Dietitian : Entry requirements

Dietitians must be registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC)  in order to practice. There are two ways to become registered:

• complete an HPC approved degree in dietetics or nutrition and dietetics;
• complete a postgraduate diploma in dietetics.

There are currently 14 universities offering HPC approved degrees and eight universities offering the postgraduate diploma. Details of the institutions are available on the British Dietetic Association (BDA)  website.

The approved degree is usually a full-time course that lasts four years, while the postgraduate diploma is two years long. Both routes include practical training in a hospital or community setting.

To be accepted on to the postgraduate diploma candidates must have a relevant degree that contains an adequate level of human physiology and biochemistry. Contact individual institutions to find out further detail about their entry requirements.

Entry without an approved degree or postgraduate diploma is only available at the level of a dietetic assistant. From here your employer may support you in studying for a degree or professional qualification to then become a dietitian.

An interest in and knowledge of the scientific aspects of food is only one part of dietetics. A desire to communicate healthy eating information to a wide range of audiences and promote healthy food choices is also important. Candidates will also need to show evidence of the following:

• a good command of written and spoken English;
• excellent interpersonal skills;
• the desire to work in a care-based setting;
• the ability to keep up to date with current nutrition information and research.

Try to visit a dietetic unit before applying for a course as this is expected by some universities. It will be helpful in giving you an idea of the what the work will be like before you start down that route.

It is also useful to try to get some voluntary or paid work experience in a related hospital setting to indicate your interest and understanding of the area. This may prove advantageous when applying for courses and later on for jobs.

NHS grants may be available for approved courses. Check NHS Student Bursaries  for details. Bursary-funded places are limited so it is advisable to apply early. In Scotland, you should also contact the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) ; in Wales, NHS (Wales) Student Awards Unit ; and in Northern Ireland, the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland (DELNI) , as well as the institution to which you are applying, to check what funding you could claim. Contact course providers for further information on funding.

Competition is moderate: there is generally a good match between numbers applying and jobs available. It is not usually worth applying speculatively for jobs in the NHS, as most are advertised.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.