What is the Difference Between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist?
The title “Registered Dietitian”, “Professional Dietitian”, and “Dietitian” are protected by law – through provincial legislation – so that only qualified practitioners who have met education qualifications can use that title.
A Dietitian is a health professional who has a Bachelor’s degree, specializing in foods and nutrition, as well as a period of practical training in a hospital or community setting. Many Dietitians further their knowledge by pursuing a Master’s or Doctoral degree.
The term Nutritionist is not protected by law in all provinces so people with different levels of training and knowledge can all themselves a “Nutritionist”. The title “Nutritionist” is protected for Dietitians in some provinces and Dietitians do use the title “nutritionist”. As the term “nutritionist” is not a protected title in some provinces, you should contact your provincial regulatory body to ensure that you are receiving services from a dietitian.
A variety of titles have been used by unqualified people to describe their involvement in nutrition related practice. Many use the term “registered” with a variation of “nutrition” as a title. You should be careful to ensure that the person is a qualified nutrition professional.
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