Dietitian
Explain to people how to change their habits and eat food which is better for physical and mental health. Help patients with medical conditions to get the right nutrition.
About the job
A day in the life – Dietitian
What it's like
You would explain to people which foods are better for their physical and mental health. You’d motivate them to change their eating habits and lifestyles. You’d assess and treat people with a wide range of medical problems.
You could work for the National Health Service (NHS), based at a hospital or in the community.
In a hospital, you could:
Specialise in an area such as children's health, renal dietetics or cancer care
Run clinics for people with diabetes or eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia
Work with catering staff to create menus for patients with a range of dietary needs
In the community, you’d work together with doctors (GPs) and health visitors.
You would:
Lead activities to raise awareness of the importance of healthy eating for physical and mental health
Run health promotion workshops for healthcare professionals
Hold one-to-one consultations with people
Give dietary advice to people whose health problems may be linked to lack of confidence, depression or low income
You could also work in:
Education
Manufacturing
Research
Journalism
Marketing
Advertising
Public relations
Your role could be to develop new products and calculate their nutritional value. You might create scientifically accurate promotional literature about a food product or represent a manufacturer's point of view in the media.
If you work for the NHS the salary for this role is covered by the NHS Agenda for Change pay rates. You can see information about the pay and conditions on the dietitian page on the NHS Careers website.
Hours
In the NHS you would typically work 37.5 hours a week, which could include weekends. Part-time work may also be available.
Environment
You would usually be based in a consulting room attached to a clinic, health centre or hospital.
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Life sciences
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- dietetics
- clinical experience
- human nutrition
- enteral nutrition
- weight management
- gastroenterology
- cystic fibrosis
- community nutrition
- nutrition intervention
- nutritional assessment
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- motivating others
- coaching
- time management
- taking initiative
- developing a plan
- empathising
- researching
- creative
- verbal communication
- supporting
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Chemistry
Human Biology
Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You would need an honours degree in dietetics or human nutrition and dietetics (SCQF level 10) which is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Or a degree in a biological subject, such as biochemistry and human physiology, (SCQF 9/10) and then a postgraduate qualification in dietetics (SCQF level 11).
Entry to a degree (SCQF level 9/10) usually requires National 5 qualifications and a minimum of three Highers including two science subjects, or a relevant HNC/HND.
To enter a postgraduate MSc in dietetics (SCQF level 11) you will require a relevant honours degree.
Once qualified you must register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
You will need to be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.
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