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What is the Difference Between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist?
- The titles "Registered Dietitian", "Professional Dietitian", and "Dietitian" are protected by law through provincial legislation so that only qualified practitioners who have met education qualifications can use that title.
- Dietitians who have met national standards for education and training and who are members of the provincial regulatory bodies can use one of the following designations -- RD, RDN, PDt or RDt (or the French equivalent Dt.P.).
- A dietitian is a health professional who has a Bachelor's degree, specializing in foods and nutrition, as well as a period of practical training in a hospital or community setting. Many dietitians further their knowledge by pursuing a Master's or Doctoral degree.
- Dietitians are members of a provincial regulated profession that have Public Protection as their mandate. Dietitians are held accountable for their conduct and care they provide.
- The term Nutritionist is not protected by law in all provinces so people with different levels of training and knowledge can all themselves a "Nutritionist". The title "Nutritionist" is protected for Dietitians in some provinces and dietitians do use the title "nutritionists". The "nutritionist' is not a protected title in Ontario.
- A variety of titles have been used by unqualified people to describe their involvement in nutrition related practice. Many use the term "registered" with a variation of "nutrition" as a title. You should be careful to ensure that the person is a qualified nutrition professional. You can contact Dietitians of Canada or the Provincial regulatory body to obtain a list of Dietitians in your area.