietitians must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). To register with the HCPC, completion of an approved degree in dietetics is required. This is usually a BSc (Hons) degree, although there are shortened postgraduate programmes available. A degree apprenticeship standard in dietetics has also been approved

Funding

Vegan dinner table setting of healthy dishes in plates on table with woman’ hands by Anna Ivanova from Noun Project https://thenounproject.com

The payband for a Dietitian is usually AfC Band 7.

100% of actual salary plus defined on costs, up to the maximum reimbursable amount of £53,724 over 12 months.

Working as a dietitian

The NHS Careers video below explains what it is like to work as a dietitian.

Early intervention

The video below produced by Health Education England (HEE) shows the significant health benefits of placing dietetic care early in people’s pathway within primary care.