Dietitian
Explain to people how to change their eating habits to improve their physical and mental health. Help patients with medical conditions to get the right nutrition.
About the job
A day in the life – Dietitian
What it's like
As a dietitian, you'll use the science of food to help people live healthy and happy lives.
You'll work with people who have wide range of medical problems. They may have digestive issues, an eating disorder or a condition such as diabetes. Communication is key, you'll explain which foods are better for their health and motivate them to change their eating habits.
Many dietitians work for the National Health Service (NHS), based at a hospital or in the community. But it's a career with lots of possibilities and a wide variety of industries you could work in. For example, you could get into education, journalism, public relations and many more areas.
With experience, you might specialise in an area such as children's health, renal dietetics or cancer care. You could also go into a non-clinical role. This could be developing new products and calculating their nutritional value. Or representing a manufacturer's point of view in the media.
Your tasks might include:
holding one-to-one consultations with people and creating personalised diet plans
running clinics for people with diabetes or eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia
working with catering staff to create menus for patients with a range of dietary needs
raising awareness of the importance of healthy eating for physical and mental health
running health promotion workshops for healthcare professionals
giving advice to people with health problems linked to lack of confidence, depression or low income
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
British Dietetic Association –find advice and information on becoming a dietitian
NHS Scotland Careers – learn more about this role in the NHS
NHS Scotland Careers 360-degree video – see how a dietitian calculates a patient's body mass index (BMI), as if you're in the room
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- motivating others
- coaching
- time management
- taking initiative
- developing a plan
- empathising
- researching
- creative
- verbal communication
- supporting
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Biology
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Chemistry
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Human Biology
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You'll need a degree in Dietetics or Human Nutrition and Dietetics approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Check out some of the routes you could take to work towards this.
University
You’ll need a degree or postgraduate qualification in Dietetics or Human Nutrition and Dietetics
Other relevant subjects could help you get into a postgraduate course, such as:
Biochemistry
Human Biology and Physiology
Use the My World of Work course search to find degrees.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you get a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Social Sciences
Psychology
Sports Development
Applied Science
If you're an adult looking to get back into education, consider the Scottish Widening Access Programme (SWAP). It offers routes to university by learning at college first.
If you don't have a degree and have been out of education for at least three years, you could be eligible. You can read more about eligibility on the SWAP website.
Use the My World of Work course search to find opportunities at college.
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in areas such as:
Dental Nursing
Social Services and Healthcare
Social Services and Healthcare Technical
Discover MAs on Apprenticeships.scot.
volunteering or work experience in a health, education, or community setting, particularly in a role with a focus on food or nutrition
experience of teaching or facilitating nutrition workshops
experience of working with people from a range of backgrounds
a full UK driving licence
You’ll need to be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.
Once you've completed your degree, you must register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You’ll need this to work with any member of the public. Once registered, you're also eligible for full membership of the British Dietetic Association (BDA).
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