Once you have completed your Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics, completed an accredited internship education program, registered through a provincial regulatory body, and have written the Canadian Dietetics Registration Exam, you are ready to find employment as a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist.

Did You Know?In a 2006 new graduate’s survey conducted by Dietitians of Canada, almost 90% of graduates found employment in a position related to dietetics within one year of graduating. Almost half of the new graduates were employed in health care/hospital settings and a quarter of them found employment in community based settings.

Several Employment Options for Dietitians include, but are not limited to:


Clinical Dietitians– can find employment in hospitals, nursing homes, or other health care facilities.

Administrative Dietitians– work in foodservice facilities that provide food to large organizations; such as school/university cafeterias, hospitals, or other businesses. For example, a lot of foodservice companies hire dietitians to develop menus, work with sales, develop nutrition policies for schools, order products for specific clients, oversee/manage kitchens, and complete other managerial tasks such as staffing. Examples of two very successful foodservice companies that employ dietitians are O.H. Armstrong Limited and ARAMARK Canada.

Community Dietitians– work with the general public in community settings by assessing and promoting healthy eating. Community dietitians can find employment in various settings including grocery stores and organizations such as Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Diabetes Association, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada.   

Public Health Dietitians– work in the public sector in areas including policy development, food laws and regulations, development of Canada’s Food Guide, and regulation of food labels. Public health dietitians can find employment in the Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion (ONPP) with Health Canada. They work with the government and school boards to help implement healthy food changes in the school systems. To practice as a Public health dietitian, most organizations require Master’s level of training. 
  
Consulting Dietitians– working in private practice, these dietitians provide counseling and expertise on healthy eating and disease prevention to individuals or small groups.

Research Dietitians– work on various research projects to enhance patient care, create new, healthy foods, and improve the cost-effectiveness of the foodservice industry. Research dietitians can also find employment at the university level in teaching positions.

International Opportunities for Dietitians– Canadian dietitians have the opportunity to work internationally with organizations such as the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), or with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Sports Dietitians– help athletes make healthier food choices by providing nutrition information based on scientific principles. Sports dietitians work with individual athletes or entire sports teams to teach them about healthy eating while being active. Sports dietitians provide advice on issues like: maximizing energy levels, eating to optimize growth and development, eating before competition, and staying hydrated. There are certification/diploma programs specially designed for dietitians to become experts in sports nutrition. These include:

  • IOC Sports Diploma – The goal of the IOC Sports diploma is, “to continue its commitment to improving the knowledge and practice of sports nutrition, worldwide, the Medical Commission of the International Olympic Committee now offers a postgraduate-level program in Sport and Exercise Nutrition. This program is aimed at sports nutrition professionals who work closely with athletes and coaches to enhance their nutrition.”
  • Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) SNAC Committee – As a member of the Sport Nutrition Advisory Committee (SNAC), dietitians help oversee the CAC Sport Nutrition Program, and ensure that accurate and consistent information regarding nutrition is available to Canadian Athletes. Members must be Registered Dietitians with expertise in sports nutrition.

    Dietitians are also finding employment in emerging roles such as in government, business, food industry companies, or in the school systems. These positions involve developing nutrition or food policies, marketing food products or services, developing new products, and teaching individuals both in the school systems and the general public about the importance of healthy eating and disease prevention. There are so many possibilities when it comes to a career as a dietitian!