Dietitian vs. nutritionist: Have you ever wondered about the difference? It can definitely be confusing! These titles get mixed up all the time, and to make things even trickier, some dietitians call themselves nutritionists, while some nutritionists aren’t dietitians at all. It’s like the age-old margarine vs. butter debate, but with way more impact on your health.
But don’t worry, I’ve got you. At Centred Nutrition Collective, we’re all registered dietitians, meaning we’ve completed at least one degree in Nutritional Sciences, rigorous training and are qualified to offer specialized nutrition advice, including medical nutrition therapy for specific health conditions.
So why does this distinction matter? Because when you’re looking for guidance—whether it’s for feeding your family, managing a health condition, or just feeling your best—you deserve to know who’s qualified to help. Let’s break it all down so you can confidently choose the right nutrition professional for your needs.
Dietitians are regulated health professionals who take the latest evidence-based research and translate it into practical strategies that support patients, clients, and communities. We’re science communicators, if you will! We love to break down complex nutrition science into easy-to-digest (pun intended) information.
To become a registered dietitian, you must complete a university degree in nutrition, plus ~1300 hours of supervised practicum in counselling, disease management, population health and food systems.
Upon graduation from a dietetic internship program, dietitian candidates must successfully complete the Canadian Dietetic Registration Examination. Upon completion, they must register with a provincial regulatory body for the profession. These provincial regulatory bodies serve to hold dietitians to the highest standards of education and ethics and are meant to protect the public. We take it seriously! To maintain professional practice standards, registered dietitians are subject to mandatory annual training and jurisprudence examinations to ensure continuing competency.
Registered dietitians are qualified to work in hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care, schools, communities, government offices, food industries, private practice, and so many other areas. They are also qualified to offer medical nutrition therapy (MNT for short) for health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, gut health, and eating disorders.
A nutritionist may provide general nutrition advice but cannot offer MNT for health conditions. For example, a holistic nutritionist may evaluate the lifestyle and current diet habits of an individual to recommend diet and lifestyle changes, but they cannot treat or manage various health conditions through nutrition therapy as a dietitian would.
This is where things get a little murky. The term “nutritionist” is not regulated in most Canadian provinces, which means that anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, whether they’ve completed formal training or just read a few nutrition blogs. The exception? If you’re in Alberta, Quebec, or Nova Scotia, the title “nutritionist” is protected by law, meaning only those who meet specific qualifications can use it.
On the other hand, qualifications for a certified nutritional practitioner (CNP) may vary from post-secondary certificates or degrees in nutrition, to no formal education or training. For registered holistic nutritionists (RHN) training includes a one-year diploma in natural nutrition.
Like dietitians, nutritionists may specialize in certain areas of practice. They may work in naturopathic wellness clinics, schools, wellness stores, and within the community setting.
Whether you decide to seek guidance from a registered dietitian, certified nutrition practitioner, or registered holistic nutritionist depends on your individual nutrition concerns and preferences. It’s important to do your due diligence to find a professional who aligns with your values and needs. Here are two major points to take into consideration prior to seeking guidance.
There are many fantastic dietitians and nutritionists out there who can help with your individual needs. Working with a regulated professional (like a registered dietitian) ensures a level of science-backed information as well as the protection of a public regulatory body. This basically means that dietitians are held accountable to a certain standard of care and are responsible for staying up to date on the latest nutrition research.
One of the big distinctions between a dietitian vs. nutritionist (in provinces other than Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia) is the ability to provide specific medical nutrition therapy. For example, after assessing dietary intake, a registered dietitian might make specific recommendations related to nutrients to prevent deficiencies, whereas a nutritionist would only be able to provide general recommendations.
The easiest way to find a registered dietitian in Canada is to check their credentials through their provincial regulatory body. Dietitians at Centred Nutrition Collective are registered in multiple provinces in order to practice virtually in these provinces, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
| Province | Protected Titles and Initials through Provincial Regulation * |
| British Columbia | Registered Dietitian, Dietitian, RD |
| Alberta | Registered Dietitian, Dietitian, Registered Nutritionist, Nutritionist, RD, Dietetic Intern and Provisional Dietitian |
| Saskatchewan | Registered Dietitian, Dietitian, Professional Dietitian, RD, P.Dt |
| Manitoba | Registered Dietitian, Dietitian, RD |
| Ontario | Registered Dietitian, Dietitian, RD (en français) diététiste professionel(le), Dt.P |
| Quebec | Dietitian, Nutritionist, Dietician, RD, P.Dt (en français) diététiste, nutritionniste, diététicien, Dt.P |
| New Brunswick | Dietitian, Dietician, Professional Dietitian, Registered Dietitian – Nutritionist, Registered Dietitian, P.Dt., R.D., RDN (en français) diététiste, diététicienne, diététiste ou diététicienne professionnelle, diététiste-nutritionniste, diététicienne-nutritionniste immatriculée, diététiste ou diététicienne immatriculée, Dt.P., Dt.I, Dt.N.I |
| Nova Scotia | Dietitian, Nutritionist, P.Dt |
| Prince Edward Island | Registered Dietitian, RD |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Registered Dietitian, Dietitian, RD |
| Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut | Dietitians who live/work in the Territories are required to join a provincial regulatory body. |
Table modified from Dietitians of Canada.
When deciding to work with a dietitian vs. nutritionist it’s important to do your research. There are many educational opportunities available for both professions to dive into.
At Centred Nutrition Collective we have dietitians who are also Certified Diabetes Educators and Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellors. Both certifications require various levels of extra training, and while any professional can complete the intuitive eating certification, you must be a health professional registered with a regulatory body (ie. dietitian) to become a Certified Diabetes Educator.
When seeking support from a registered dietitian, it’s important to note that all dietitians specialize, or focus on, a variety of concerns. At Centred Nutrition Collective, we focus on the following areas with passion and interest:
Yes, but not the other way around! The term “nutritionist” can be used by anyone, with the exception of Alberta, Quebec, and Nova Scotia where the term is protected the same as “dietitian”.
No, you can book directly! We are a private practice, meaning you can see us right away! In some cases, you may receive a referral to see a dietitian within your provincial health care system. These dietitians would not be working in private practice but within a primary care network or with provincial health care. In these cases, you do need a referral and the cost would be covered, however, wait times might be long.
Many extended health benefits do—check your plan! We always aim to maximize our client’s insurance benefits.
It depends. Always verify credentials! As mentioned above, educational backgrounds can differ, but that doesn’t mean there are not fantastic programs out there. Always check and be critical of the information you receive.
Centred Nutrition Collective dietitians offer virtual nutrition counselling and are licensed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario & the Maritime provinces. Including the cities of Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, London, Toronto, Ottawa, Regina, Saskatoon, and more.
The goal of both dietitians and nutritionists is to help individuals find connection between food and their well-being. However, registered dietitians are the only nutrition professionals regulated by law and required to uphold continued competency in their field of practice.
When choosing your nutrition professional, it’s important to look for an individual who aligns with your needs and meets a level of qualification in order to best support you. If you’re unsure where to go, or what to do, we encourage you to book a free consultation call with the Centred Nutrition Collective team to chat.
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