Career insights: Become a Nutritionist

 

Becoming a nutritionist is an extremely rewarding career if you have a strong fascination with health and wellbeing. In a world grappling with obesity and declining health, nutritionists play a vital role in reshaping lifestyles. The nutrition industry is driven by the urgent need to address health concerns and improve dietary habits. If you are interested in how to become a nutritionist, you'll need a genuine passion for health, continuous learning, strong organisational and communication skills, and a non-judgmental, motivating attitude. In this article, you will learn everything you need to know on how to become a nutritionist, and how you can exceed this career path to your fullest potential.

What is a nutritionist

A nutritionist plays a crucial role in educating the public about diet and nutrition to promote a healthier life. This may involve providing guidance to each client and contributing to the development of policies and guidelines within the field. According to Prospects, nutritionists typically start with salaries ranging from £22,000 to £28,000 in the public sector and £23,000 to £30,000 in the private sector. Of course, earnings can vary based on experience and location. Nutritionists can be employed in a variety of environments, including public health sectors, community programs, industrial sectors, private practices, charitable organisations, overseas aid projects, and research development.^[i]

Your responsibilities as a nutritionist may include educating individual clients and groups, or helping with nutritional policies and community guidelines. You may also be required to work alongside healthcare professionals such as nurses and dietitians, as well as with schools and voluntary organisations. Becoming a nutritionist involves specific knowledge in nutritional science as well as other specialities, including nutritional therapy, sports nutrition, weight management, and dietetics. While physical fitness isn't a strict requirement, maintaining a healthy appearance and lifestyle in yourself can inspire and motivate your clients. Of course, if the health and fitness industry does intrigue you, you should consider learning how to become a personal trainer.

 

What does a nutritionist do?

Nutritionists primarily operate in non-clinical settings, focusing their expertise on providing valuable insights on nutrition and diet. Nutritionists can be employed in the following industries:

• Education: Nutritionists can offer advice across different education sectors, where they will consult students, teachers, and staff about healthy eating habits.
• Research: Many nutritionists engage in research projects, such as exploring the relationship between nutrition and health.
• Food Production: In the food industry, nutritionists are integral for developing and analysing menus for schools, sports teams, and restaurants, ensuring that the nutritional needs of consumers are met.
• Media: Nutritionists can also offer advice to various media platforms, including magazines, television, webinars, and social media, expanding their scope to bigger audiences.
• Sports Institutions: A nutritionist can also work closely with athletes, sports authorities, and teams, advising them on diets to help improve sports performance and support recovery.
• NHS and Health Organizations: In the healthcare sector, nutritionists collaborate with doctors, GPs, dietitians, and more to improve patient health through dietary tips.

Additionally, some nutritionists choose to work as freelancers. Becoming a freelance nutritionist can be done either on a full-time or part-time basis.

The nutrition sector also has sub-categories too, such as public health, sports and exercise, nutritional science, and food and animal nutrition. Consequently, the responsibilities of a nutritionist can involve:

• Conducting nutritional research.
• Recruiting volunteers for dietary trials.
• Assisting people, communities, or workforces in making practical dietary changes.
• Creating and assessing menus for different groups, such as schools, sports teams, and workplace canteens.
• Offering advice to athletes and helping with injury recovery.
• Providing guidance to specific demographics, such as children or the elderly, on maintaining healthy eating habits.
• Assisting food production companies in verifying health claims on packaging.
• Dispensing nutritional advice through media outlets, online platforms, webinars, and social media.

Unlike dietitians, nutritionists are not governed by UK law. Anyone can claim to be a nutritionist, but to become a registered nutritionist, you must be accepted and registered on the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN). This involves having a BSc or MSc degree in nutritional science and having at least three years of practical experience. Alternatively, you can also participate in a online nutrition course which can offer you the expertise and guidance you need for becoming a nutritionist in the UK.

