Dietitian & Nutritionist
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
This page includes Dietitians and Nutritionists (NOC: 31121) and Dietary Technicians (NOC: 32129). Dietitians and nutritionists plan, implement and oversee nutrition and food service programs. They are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, home health-care agencies and extended care facilities, community health centres, the food and beverage industry, educational institutions, and government and sports organizations, or they may work as private consultants. Dietary technicians are employed in health care and commercial food service establishments such as hospitals, extended care facilities, nursing homes, schools, cafeterias and fast food outlets. (National Occupational Classification).
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational description
- O*NET Online - U.S. resource for occupational descriptions and information
- OCCinfo by alis - Alberta-based occupational information (includes video)
- Career Explorer by Sokanu - occupational info and videos (U.S.):
- A Day in the Life of a Nutritionist - The Princeton Review (U.S.)
- Is there a difference between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist? - Dietitians of Canada
- What does a Dietitian do - Dietitians of Canada
- Career Mentor profile - Jorie Janzen, Health & Sports Dietitian
- Alumni Advice - Dietitian profile from Career Services' Learning to Earning 2012
- Interview: Dietitian - from StudyinCanada.com
- Discover your Future in Healthcare: Dietitian - University of Manitoba
- Let's Talk Science Career Profiles
Education
The university provides education for a career as a Dietitian, Nutritionist, or Dietary Technician through the Human Nutritional Sciences degree. To become a Registered Dietitian in Manitoba, acceptance and completion of a competitive internship available to students in Human Nutritional Sciences is required.
U of M Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar & Catalogue outlines program admission and course requirements. Use the left menu to navigate to a specific faculty and program. To determine which degree path suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant. For support with course registration and academic issues, speak with an Academic Advisor.
Faculty and Department Homepages
Visit U of M's faculty and department homepage to learn about program application deadlines and processes, as well as additional in-house resources and opportunities.
Exploring Other Education Options
- List of educational programs (accredited and registered) - Accreditation Canada
Internationally Educated Dietitians - College of Dietitians of Manitoba
Information for Foreign-trained Dietitians and Nutritionists - Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Trend Analysis: Job Market Report (Manitoba Region) - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Job outlook for the U.S.
- Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals - collective agreements and pay scale information
- OpportuNext - salary range and job growth prospects - Manitoba
Professional Associations
Professional associations may organize events and provide directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities may also be available: engage, learn and network!
- College of Dietitians of Manitoba
- Dietitians of Canada
- Academy of Dietitians and Nutritionists (U.S) - formerly the American Dietetic Association
- Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition Practice Group (requires an account to access)
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- Regional Health Authorities - Province of Manitoba
- Health Regions in Canada - listings and maps from Statistics Canada
- Canadian Health Food Association
- International Confederation of Dietetic Associations
- International Union of Nutritional Sciences
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
Other links
These external resources may provide you with additional information about the occupation and opportunities to build experience:
- University of Manitoba Undergraduate Leaders in Healthcare - campus student group
- FanLit - Food and Nutrition Literacy in Manitoba
- Food Matters Manitoba
- The Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba
- Eating Well in your Community (listing of Manitoba nutrition and community-food programs - Manitoba Government
- Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research - Dietitians of Canada
- Canada's Dietary Guidelines - Government of Canada
- Allied Health Professions Overview - Explore Health Careers.org (U.S.)
- Today's Dietitian - a magazine for nutrition professionals (U.S.)
- EAT Foundation - Non-profit dedicated to working on partnerships to address global food concerns