NOC 31121: Dietitians and nutritionists

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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.

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.

Dietitians and nutritionists may specialize in areas such as administrative dietetics, clinical dietetics, community dietetics, public health nutrition or research dietetics.

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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.

Good to know

• Dietitians 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.
• Dietitians and nutritionists may progress to management positions through additional experience.

Codes in the same group

Official sources

• noc.esdc.gc.caNOC 2021 Version 1.0: 31121 Dietitians and nutritionists
• statcan.gc.caStatistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0
• canada.caIRCC: Find your National Occupational Classification (NOC)
• canada.caIRCC: Express Entry, who can apply
• canada.caIRCC: Express Entry category-based selection