Dietitian and Nutritionist - What’s the difference?

You will need to decide whether you wish to work as a nutritionist, or a dietitian, or perhaps in the food technology area. Compared to nutritionists, dietitians usually have the most comprehensive training (4-5 years at university), as opposed to the 3 years university a nutritionists may have. (The exception will be academic/ research nutritionist, who may have a doctorate or masters in nutrition research.) Many high profile nutritionists have studied dietetics. Anyone can call himself or herself a nutritionist or a dietitian as there is no board of registration, as there is with other professions, like nursing. Talk to as many nutritionist and dietitians that you can, and don’t be afraid to ask someone where they studied, and what their qualifications are. If the course you are interested in does not appear on this list, determine if the course is known to or recommended by an appropriate professional body associated with FANO, the Federation of Australian Nutrition Organisations.

FANO - Federation of Nutrition Organisations

Organisations associated with FANO are:

• Australian and New Zealand Food Authority
  (ANZFA) ph: 02 6271 2222 (Canberra)
• Nutrition Society of Australia
  (NSA)
• Australasian Clinical Nutrition Society
  (ACNS)
• Australian Nutrition Trust
  (ANT)
• Australian Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Society
  (AUSPEN)
• Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology
  (AIFST) ph: 9959 4499
• Dietitians Association of Australia
  (DAA) ph: 02 6282 9555 (Canberra)
• Australian Academy of Science, Nutrition Committee
  (AAS)
• Nutrition Australia
  (The Australian Nutrition Foundation Inc)

If you would like the charter of FANO faxed to you, please call our office on 9552 3081, and ask for the FANO article in NA Newsletter Pabulum, November 1998.

Nutrition Professional

The ANF Inc constitution, nutrition professional "means a person having such tertiary educational qualifications and experience in nutrition as are determined from time to time by the council."

This information is taken from the "Careers in Nutrition" fact sheet developed by Nutrition Australia NSW Office
Click here to view the complete fact sheet