Providing nutritional care and education has far-reaching benefits for others and yourself. As a nutritionist, you can prevent diseases and prolong life. This makes you an indispensable asset to the healthcare industry. Besides a nutritionist, not many people thoroughly understand the correlation of food to health.
That’s precisely why the demand for qualified nutritionists in Australia is growing in direct proportion to public awareness of the importance of eating healthy.
What is a Nutritionist?
A nutritionist works in the public and private sectors, educating and advising groups and individuals about the importance of nutrition in preventing diseases and maintaining optimal health. A nutritionist may give general or specific advice based on scientific evidence obtained through education, research and practice.
Unlike a dietitian, who must complete a tertiary degree to qualify as a professional, the requirements for nutritionists are less stringent. However, most employers require an undergraduate or master's degree, or a certificate at a minimum, to qualify an applicant for employment.
What Qualifications Do You Need?
Colleges and universities offering nutrition courses run the gamut from certificate and diploma qualifications to bachelor's and master's degrees. Having several options makes it easier for you to work out your learning pathway, especially if you have definite goals.
If you're a health professional looking to further your knowledge and skills in nutritional medicine, then you may want to take a certificate course. But if you don't have a foundation in biology, biochemistry and other scientific disciplines, a diploma or bachelor's degree program is the recommended option.
A Rundown of Nutrition Courses
Before enrolling in a course, it pays to familiarise yourself with the coursework, how it is delivered and the length of study. That way, you can plan your budget, study schedule and the target date of completion.
- Bachelor of Health Science (Nutritional Medicine) is a three-year course which combines online and campus learning. Graduates can go on and work as a clinical nutritionist in a corporate setting, work for another practitioner or set up their private practice to provide nutritional consultations.
- Undergraduate Certificate in Building Health Through Nutrition is a six-month online certification program. It is targeted towards allied health professionals and aims to help them understand the nutritional needs of the human body. Completion of this course will qualify you for higher education in the field of nutrition or other natural health courses.
- Advanced Diploma of Integrative Complementary Medicine is a two-year online course recognised by major professional bodies for natural therapy practitioners, namely Australian Institute of Kinesiologists (AIK), Australian Kinesiology Association (AKA) and Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS).
- Besides nutrition and diet therapy, the course also covers Traditional Chinese Medicine, kinesiology and counselling. Hence, graduates can work in different clinical settings such as hospitals, community healthcare centres and multidisciplinary clinics, or set up their private practice if they wish to do so.
- Distant Certificate in Integrative Nutrition is an online training program which provides students with the qualifications to work as nutritionists, health coaches and nutrition educators, among others. The awarded certificate may be accepted as Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) by certain colleges and universities.
- Foundational Nutrition Education is a one-year distance certification program designed for health practitioners and non-professionals. Once you have completed it, you can work in private practice, collaborate with other practitioners or pursue higher education.
- A BSc (Nutrition) degree is your ticket to a graduate degree and a rewarding career in the public health sector.
- Diploma in Holistic Health is a one-year distance learning course. Completion of this program will make you eligible to work as a clinical nutrition consultant.
Where Should You Study?
You can, without a doubt, pursue any profession you want in the field of nutrition, considering the range of learning pathways available. When choosing where to enrol, see to it that the curriculum of your preferred school meets industry standards. It’s worth exploring Australia’s top providers of nutrition training programs, namely Endeavour College of Natural Health, College of Complementary Medicine and Nutritional Therapy Association.
Join a Professional Association for Nutritionists
After earning your qualification, apply for membership with a professional organisation such as the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA). Besides maintaining the highest standards of practice and professional conduct, they keep their members informed about the latest developments in nutrition.
As well as building professional affiliations, furthering your knowledge and skills through continuing education is key to your success as a nutritionist. Check out our Nutrition Courses page for other relevant information.
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