Summary
Dieticians need to register with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
Hospitals and nursing homes employ dieticians and nutritionists; private practice is also in vogue
Healthy eating is essential to avoid regular visits to the doctor’s clinic, more so as lifestyle diseases and eating disorders are on the rise. This is where dieticians and nutritionists come into play. Choosing a career in Dietetics and Nutrition can be really rewarding if you want to help patients get back to full health by resorting to food science.
Difference between dietitians and nutritionists
Though both dietitians and nutritionists study diet, food, and nutrition, their job roles are different. The distinction is due to the type of education and professional training received.
- Dieticians need their licences and qualifications for employment at medical facilities and private practice. Nutritionists may not need any such licence.
- You need to register with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to have the legal right to call yourself a dietitian, while the role of a nutritionist is much less regulated and has a broader definition.
- A dietician is qualified and licensed for practising diet and nutrition consultation with patients at medical facilities, but a nutritionist isn’t entitled to do that.
Studying Dietetics and Nutrition
- You need at least 50% aggregate in your Class XII board exams with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English as subjects to qualify for a BSc course in Dietetics and Nutrition.
- Some colleges only admit students who have completed their board exams within a couple of academic years, while others admit students up to the age of 25 years.
- After graduation, you may go for an MSc course in Dietetics and Nutrition. Or you may opt for a PG diploma. The mode of admission depends on the educational institution concerned.
Leading institutes for Dietetics and Nutrition study
University of Calcutta, Kolkata
Course: B.Sc in Food & Dietetics.
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Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams with Chemistry as a compulsory subject.
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Admission: Merit-based.
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Duration: Three years.
Course: MSc in Food and Nutrition.
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Eligibility: You need to complete your graduation in Food and Nutrition.
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Admission: Merit-based.
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Duration: Two years.
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J.D Birla Institute, Kolkata
Course: Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics & Applied Nutrition (Affiliated to Jadavpur University).
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Eligibility: Only women can apply for this course. You need at least 55% marks in your BSc in Home Science, Home Science with specialisation in Food and Nutrition, Food and Nutrition, Food Science and Nutrition Management, Food Science and Processing, Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Physiology or Biochemistry either from Jadavpur University or any other university recognised by Jadavpur University.
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Admission: Merit-based.
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Duration: 15-17 weeks for each of the six semesters.
NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata & Durgapur
Course: MSc in Nutrition & Dietetics.
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Eligibility: You need a graduation degree in Food, Nutrition or any similar field of study.
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Admission: Merit-based.
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Duration: Two years.
All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata
Course: Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics.
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Eligibility: You need a bachelor’s degree in Physiology, Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Food and Nutrition, Nursing, MBBS, or BHMS to appear for an admission test.
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Admission: Depends on your score in the test.
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Duration: One year.
Queen Mary’s College, Chennai
Degree: BSc in Nutrition in Dietetics.
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Eligibility: Only women candidates are eligible. You need to clear your Class XII board exams conducted by the Tamil Nadu State Board or any equivalent board.
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Admission: Merit-Based.
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Duration: Three years.
Jain University, Bangalore
Degree: BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics.
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Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams from a recognised board to appear for an entrance exam.
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Admission: Depends on your score in the Jain Entrance Test.
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Duration: Three years.
Osmania University College for Women, Hyderabad
Degree: MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics
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Eligibility: Only women candidates are eligible. You need to clear your BSc in Dietetics and Nutrition or a similar subject with at least 50% aggregate to appear for an entrance exam.
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Admission: Depends on your score in the exam.
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Duration: Two years.
Chandigarh University (CU), Chandigarh
Degree: MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics.
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Eligibility: You need to clear your BSc in Dietetics and Nutrition or a similar subject with at least 50% aggregate.
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Admission: Merit-based.
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Duration: Two years.
Job roles with a Dietetics and Nutrition degree
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General dietician: They create diet plans for diverse people, helping them to lose or gain weight. They create charts for their clients based on their medical history.
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Sports and health dieticians: They collaborate with sports clubs and sports associations. These professionals create diet plans for athletes and keep their nutrition levels in check.
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Clinical dietician: They take care of a patient's nutritional regimen in a hospital. They are also nutrition specialists who assist clients in leading a healthy lifestyle and achieving their health-related objectives. They are well-versed in food safety and sanitation.
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Nutritionist: They examine the nutritional needs of common people. These professionals advise clients on healthy eating and take part in the preparation of their diet regimens.
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Research and development manager: They lead research projects in the realm of dietetics and nutrition. They assist scientists in the development of innovative products and services that aid in the preservation of human health.
Last updated on 30 Dec 2021
