Dietitians - The Go-To for Nutrition Advice? Which Dietitian Should I Work With?
This past March, we celebrated #NutritionMonth by focusing on dietitians. As a wrap-up of this theme, this blog will review what makes dietitians stand out from the crowd and how to determine which dietitian you should see.
A common misconception is that nutritionists and dietitians are the same. However, in Ontario, this concept isn’t exactly correct. All dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are dietitians. This is because the title “registered dietitian” or “dietitian” is a protected/restricted title, and “nutritionist” is not.
For those who may not know what a restricted title means, it is “that the health professional is registered with the College of Dietitians of Ontario” [1]. This restriction is based on laws such as the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 [2] and Dietetics Act, 1991 [3] that limit who can use a particular title/designation. You may see also the French equivalent of “Registered Dietitian”, “diététiste professionel(le)” and “Dt.P.”
So the question now is, why choose Registered Dietitians? What is it that makes dietitians the go-to nutrition advisor?
Here are some key elements that make dietitians stand out from the crowd of people offering you nutrition services:
All candidates must complete an accredited nutrition undergraduate program before becoming a dietitian. Post-secondary schools offering these programs must be accredited by the Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP) [4]. The PDEP comprises various Canadian Dietetic regulatory bodies, Dietitians of Canada and dietetic educators throughout Canada [5]. While obtaining a specialized university degree, candidates will take various classes covering a number of different subjects, including chemistry, physiology, microbiology, social sciences, nutrition in the community, throughout the lifespan and population health [4]. Other topics, such as food service and a number of chronic diseases related to nutrition, are covered [4].
The next step is completing the supervised practical experience. This training may be part of a partial/fully integrated undergraduate program or a post-degree program (i.e. combined Masters practicum program or Professional Masters Diploma) [4].*
The last step to becoming a fully licensed dietitian is to complete and pass the national Canadian Dietetic Registration Exam (CDRE). The CDRE is generally organized by the provincial regulatory body [6], in Ontario, this would be the College of Dietitians of Ontario (CDO).
It is important to note that all dietitians must be registered with their provincial regulatory body in order to practice. The regulatory body will also be assessing education and practical experience as part of the registration process [6].
*For individuals who may be interested in learning more about the different programs, visit the PDEP Accredited Programs in Canada webpage.
Another important factor which makes dietitians different is the mandatory ongoing participation in quality assurance programs. In Ontario, all members of the CDO must partake in the following programs:
As part of the process to ensure dietitians are providing evidence-based care, all practicing dietitians must partake in continuing education. Every year, all dietitians must submit and complete a Self-Directed Learning (SDL) tool. The SDL tool helps dietitians to reflect on “their practice and professional competence, and to require them to develop plans for professional improvement” [7].
Lastly, dietitians are required to complete the Jurisprudence Knowledge Assessment Tool (JKAT) every 5 years. This assessment is to help reinforce and improve a dietitian’s knowledge and application of guidelines, laws and standards, and ethics related to the dietetic profession [8]. The main exception is that new registrants are usually required to complete the JKAT during their first year of membership with their regulatory body [8].
Which Dietitian Should I Choose to Work With?
When looking for someone to help you with your nutrition goals, choosing the right person to work with is essential. Here are some tips on how to determine which dietitian is a good fit for you!
1. Speciality
Check out what the dietitian specializes in! Some dietitians’ areas of focus may be different than what you are looking for, and it is always best to see if the dietitian you are looking to work with has the knowledge to work with you.
2. Discovery Call
Most dietitians offer a free 15-minute consultation that helps determine if you and the dietitian you are looking to work with are a good fit. Sometimes your nutrition goals and the dietitian’s approach may not align, or their expertise is on a slightly different group of health conditions. This consultation also helps set expectations on what you can expect from the dietitian and also allows the dietitian to figure out if they can work with you to meet your nutrition goals or whether or not they may need to refer you to another dietitian or health professional.
Written by: Kristie Pun, MHSc, RD
Reviewed by: Cheryl Ching, MSc, RD & Pauline Bakowski, MHSc, RD
Publication Date: April 30, 2023
Disclaimer: Our blog content is for general education purposes and may not be suitable for individual health conditions. Please see your health professional or book an appointment with one of our dietitians for personalized health recommendations.
References:
College of Dietitians of Ontario. Dietitian - A Restricted Title [Internet]. Toronto: College of Dietitians of Ontario; n.d. [cited 2023 Apr 30]. Available from: https://collegeofdietitians.org/public/dietitian-a-restricted-title.aspx
Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 18 (ON)
Dietetics Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 26 (ON)
Dietitians of Canada. How to Become a Dietitian [Internet]. Toronto: Dietitians of Canada; n.d. [cited 2023 Apr 30]. Available from: https://www.dietitians.ca/Become-a-Dietitian/Education-and-Training
Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice. Who We Are [Internet]. Place unknown: Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice; n/d/ [cited 2023 Apr 30]. Available from: https://www.pdep.ca/what-we-do.aspx
Dietitians of Canada. Registration to Practice [Internet]. Toronto: Dietitians of Canada; n.d. [cited 2023 Apr 30]. Available from: https://www.dietitians.ca/Become-a-Dietitian/Education-and-Training/Regulatory-colleges-and-registration-to-practice
College of Dietitians of Ontario. Self-Directed Learning (SDL) Tool [Internet]. Toronto: College of Dietitians of Ontario; n.d. [cited 2023 Apr 30]. Available from: https://collegeofdietitians.org/programs/quality-assurance/sdl.aspx
College of Dietitians of Ontario. Jurisprudence Knoweldge & Assessment Tool [Internet]. Toronto: College of Dietitians of Ontario; n.d. [cited 2023 Apr 30]. Available from: https://collegeofdietitians.org/programs/quality-assurance/jkat.aspx
