Dietitian
Dietitians diagnose and treat people with nutrition problems and help them to make healthy lifestyle and dietary choices.
- Potential salary
- £32,000 starter to £48,000 experienced per year
- Typical hours
- 37 to 40. Working pattern: weekends occasionally.
- Career area
- Health and care
- Where they might work
- You could work in an NHS or private hospital, in the community, at a research facility or at a health centre. Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
- A typical task
- assess patients and diagnose dietary issues
- Subjects that may help
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- Typical route
- You'll need a degree or postgraduate qualification in dietetics or human nutrition, accredited by the British Dietetic Association .
- Interest area used here
- Health and laboratory science, Helping and teaching
What you might do
- assess patients and diagnose dietary issues
- create personalised treatment plans with patients
- monitor patients' progress and adjust treatments as necessary
- provide practical and sensitive dietary and medication advice
- support people living with or recovering from disease
- run community clinics for issues like food allergies or weight loss
More tasks (3)
- manage a caseload and update confidential clinical records
- work closely with other health professionals
- raise awareness of the importance of diet and healthy eating
Could this suit me?
Consider which of these skills and ways of working appeal to you.
- knowledge of biology
- active listening skills
- sensitivity and understanding
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- diagnosing, monitoring and recording skills
More skills
- the ability to work well with others
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Routes into this career
University route
- You'll need a degree or postgraduate qualification in dietetics or human nutrition, accredited by the British Dietetic Association .
- You might be able to take a postgraduate course if you already have a degree that includes a sufficient level of human physiology and biochemistry.
- You might be able to get extra student financial support through the NHS Learning Support Fund .
- You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology or chemistry
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- NHS Learning Support Fund
- university courses and entry requirements
University courses that could lead to this career
These are course families, not published offers. A link does not mean the degree is sufficient on its own.
- Dietetics
Direct qualifying route. Registration depends on an approved dietetics qualification, not a general nutrition title.
- Food Science
Related, but not enough on its own. Food science is not dietetics.
- Nutrition
Related, but not enough on its own. Nutrition is not an approved dietetics qualification unless the university explicitly says it is.
Apprenticeship or vocational route
- You may be able to apply for a Dietitian Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship, with an NHS trust.
- This typically takes around 4 years to complete and is a mix of workplace learning and academic study at an approved university.
- You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, preferably including biology, for a degree apprenticeship
- equivalent entry requirements
- guide to apprenticeships
Career progression
- With experience you could become a team leader or department manager. You could also become a self-employed dietitian.
- You might choose to specialise in a particular area, for example diabetes, weight management, cancer care or eating disorders.
- You could also use your skills and knowledge to work in:
- health promotion and education
- medical and technology research
- food manufacturing
- sports nutrition
Registration and requirements
you'll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council
pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults
Subjects that may help
Subject guidance
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology or chemistry
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, preferably including biology, for a degree apprenticeship