What is a Registered Dietitian?

A Registered Dietitian has been through a minimum of four years at an accredited university program, and a minimum of a one year accredited internship. The internship may be “integrated” as part of their degree, or a “graduate” internship through Dietitians of Canada. Then they must write an exam (typically 6 hours long). The term Registered Dietitian is protected by law. Registered Dietitians, by law, must be a part of the professional regulatory body of their province. Until then candidates may be a dietetic intern, or Registered Dietitian (temporary). They are the only nutrition professional with a regulatory professional body to govern them to protect the public.

Dietitians Make a difference

Dietitians work in the clinical setting, private practice, in food service or in the community. Canadian health authorities only hire dietitians as the trusted nutrition professional.

Dietitians of Canada has plenty of resources to learn more about dietitians. Be sure to check out Dietitian Views for position papers on issues such as food security, labelling, taxation on beverages, and more and their facebook page for updates.

Nutrition Expert

Dietitians are your trusted nutrition professional. We use an evidence-based science approach with the art of application to tailor the evidence to make it work.

The protected terms  by law are: Dietitian, Registered Dietitian, and Professional Dietitian. Typically look for RD, P.Dt, or in New Brunswick also: RDN, Dt.P, Dt.I, Dt.N.I. Nutritionists is a protected title only in Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

A regulatory body

For BC, the regulatory professional body that is the College of Dietitians of British Columbia. 

The college makes sure dietitians follow the rules to protect the public and take care of any ethical concerns. Ethics are taken very seriously and dietitians are held to the highest of standards.