How to become a nutritionist

In the UK, there are mainly two pathways on how to become a nutritionist:

• University Degree: While not mandatory, some may prefer to do a university degree to gain in-depth academic knowledge of nutrition. However, this route comes with tuition fees and duration considerations, depending on whether you do a full or part time course, as well as which university you choose to apply for. You can learn more details by applying through UCAS.^[iii]
• Vocational Nutrition Course: Alternatively, you can pursue a vocational nutrition course, which offers specific training without you having to worry about time and financial commitments of a degree.

With either of these career paths, you will need to meet specific entry requirements, including A levels or equivalent qualifications, often including biology or chemistry. A Postgraduate degree may require an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject as well. After completing your qualifications, you can then decide on the employment route that best aligns with your career goals and aspirations as a nutritionist.

Volunteering and career tips

Gaining experience through volunteering or paid work can significantly boost your abilities as a nutritionist. You could consider work for the NHS, which would work as a great internship alongside your university course. Additionally, you could find work experience in other relevant domains, including food safety, animal welfare, food poverty charities, sports and fitness, and food manufacturing.

Professional Development

You will need a varied range of skills and abilities in order to advance your professional development further. Some of these skills include:

• A keen interest in science and food.
• Positivity and the ability to motivate others.
• Understanding of diverse lifestyles and the ability to empathise.
• Proficiency in simplifying complex concepts for effective communication.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Willing to work for private or freelance work.

These are just several factors to consider alongside others when learning how to write a personal development plan.

Career Progression

As you get experience within the nutrition industry, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to grow too. Experienced nutritionists can take on more senior roles within projects and departments, even leading to the possibility of you being a recognised face within the nutritional industry. 

Differences between a nutritionist and dietician

Some people may easily confuse nutritionists and dieticians to be one and the same. However, they do have their differences:

• Legal Rights: Dieticians, unlike nutritionists, are governed by law and have the legal authority to work with and treat patients with specific medical conditions. They are recognised as qualified healthcare professionals. In contrast, nutritionists are not legally regulated, although they may possess exceptional expertise in their field. Anyone can be labelled as a nutritionist after completing a certain level of education.
• Medical Treatment: Dieticians have the ability to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication for various health conditions. Nutritionists, on the other hand, lack the authority to diagnose or prescribe medication. Nutritionists can work with slightly ill patients only when supervised by a regulated healthcare GP.

Become a nutritionist today

As we have discussed, becoming a nutritionist is a highly rewarding opportunity for those passionate about the health industry. Whilst it may not be as challenging as other career paths that we have discussed extensively in our how to become guides, becoming a nutritionist is extremely beneficial, especially if you have something that you want to bring forward to the industry. So, be sure to check out our nutrition courses, or apply for a university course, or even dabble in a bit of volunteering to begin your pathway into the nutritionist industry.

FAQs

What qualifications are required to become a nutritionist?

In the UK, becoming a nutritionist typically demands a degree in a relevant field like nutrition or dietetics. This degree should be accredited by recognized bodies such as the Association for Nutrition (AfN). After graduating, you may need to register with AfN as either a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) or a Registered Nutritionist (RNutr), depending on your qualifications and experience.^[ii].

What's the average salary of a UK nutritionist?

In the UK, a nutritionist's salary can vary based on factors such as experience, location, and employer. The average income can range from £20,000 to £40,000 annually. 

What GCSE subjects are recommended for aspiring nutritionists?

It is ideal for you to have a GCSE grade - C level or higher - in subjects including biology, chemistry and mathematics. You should also check the requirements of your university or degree application requirements for further details.

Sources

^[i] Prospects (n.d.). Nutritionist. Prospects. Available at: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/nutritionist [accessed 24/10/23]

^[ii]Association for Nutrition (n.d.). Association for Nutrition. Available at: https://www.associationfornutrition.org/ [accessed 24/10/23]

^[iii] UCAS (n.d.). UCAS | At the heart of connecting people to higher education. Available at: https://www.ucas.com/ [accessed 24/10/23]