How to Become a Dietitian

To start on your path to becoming a dietitian, pursue your undergraduate degree at a university with a programme approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Then, you can register with the HCPC, which will open various career paths and work settings for you to choose from. As a dietitian, you’ll help your clients with meal planning and preparation and educate them on the foods they should eat or avoid to optimise their health.

Explore the process for becoming a dietitian, including the educational requirements, supervised training, registration, and credentials that can help your career.

Meet educational requirements 

To work as a dietitian, you must have a bachelor's degree in dietetics. If you earned an undergraduate degree in a related field, you will need to obtain a postgraduate diploma or higher degree in dietetics. However, another option to work in this profession is to undertake a dietetic degree apprenticeship, which combines learning while on the job with the coursework for a university degree. 

You must choose a degree programme approved by the HCPC. Additionally, while not required, you might want to check that the British Dietetic Association (BDA), the professional body that designs the curriculum for this vocation,  accredits your potential programme. Because acquiring BDA accreditation is a rigorous process, you can feel more confident when selecting a programme with it. You'll need to graduate from an HCPC-approved programme to register with the HCPC as a dietitian. To work as an official dietitian, you must register with the HCPC. 

Earn a bachelor’s degree in dietetics

The first step to becoming a dietitian is to earn a bachelor’s degree from an HCPC-approved programme. The typical programme you will complete to qualify as a dietician is a BSc Hons in Dietetics or a related science degree programme along with a master’s. All approved courses require both teaching and supervised practical experience. 

Some employers may accept a dietetic degree apprenticeship if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree. Qualifications for apprenticeships vary.  

Consider advanced degrees 

Some dietitians with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics or a science-related field, such as biochemistry, health sciences, or human nutrition, pursue a postgraduate programme that leads to either a master’s (MSc) or postgraduate diploma (PgDip) in dietetics. 

Undergo required training 

Dietitians undergo several years of supervised training through practical experience as part of the programme requirements. To become a dietitian, you must meet the requirements of both the practical experience and academic components of the courses within the programme. A few topics you might study within the programme include physiology, applied sciences, and research methods related to nutrition and dietetics.

Complete practical experience 

Practical experience is a critical step to becoming a dietitian, as it can help narrow your focus before entering a programme, reinforce what you learn in your studies, and demonstrate your interest in the field. Your programme of study will include both practical experience and academic study. Prepare to complete practical placements, typically within the NHS and other health and care settings, arranged by the university. Supervised by professionals, these placements help you develop real-world skills and practice that knowledge in working environments. Placements are full-time, around 37 hours weekly.

Meet programme requirements

University entry requirements for dietetics programmes vary, but generally, you'll need A levels in biology and chemistry or their equivalent, such as an International Baccalaureate or BTEC Diploma. GCSEs in English, maths, and science are also typically required. For postgraduate programmes, an undergraduate degree with sufficient human physiology and biochemistry is necessary.

All programmes must have HCPC approval, and while BDA accreditation for the programme is voluntary, having it provides a high level of reputability to the course. To check whether a programme has HCPC approval, visit the organisation’s website, which offers a directory of all eligible programmes. Furthermore, you might decide to undertake a programme with HCPC approval and BDA accreditation, and you can find a list of these on the BDA website. 

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) is responsible for the programme curriculum, which outlines the expectations for newly-qualified dietitians and guides universities in delivering relevant programs that meet the needs of the dietetic field.

Register with HCPC

After completing an approved programme from a university, you are now eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC to become a registered dietician. It is also a legal requirement in the UK for anyone who wants to practice under the ‘dietician.’ 

Once approved, you will receive a listing on the HCPC online register as a registered dietitian. Note that ‘dietitian’ is a protected term only after registering with the HCPC. Also, the terms ‘nutritionist’ and ‘dietician’ are not interchangeable.

After qualifying, dietitians often join the BDA as they must keep their skills current through annual CPD (continuing professional development) as a requirement of continued registration with the HCPC. The BDA offers courses, conferences, and other learning resources to update skills and share ideas.

Career pathways for dietitians 

You can also pursue a variety of career paths with your training as a dietitian.

These include:

• Acute dietitian

• Community dietitian

• Diabetes dietitian

• Paediatric dietitian

• Cancer and palliative care dietitian

• Home enteral feeding dietitian

Skills needed to work as a dietitian

As a dietitian, you will work with clients or patients and have strong communication and listening skills. You’ll also need empathy and compassion to work with people who sometimes face tough challenges. You should have solid problem-solving and organisational skills to find treatment solutions while tracking patient paperwork and other administrative tasks. Additionally, you need IT skills to access and work with patients’ records.

Speaking languages other than English is beneficial if you work in communities where many residents speak different languages. As a dietitian, you should be comfortable speaking with others, including in groups. 

You’ll use your teaching and coaching skills to manage and guide others when pursuing leadership positions. Dietitians may, at times, present to community members on diet-related issues.

Work environment and industries where dietitians work 

Dietitians commonly work in private healthcare, NHS hospitals, health clinics, care homes, research facilities, or anywhere else in the community that needs them. They may work with individuals or groups of people. Both sick and healthy people may seek the aid of a dietitian. For example, as a dietitian, you may help someone recover from an eating disorder or improve nutrition to enhance athletic performance.   

You can work in various industries, including education, media, catering, sports, workplace, and more. Many times, dietitians work as part of multidisciplinary teams to meet the needs of clients with complex issues such as diabetes, IBS syndrome, and kidney failure. You may also educate and train other health and social care workers. 

Some dietitians open their own practices, work with patients, or contract with healthcare or food organisations. As a freelance dietitian, you may work in sports or private health sectors, but you can also consider pursuing opportunities in the food industry or with public relations companies.

You could also pursue teaching positions at universities and research institutions.

Average salary and job outlook for dietitians 

According to Glassdoor, as of October 2024, dietitians' average annual base salary is £223,608. Depending on other factors, the average base range for this profession is from £196,000 to £296,000 per year [1].

The BDA reports a high demand for dietitians in the UK. You will enjoy solid earning potential and generally receive a high level of respect thanks to your focus on helping others.   

Begin your journey to becoming a dietitian on Coursera

If you enjoy helping people, a career as a dietitian could prove to be an excellent match for your goals and interests. Continue learning and discover more about the skills needed to work as a dietician with an online course or programme to boost your CV. 

Begin your path to becoming a dietitian by exploring the field through an online course, such as Stanford University’s Stanford Introduction to Food and Health, available on Coursera. Or consider an option like Diabetes—The Essential Facts, a specialised course in dietetics offered by the University of Copenhagen and also on Coursera.