Dietetics Organizations Around the World

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)

General Requirements

Complete a bachelor’s degree at a university accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE)

Dietetic Internship: YES

After graduating, complete a six to 24 month dietetic internship

• Accredited dietetic internship – The most common type of internship that is conducted after completing at least a bachelor’s degree from a DPD accredited program. These can be either part-time or full-time (32 or 40 hours a week) and last from 6-12 months.

• Coordinated dietetic internship – A program that combines the necessary supervised practice hours of a dietetic internship with graduate level didactic coursework to prepare students for entry-level practice as dietitians with a master’s degree. Coordinated programs are usually 24 months long.
• Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways (ISPP)- Allows supervised practice to be fulfilled on an individual basis. Students are required to secure their own preceptors.

RD exam: YES

Passing the registered dietitian exam is the final step in becoming a dietitian. To maintain registeration 75 continuing education hours must be obtained every 5 years.

British Dietetic Association (BDA)

General Requirements

Complete a program approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by (BDA)

• Accredited universities are located in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales
• Link to accredited universities is here

The two types of programs to qualify as a dietitian

• Full-time undergraduate BSc program which usually takes 3-4 years
• Full-time postgraduate program that takes 2 years and can lead to a postgraduate diploma in dietetics or a Masters qualification in dietetics

Dietetic Internship: NO

Unlike the US, there are no dietetic internships. Instead, students are required to undertake practical placements with the National Health Service (NHS) or other healthcare organizations while in school.

RD exam: NO

There is also no RD exam. After you finish school, you are required to register with the Health and Care Professions Council. You maintain registration by paying an annual fee

Dietitians of Canada

General Requirements

Undergrad degree in nutrition and dietetics from a University accredited by the Partnership of Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP)

• Integrated Program Route
  • Academic and practicum program requirements
  • Eligible to register with regulatory body of the province in which you intend to practice
• Post-degree Program Route
  • Master’s practicum program – In these programs, students apply directly to a Master’s Practicum program directly through the university. Practical experience is incorporated into the curriculum, and the university organizes the placements that students must complete in addition to master’s courses.
  • Postgraduate Practicum Program – This is a competitive placement process coordinated by Dietitians of Canada. Specific organizations, such as hospitals or other care facilities, establish the number of placements they are able to offer, and students apply for these placements through the DC Match system. These programs typically last from 35 to 40 weeks.

Dietetic Internship: YES

• Known as post-degree practicum programs
• These programs are very competitive and fewer than 50% of the candidates who apply are selected each year.
• Deadline for registration is in early January and selection occurs early March
• You can only apply to three programs per year

RD exam: YES

• Canadian Dietetic Registration Exam (CDRE) – 4 hour test offer only twice per year

Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)

General Requirements

• Must complete an university nutrition/dietetics program accredited by the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)
• Undertake an initial year in the Provisional Program. This involves completion of the required CPD, and having the formalised support of a full status APD mentor for at least 52 weeks.
• All APDs (both provisional and full) must log a minimum of 30 hours per calendar year of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities.
• All APDs must be able to declare Recency of Practice indicating they have practised as a dietitian and to the timeframe as required by the Standards and as per requirements set by the DAA Board.

Dietetic Internship: NO

• Instead as a new dietitian, you will be required to complete your first year in the Provisional Program. In this program you will need to find yourself a mentor, who is a full status Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD). You need to engage in face to face monthly mentoring meetings for a minimum of 52 weeks. The mentor can help support you both personally and professionally as you begin or return to your career as a dietitian. You will have two years to complete your Provisional program.

RD exam: YES and NO

• If you’re an Australian resident you will not be required to take an exam. But if you’re from out of the country a Dietetic Skills Recognition (DSR) examination will need to be passed to gain status as an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD).