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The dietetic profession is extremely varied, with opportunities working in:
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the NHS
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private clinics
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public health
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the food industry
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sports nutrition
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the media
You could find yourself working with people who are in hospital, in a clinic setting, nursing homes or at home. You could be helping young children to manage their newly diagnosed diabetes or supporting an oncology patient through chemotherapy with taste changes and a poor appetite or advising on tube feeding regimens for patients who are struggling to meet their dietary needs through food due to ill-health.
Following your graduation, you will need to register with your professional body, the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC). You could also join the British Dietetic Association, the professional association for UK dietitians. Once you are HCPC registered, you will be eligible to work as a dietitian in the UK and overseas. Registered Dietitians are in high demand across the UK, and so employment opportunities following graduation are very good.
Further resources are available on the Association of UK Dietitians webpages.
A Day in the Life of a dietetic professional
Dietitian job description
Specialising in the field of food and nutrition, dietitians assess, diagnose, and treat dietary and nutritional problems for individuals but also for the wider public health. They promote good health and prevent and treat illnesses through personalised and evidence-based nutrition advice.
What would a typical day look like for a dietitian?
This can vary depending on the job setting but could include patient appointments and counselling, community outreach or group sessions, admin work and continuing education and research.
Where could I work?
Dietitians work in a variety of areas and specialisms and are recruited by a wide range of employers including the health service, higher education, independent and private practice, the voluntary sector including charities, the prison service, industry, media, and national/international sports teams.
You could find yourself working with people who are in hospital, in a clinic setting, nursing homes or at home. You could be helping young children to manage their newly diagnosed diabetes or supporting an oncology patient through chemotherapy with taste changes and a poor appetite or advising on tube feeding regimens for patients who are struggling to meet their dietary needs through food due to ill-health.
What would my starting salary be?
Most jobs in the NHS are covered by the Agenda for Change pay scales and as a recently graduated dietitian you will usually start at Band 5. Pay and conditions will vary depending upon your employer and competitive rates are offered throughout the private and voluntary sectors. You should always check with the employer to confirm the pay rate for any post for which you are applying.
What hours would I be working?
37.5 hours per week is standard in the NHS. You may be on-call and seven day working and shift patterns are likely to become more usual in the future. Outside of the NHS, your hours will be dictated by the context of where you work.
What is the career progression like for a Dietitian?
With experience and further training, there are opportunities for you to become a Clinical Lead, Team Lead or Department Manager. Some Dietitians decide to specialise in a particular clinical area or use their skills in areas relating to areas of education, research, and leadership. Some Dietitians decide to further their freelance practice or work in industry.
Are there more specialised roles in Dietetics?
Specialist Dietitian
Specialist Dietitians will usually spend their time in a specific area of practice and provide specialist dietetic advice to a caseload of patients. They may also train others in their own speciality.
Advanced Dietitian
Advanced Dietitians may act as the Dietetic lead for a specialist area of work - this could be as a team lead or clinical lead (or both!). They will provide expert advice to patients and other health professionals on complex cases. Advanced Dietitians may undertake research and are likely to train others within their area of speciality.
Dietetic Department manager
Department managers may manage, coordinate, and develop a department and its staff in order to provide effective dietetic services for the patients they see. They may also have a specialist clinical caseload.
Do I need a degree to be a dietitian?
To qualify as a Dietitian in the UK, you are required to successfully complete a programme at a university that has been approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in order to be eligible to apply for registration. HCPC registration is a legal requirement for anyone wishing to practice using the title Dietitian in the UK.