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Dietitians diagnose and treat people with nutrition problems and help people make healthy lifestyle and dietary decisions.
You could work: weekends; occasionally
In this role you could:
In a hospital, you could:
In the community, you may:
You could work in an NHS or private hospital, in the community, at a research facility or at a health centre.
You can get into this job through:
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 with an acceptable level of human physiology and biochemistry.
You might be able to get additional student financial support through the NHS Learning Support Fund.
You'll usually need:
You might be able to do a dietitian degree apprenticeship.
This typically takes 4 years to complete as a mix of workplace learning and academic study at an approved university.
If you complete your apprenticeship successfully, you'll be eligible for full membership of the British Dietetic Association.
You'll usually need:
You could work as a dietetic assistant and study part-time for a degree to qualify as a dietitian.
You'll find it helpful to get some paid or voluntary experience in the health or care sector before you apply for a course.
You could contact the voluntary services co-ordinator at your local NHS trust for further advice.
You can also find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT.
You'll need to:
When applying for courses and apprenticeships, you'll be expected to have an understanding of how NHS values apply in your work.
You may find it useful to join organisations like the British Dietetic Association for training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
You'll find more advice about becoming a dietitian from the British Dietetic Association and Health Careers.
With experience you could become a team leader or department manager. You could also become self-employed.
You might take further training to use your skills in education, manufacturing, research, journalism, marketing, advertising or public relations.