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Nutritionist
Nutritionists teach patients and clients about the effects of food on their health, motivating them to make positive changes to their diet.
Average salary (a year)
£28000
Starter
£43000
Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
37.0 to 39.0 hours
a week
Work Hours
between 8am and 6pm
How to become
Explore the different ways to get into this role
You can get into this job through a university course,
University
You'll usually need a degree or postgraduate qualification approved by the Association for Nutrition.
Approved courses include
food and nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, public health, health promotion
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology or chemistry
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Volunteering
You might want to get some paid or volunteering experience in the NHS. It could help you get a place on a university course.
You could also consider work experience in
food safety, animal welfare, food poverty charities, sports and fitness, food manufacturing, university research laboratories
You can find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Volunteer by Do IT.
More Information
Career Tips
There are some short courses available to help you decide whether nutrition is the right career for you.
Professional And Industry Bodies
After university, you can apply to join the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists which proves you're a qualified or experienced nutritionist.
Further Information
What it takes
Find out what skills you’ll use in this role
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
    Sensitivity and understanding
    Knowledge of biology
    Knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
    To be thorough and pay attention to detail
    The ability to work well with others
    The ability to work on your own
    Thinking and reasoning skills
    Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
Digital Skills Level
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Related Restrictions
What you will do
Discover the day-to-day tasks you’ll do in this role
Day to day tasks
Your exact day to day tasks will vary depending on where you work.
Generally, as a nutritionist you might
complete research to learn more about a certain area of nutrition, recruit volunteers to take part in your research, process and analyse biological samples, provide scientific advice on healthy eating, work with hospital patients, supported by doctors, dieticians and nurses
Working environment
You could work in an NHS or private hospital, in the community, at a GP practice, at a health centre or in a laboratory.
Career Path & Progression
Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities
With experience or further training, you could
specialise in an area, such as sports nutrition, public health or animal nutrition, supervise a team of nutritionists, manage whole projects or policies, find your own clients and become self employed
Job profile data provided by The National Careers Service.
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