31121

Dietitians and nutritionists

TEER 1 — Usually require a university degree

Express Entry skill level: Yes
Regulated in Québec: Yes
In demand in Manitoba: Yes

Classification

Health

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Definition

Dietitians and nutritionists assess nutrition related issues of individuals and groups and develop, implement and evaluate nutrition care plans to prevent, treat and manage disease. They manage food and nutrition service systems, and plan health promotion programs. They are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, home health-care agencies and extended care facilities, community health centres, the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, educational institutions, and government and sports organizations, or they may work as private consultants.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Develop, implement and evaluate nutrition programs and services for individuals, communities and populations
Manage food service systems in hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, privately owned-food service outlets or similar settings
Provide nutrition guidance, label interpretation and consultation services to health professionals, individuals, dietetic interns, community groups, government and the media
Evaluate nutritional status of individuals and aid in the prevention and/or treatment of inadequate nutrition
Plan, evaluate and conduct nutrition education programs and develop educational materials for various audiences
Practice on an individual basis or as a member of an interdisciplinary team to determine nutritional needs of patients and to plan, implement and evaluate normal and therapeutic diets to maintain and enhance general health
Analyze current scientific nutritional studies, conduct research and evaluate program effectiveness to improve the nutritional value, taste, appearance and preparation of food
Work within industry in the development, testing and evaluation, and marketing of food and nutrition products or as a company representative supplying product related information to health professionals
Confer with other health professionals, community groups, government and the media to provide consultation and advice in areas of nutrition interpretation, intervention and policy
Supervise training of dietetic interns.
Dietitians and nutritionists may specialize in areas such as administrative dietetics, clinical dietetics, community dietetics, public health nutrition or research dietetics.

Example job titles

•administrative dietitian
•clinical dietitian
•community nutritionist
•consultant dietitian
•dietitian
•dietitian-nutritionist
•nutrition specialist
•nutritionist

Overview

Under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system, Dietitians and Nutritionists are classified under NOC code 31121. This occupation belongs to TEER Category 1, making it eligible for prominent Canadian economic immigration pathways, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program within the Express Entry system, and various Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Professionals in this category play a crucial role in the Canadian healthcare sector by designing, implementing, and supervising nutritional and food service programs to improve public health and manage clinical conditions.

To qualify under NOC 31121, strict educational and licensing requirements must be met. Dietitians require a bachelor's or master's degree in dietetics, nutrition, or a closely related field, complemented by supervised practical training. Registration with a provincial regulatory body is mandatory for dietitians in all provinces. For nutritionists, registration is officially required in Alberta, Quebec, and Nova Scotia, while other provinces may not mandate licensing. Standard duties include assessing the nutritional status of patients, designing personalized dietary plans, and administering institutional food service systems.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional immigration advice. For official guidelines, please consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or a regulated Canadian immigration consultant.

Educational overview summarizing this occupation. Always confirm against the official NOC profile and IRCC before relying on it.

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Occupation data: Statistics Canada / ESDC — National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021.