How to Become a Registered Dietitian in Canada
A registered dietitian is a person who has extensively studied food, diet and nutrition. The RD helps educate people to eating well, addressing health issues that are affected by dietary intake. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, jobs for dietitians are expected to increase over the next 10 years as the population ages and people come to understand the full impact of diet on their health. Though the guide was written to reflect the job market in the U.S., it applies to Canada as well. To become a registered dietitian in Canada, follow the steps in the guide below.
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Instructions
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Decide where you want to work. Canada has a different professional university training program for registered dietitians in each province. The program you attend will allow you to work in a specific area upon successful completion of the training.
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Investigate the College of Dietitians in the province of your choice and ensure you have met all the minimum entry requirements for the program.
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Order a copy of your academic transcripts. Your undergraduate degree should reflect high marks in relevant courses such basic science, health, nutrition, sociology, psychology, speech, small group communication and interpersonal communication.
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Successfully complete the registered dietitian program. The coursework is a combination of classroom study and practical application in a closely supervised clinical setting.
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Take part in a 10- to 12-month internship in which you will gain practical work experience and hone your skills as a dietitian while being monitored and observed by more experienced colleagues.
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Determine whether you want to involve yourself in a specialty program. You can choose to be a business dietitian, serving as a resource for the popular media and offering your expert advice for the benefit of TV, newspaper, magazines and radio programs; or a community dietitian who assists in the development and implementation of health and wellness programs worldwide; clinical dietitians work in healthcare facilities, while food-service dietitians work in schools; gerontologist dietitians work with the elderly, and pediatric dietitians work with children. Or, you can skip the specialty training and simply have a general dietitian license.
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Pass a qualifying exam and enroll within your province to receive your registered dietitian license.
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Tips & Warnings
Official programs for registered dietitians in Canada are recognized and accepted in the United States, and successful participants in such programs are eligible for U.S. licensing.
