Build a Healthy Career: The Essentials of Becoming a Dietician in India

“Are you someone who would look at the nutritional value of all food items before consuming them, and wonder if you are eating right? Does educating others about right food habits and nutrition excite you? If yes, then you would enjoy a career as a Dietician.”

Dieticians are counsellors who examine and evaluate the dietary habits of individuals, and further guide them to eat a balanced diet according to various principles of dietetics and nutrition. They deal with the science of nutrition and apply that knowledge to health care and rehabilitation.

Who This Career is For?

An individual who has an interest in food, nutrition and diets and has a propensity for science & research is suited for this profession. Exceptional communication skills and attributes like patience and concern for human health are essential for pursuing this career.

An aptitude to interact with people from all areas of the community, while simultaneously having the ability to explain complex things easily is what’s required. A dietitian and nutritionist should have good planning and organizing skills, maintain a positive & motivating attitude and have an understanding approach.

Want to know more about it?

Dietitians or nutritionists plan, implement and supervise dietary plans for individuals and groups. They analyze current eating habits while assessing whether they meet recommended daily allowances, suggesting replacements and healthier alternatives along the way. Dietitians and nutritionists focus on general health unlike weight loss experts who pay more attention to slimming down. They work also work with patients suffering from certain diseases, monitoring their diet to prevent or control certain ailments. For example, a dietitian may educate a patient with hypertension on how to consume less salt whilst preparing meals. They are also responsible for the diagnoses and dietary treatment of disease.

Dietitians assist people in creating a diet menu according to individual requirements while overseeing the preparation and serving of meals. Nutritionists play a bigger role in counseling & educating on healthy eating habits and prevention of nutritional deficiencies. They should be able to give unbiased advice to the masses.

Areas of specialization for dietitians include clinical dietitians, community dietitians, research dietitians, management dietitians & consultant dietitians. Apart from these, many food companies also employ dietitians & nutritionists to verify the quality of the food products, for advice on development of new products & for marketing related guidance. Recently, nutrition-related jobs are opening in fields such as marketing, food manufacturing, and advertising. This is due to people’s increasing interest in personal health and nutrition. Nutritionists working in these jobs analyze food products and their nutritional content, and then write and dispense information based on their research.

A dietitian should have a bachelor’s degree in an area like dietetics, food & nutrition or food service systems and preferably complete a master’s degree M.Sc (Nutrition) after graduation, which is usually a 2 year long course. A job in managing a school or hospital cafeteria may be of value on your CV.

Another option is to pursue a 1 year post-graduate diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics. Entry level dietitians and nutritionists usually undergo training for 1 year or undertake an internship for 900 hours. Those wishing to work in fields like public health & research or have a clinical career, need different advanced degrees.

To practice as a registered dietitian or a nutritionist a license and registration is usually required. To retain the license, dietitians or nutritionists may be required to complete a standard period of continuing education every 5 years.

What are Salary Prospects?

In India, A fresher with a diploma can get anywhere around Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 per month. Those with a master’s degree can expect a higher package ranging between Rs. 2.5 lakh and Rs. 7 lakh per annum. The salaries get higher with experience

How is Life?

Nutritionists counsel individuals and groups, manage the food service systems in hospitals, schools, universities, hotels, catering businesses etc. Clinical dietitians and nutritionists generally have regular work hours and they may be required to work weekends as well. They come in direct contact with patients and advise them the pertinent diet according to the disease they have.

In the commercial food industry, working hours are often irregular. Research work is carried out in laboratories while in most other projects the office is situated near food preparation areas. A certain amount of time may be needed to be spent in kitchens, factories etc. which are usually hot & congested.

There is group work involved- working with other healthcare professionals to provide a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. Most dietitians and nutritionists work an average of 40 hours per week.

What Perks come along with this career?

Dietitians and nutritionists enjoy the autonomy in managing their patients’ nutritional needs. Interaction with a diverse population consisting of students, families, patients, groups and other allied health professionals makes the job more interesting. There are promising career opportunities because of the fast growth of the food industry. Dietitians & nutritionists can expect an above average income.

