Have you already chosen your dream job and are you going to implement the plan to become a dietitian? It is great because we have got you covered with top tips to follow on your way to success.
Dietetics are included in the circle of medical sciences and combine elements of various fields. That is why it is called an interdisciplinary specialization. Science focuses on food and human nutrition in health and disease.
A dietitian is a specialist with confirmed qualifications which he/she uses as part of nutritional counseling (individually or in groups). During apprenticeship, students learn about the elements of biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, bromatology, pathophysiology, anatomy and physiology.
Nutritionists explore the knowledge of food and dish technology (elements of food commodity science), practice the analysis and assessment of the quality of dishes, and control the quality and storage conditions of food products.
Among the academic subjects, we can find food and nutrition hygiene, biochemistry of nutrition, public health, immunology in dietetics or the organization of food services.
A dietitian follows the principles of rational nutrition of a healthy and sick person to maintain proper health prophylaxis and prevention in diet-related diseases.
Specialists can assess the nutritional status of a patient, and during counseling, they educate them about a properly used diet.
How to become a dietitian?
Tip 1 – Full-time and online higher education in dietetics
Education in dietetics is carried out in two stages. A student may choose the full-time mode – daily, then the classes are held during the week, according to a schedule. The study program is carried out at state and private universities. They offer specialization paths, such as Psychodietetics, Health Educator and Clinical Nutrition.
Full-time students take classes in the form of lectures, exercises and laboratories. Core subjects are usually carried out in a greater number of hours than during part-time studies.
What do full-time studies look like?
Curriculums of full-time studies offered by various universities differ. Here is an exemplificative list of subjects you may have to deal with if you decide to become a dietician:
- clinical nutrition and dietetics,
- basics of human nutrition,
- dietetics,
- clinical outline of diseases,
- nutritional prophylaxis,
- nutritional pharmacology and pharmacotherapy,
- nutritional education,
- hygiene, toxicology and food safety,
- food quality analysis and evaluation,
- food and dishes, technology and commodity science,
- food and nutrition law,
- diets and nutritional trends,
- bioactive food ingredients,
- planning and assessment of the diet of selected population groups,
- nutrition for people with increased physical activity,
- food production conditions and the basics of mass catering,
- cultural aspects in the work of a dietitian,
- ethno-dietetics,
- savoir-vivre.
Full-time students gain the skills and qualifications in the dietary specialty. They learn to plan rational nutrition for various groups of the population, create diets under the classification and principles of rational nutrition, and organize individual and group nutrition adapted to the age, sex, health and activity of the patient.
A dietitian can assess the nutritional status and diet of patients and draw appropriate therapeutic conclusions.
There is no one better to consult, when you are planning to go, for example, a vastly popular in recent times, gluten-free diet, than a dietician.
Tip 2 – Part-time and online studies in dietetics
Part-time studies in the field of dietetics are carried out in two stages. After completing the first 3 years (or 3.5 years at some universities) the professional title of Bachelor of Dietetics is obtained.
Students take classes at regular meetings according to the schedule and framework schedule. Extramural subjects cover the scope of full-time studies, however, unlike them, they are payable.
Tip 3 – Online postgraduate and online studies in the field of dietetics
Postgraduate studies last one academic year (two semesters). Only people with a university degree can apply for postgraduate studies in the field of dietetics. A medical degree is not necessary.
A graduate diploma inspires trust in society as patients rely on a dietitian to provide them with adequate support in their health or illness. Postgraduate studies allow you to work in nutrition clinics, mass catering establishments, or consumer organizations.
Tip 4 – Stationary and online dietetics courses
It is worth choosing something from the offered certified dietetics courses that allow you to enhance competence in the profession with no need for full-time or part-time studies.
Courses are held in a stationary mode – with transport to the place where it is organized – or remotely in the online formula.
The latter enables you to study anywhere, and thanks to the multimedia platform, you can start and continue your course. Unlimited access makes it easier to organize and find time for learning.
Benefit from the opportunities for students. Start working as a dietitian after completing your final exam and getting a nutritionist’s certification.
Kemp Center offers specialist knowledge and a practical approach during the dietetics course. Even without studies, you can get the competences and skills you need.
Focus on development and prepare yourself for a profession of the future. The comprehensive training program ends with obtaining a reputable diploma and a certificate.
Tip 5 – Dietary workshops and training – reach for more
Have you already obtained the title of dietitian? Very good! Make sure that your knowledge is constantly updated. New research results, nutritional trends, suggested changes in recommendations – be on par with these aspects of your job and constantly update your knowledge to bring you closer to the level of an expert in dietetics.
The level that you can bring to the table contributes to your wages. How much does a dietitian earn? Well, it all depends, but growing your reputation can only bring you closer to higher wages.
