Are you passionate about good food and interested in helping people learn about nutrition? If so, a career as a dietitian may be perfect for you! Dietitians assess, develop, deliver, and evaluate strategies and programs related to food and nutrition. They also conduct research and promote food safety.

The Role of a Dietitian

To become a dietitian, you'll need to complete 5 years of post-secondary education and obtain certifications that are provincially regulated. The average salary for this position is $46.41 per hour, and the demand for dietitians is typically less than 1,500 per province each year.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Assess the nutritional status of individuals and communities
  • Develop, deliver, and assess nutritional programs
  • Manage food or nutrition services and operations
  • Help individuals, families, consumer groups, communities, and industry apply nutrition principles
  • Develop and deliver food services, nutrition education, and health promotion programs
  • Conduct research on food, nutrition, health promotion, and food service systems management

Work Settings

Many dietitians work in healthcare, health promotion, education, businesses, private practice, or research. Clinical dietitians provide nutrition counseling, while community dietitians focus on community nutritional needs. Administrative dietitians manage food services, and research dietitians support studies on diet and health.

Skills and Traits

For success as a dietitian, critical thinking, science, food, health interest, and excellent communication skills are vital. Creativity, flexibility, honesty, ethics, care, tact, assurance, practicality, and results focus are essential characteristics. Enjoying education, studying, people interaction, and problem-solving are beneficial.

National Occupational Classification Codes

If you're thinking about a dietitian career, consider these NOC codes: 2006 NOC (3132), 2006 NOC-S (D032), 2011 NOC (3132), 2016 NOC (3132), and 2021 NOC (31121).

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