Which Downsides are there in this career?

There are a few disadvantages of being a dietitian & nutritionist. The work environment may be harsh for instance, hot kitchens. They may be exposed to food bacteria and other organisms, therefore being susceptible to food borne diseases. Unsanitary conditions may also harbor a threat to health. Most dietitians & nutritionists are on their feet for most hours of the day.

Nowadays, there is lack of coverage of nutritionist services by healthcare providers and insurance companies leading to a sense of unreliability. Dietetics and nutrition is a highly competitive field, especially for those with just a bachelor’s degree. Education is rigorous & coursework intense.

A number of dietitians leave the field and go into sales for food manufacturing, equipment, or pharmaceuticals. Moreover, other professionals like doctors & chefs are taking over the role of nutrition in today’s world.

How to Become a Dietician in India?

To become a Dietician, you need to follow the steps below:

Clear class 12th with any stream (Science with Biology is preferred).

Pursue B.Sc/B.A Nutrition or B.Sc Food Technology.

Pursue a PG Diploma in Nutrition or an M.Sc. in Food and Nutrition.

Intern for 6-months and clear the Registered Dietician entrance exam (to obtain the Registered Dietician license from the IDA).

Now Let’s discuss each of these steps in detail.

Stream and Subjects in Class 12th

You can take any stream in your class 12th, however, the science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) is highly recommended, as it opens up a wider range of courses and career opportunities. Also, taking Biology as a subject will help you build a base through a focus on human physiology.

Courses in Graduation

There are various courses that you can pursue in your graduation in order to become a dietician in India, such as B.Sc Nutrition, B.Sc Home Science, etc. The admission to all these undergraduate programs is based on merit.

1. B.Sc. / B.A. Nutrition: It is a 3-year course focusing on a wide variety of topics, such as human physiology, basics of nutrition, food biotechnology, health, weight loss strategies, human physiology, etc. The degree not only focuses on the general health but also provides expertise in areas such as public health, maternal and child nutrition, etc. You will also be exposed to the techniques of food preservation, food, and quality analysis, fundamentals of the bakery, etc. By the end of the course, you will be trained in planning diet charts and working on weight loss plans individually.

2. B.Sc. Food Technology: It is a 3-year course that focuses on the safe use of food. Food technology is the process in which various principles of food science are applied to the selection, preservation, packaging and safe distribution of food. During the course, you will be exposed to the basics of food technology, principles of food science, nutrition, food processing and engineering, food preparation, etc. Another important area in which you will be trained is food quality testing and evaluation. This course will help you in understanding the science behind food and nutrition, and will also open a wide array of options beyond nutrition.

Courses during Post Graduation

After your graduation, you can either opt for postgraduate diplomas related to nutrition and dietetics (such as Post-Graduate Diploma in Dietetics & Public Health Nutrition), or a Master’s degree in Food & Nutrition. It is highly recommended to pursue your Master’s to get an edge over others in the job market. The degree gives you theoretical knowledge and practical experience, both in the form of internships and research. The topics are also taught in greater detail.

M.Sc in Food and Nutrition: Post-Graduate programs give you a chance to choose your specialization from various fields in food and nutrition such as Clinical Health (dealing with clinical patients), Child/Adolescents, Public Health, Food processing etc. The course focuses on advanced Human Nutrition, Therapeutic Nutrition, Food Science, Quality Control, etc. It is mandatory to complete a 6-8 months internship. You will be made to work in different areas and undergo rigorous training.

The dissertation is also a very important and crucial part of the course. A dissertation is a short research where you select a topic of your interest, and conduct research on it. It will give you an exposure to the research side of the field, thus giving you a chance to practically experience what you study in your books. Admission to the various postgraduate programs is through entrance exams conducted by respective colleges.

Post Graduate Diploma: Post Graduate diplomas are generally 1-year long, and are extremely comprehensive. These courses will expose you to the fundamentals of nutrition, public nutrition, therapeutic nutrition, public health nutrition and institutional food management. Different colleges have different course structures, but these are some of the basic elements of such courses. Most of them end with a 7-8 week’s compulsory internship at a healthcare centre. Admission to PG Diploma programs is through merit.