The basics of nutrition for a healthy and a sick person, prophylaxis and treatment of diet-related diseases, nutritional and medical counseling – this is a wide range of knowledge that you can gain during trainings and workshops.
Because of the case study formula, you can experience the practical skills that you use during your work with the patient. Thematic trainings systematize the acquired knowledge, explain the dependencies and sharpen the observations.
Thanks to your development, you do not incur costs – you invest in yourself and your competences, improving the quality of life of your patients.
Tip 6 – Scientific conferences – skills, experience, professionalism
Stay up to date with the world of science, benefit from the knowledge of practice, and improve your qualifications. It is worth attending conferences related to nutrition and food where the knowledge and experience of the speakers meet the enthusiasm and skills of their listeners.
The scientific forum takes place remotely (online) or stationary at a specific place and time.
Participants may be offered the form of a case study lecture, according to which they get to know specific cases of patients and analyze them from a clinical point of view.
Dietary conferences are resources of new knowledge. During these meetings, participants exchange their experience and insights, as well as expand their contacts by searching for business partners.
Tip 7 – Clinical dietitian – choose your specialization: the use of diet therapy in disease
An integral part of the medical treatment process is a patient’s compliance with dietary recommendations. Affected organs need time to recover. During convalescence, a patient must be careful about what and how much she or he eats.
Sometimes a change of dietary habits must be introduced permanently. The dietitian should take care of the proper nutritional education of the patient, whose health and well-being depend on the doctor’s recommendations.
A clinical dietitian’s knowledge in food and nutrition should be comprehensive and up to date. The patient’s condition may require the use of special nutritional products or constant supplementation. Specialists are employed in state and private hospitals and other treatment centers. Some even run their own dietary clinics.
Tip 8 – Sports nutritionist – choose your specialization: nutrition in sport
Sports nutrition and physiology are two issues that coexist – they complement the passion and the willingness to support players in sports competition.
A specialist may open his own dietary clinic or cooperate with recreation and sports centers.
A sports nutritionist can supplement qualifications within an already performed profession, for example, as a personal trainer. The nutritionist may cooperate with a gym or fitness club. You might also want to know how to become a personal trainer to get a further understanding of this dual method.
This specialization is useful for people working in health food stores for athletes or entrepreneurs dealing with supplementation in sports.
Major in sports dietetics
Example subjects:
- regulation of a body weight in given disciplines,
- athlete’s metabolism,
- creating a diet in endurance sports,
- nutritional regeneration,
- dietary supplements,
- dietary recommendations for a training day (for example, in regards to functional training)
- nutritional recommendations for training and non-training days,
- the role of vitamins and minerals in an athlete’s diet.
Tip 9 – Your own enterprise – diet clinic or catering business
This is where the role of a dietitian comes in. A competent dietitian can start his career in the profession by establishing his own dietary clinic.
Being an entrepreneur gives you a sense of agency and requires determination. An online or stationary dietary clinic is a great idea to make your dreams come true and develop a business idea.
Nowadays, catering businesses are very popular. Box diets are convenient and can implement dietary recommendations. A dietitian is perfect for such activities – he has theoretical as well as practical knowledge.
Tip 10 – Dietetics expert – a wide range of activities
Dietetics is a field of study that combines many others. Students acquire a broad knowledge of food and nutrition. They learn how to become theoreticians and practitioners because they must serve an apprenticeship during their studies.
Internship programs offer cooperation with institutions or entrepreneurs from the dietary industry. This is a send-off into the future.
Courses and training guarantee the acquisition of qualifications and knowledge that is worth exploring. Competent dietitians can take up employment in many places. As an expert in the specific field, it is easy to find your niche that will be profitable and rewarding.
The topic of “ideas for work after dietetics” has been taken up in many articles published on the internet. Among several dozen ideas, there are also those that require expert knowledge:
- Own TV or radio program devoted to healthy eating and nutritional psychology;
- A laboratory – scientific research on the impact of food on various aspects of life;
- Universities and institutes dealing with research on the nutrition of the population;
- Own school of healthy cooking (for children and/or adults);
- Lecturing and training in the field of healthy eating;
- Individual consultations (diet coaching);
- Personal, available adviser to people of show business and politics;
- Personal trainer and promoter of healthy eating;
- Consultation during the development of games and applications about healthy eating;
- Kindergartens for children with a vegetarian / vegan diet and other special nutritional requirements;
- NASA – organization and planning of astronaut nutrition in space conditions, considering the caloric and nutritional needs, storage and preparation of meals in the conditions of space expeditions;
- Natural medicine clinic;
- Own company planning individual metamorphoses of clients.