In most cases, a postgraduate diploma is enough, but if you want to study in detail and conduct a dissertation at your post-graduate level, then a M.Sc would be a better option. If you are just looking to obtain the Registered Dietician License, a PG Diploma is sufficient.

Difference between a Dietician and a Nutritionist in India

Many people use the terms, Dietician, and Nutritionist, interchangeably, but their job roles and educational qualifications are different. Nutritionists are professionals who advise people on the types and quantity of food intake required specifically to increase or decrease their body weight.

On the other hand, dietitians are experts who guide patients (medical patients in hospitals, nursing homes, etc.) regarding the right kinds of nutritional intake. For example, a person recovering from a car accident would have different requirements from someone suffering from cancer. They are specialized in nutrition for different categories of people, especially clinical patients. Dieticians can work as Nutritionists, but Nutritionists cannot work as Dieticians.

Once you know what Dieticians do, it is important to understand how you can obtain the license to practice individually, which will ultimately help you in your career growth.

How to Become a Registered Dietician

After completing your graduation and post-graduation/ PG diploma, you will be termed as a Nutritionist. In order to be termed as a dietician, it is important to register with the Indian Dietetic Association as a Registered Dietician.

To qualify as a Registered Dietician, you are required to pass the entrance exam conducted by the Indian Dietetic Association (IDA). You should have either completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics or a M.Sc. in Food & Nutrition, followed by a 6-months internship after graduation, to be eligible for the exam.

The exam is divided into 2 papers. Paper-1 includes areas such as Human Physiology, Biochemistry, Physiologic and Metabolic Changes in Disease, Food Microbiology, Sanitation, and Hygiene, etc. Paper-2 includes Human Nutrition and Meal Management, Community Nutrition, Diet Therapy (Theory), Nutrition Education and Dietetic Counselling and Food Services Management.

Now that you know about the route to becoming a Dietician, the next question that might have popped up in your mind is whether the field has good career opportunities after graduation. In the next section, we will explore the scope of a Dietician in various areas.

Scope for Dieticians in India

Clinical Dieticians: They work with patients in health care settings, such as hospitals, nursing care facilities, etc., and help them in maintaining their nutritional intake. For e.g., a clinical dietician might help cancer patients to maintain their health by eating the right quantity of nutrients.

Pediatric Dieticians: They work with children of all age groups such as infants and adolescents and advise them on nutrition accordingly. They can either work in hospitals or set up an independent practice.

Sports and Health Dieticians: They work with various sports clubs, sports hostels, and athletic teams. They make diet plans for the sports personnel, both to maintain their weight and body muscle, and to keep their nutrition levels in check.

Research and Development: Dieticians can also work in the field of research to ensure the quality and nutritional values of food items. They work in labs and study the effects of different types of diet forms on the body. The main area of focus is the nutritive components of food. The results of such research efforts also serve to aid practising Dieticians in their work.

Academics: They teach in various schools and colleges to pass on their knowledge of nutrition to aspiring dietitians. They work as Home Science teachers in school or as lecturers in colleges.

Community Dieticians: Dieticians can also work with various fitness clubs, public health agencies, government projects, to educate individuals on food nutrition and eating a balanced diet to prevent diseases. They work with large groups and communities.

How is Competition?

The demand for dietitians and nutritionists is increasing nowadays with obesity and other dietary health disorders being on a rise. Moreover recently, the public is greatly concerned about their health and fitness due to an increase in general awareness. Services of dietitians and nutritionists are being sought in schools, hospitals, hotels etc. because of their fine comprehension in healthy eating and nutrition. Hiring dietitians and nutritionists in restaurants and other food places is a new trend these days, since everyone is becoming more curious & conscious of the food they eat.

There are approximately 60,000 dietitians and nutritionists working in the US. This field is projected to grow by 9% through the next decade, an average rate of growth compared to other jobs. Job opportunities are especially bright for women because the field is female dominated.