Information for foreign-trained dietitians and nutritionists
(3132) Verified: 2010 09 28
Information on requirements to practise
The profession of dietitian is regulated in Canada, which means that it is illegal to practise the profession or to use the title "dietitian" without being registered as a full member in a provincial college/association. Provincial colleges/associations of dietitians set the standards for entry into practice and register those who meet established standards of qualifications and practice experience. Therefore, once you know where you will settle and work in Canada, you should contact the appropriate provincial college/association for details on registration procedures (see list below).
Some dietitians call themselves "nutritionists," but the title Registered Nutritionist is protected only in Alberta, Quebec, and (as Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist) in New Brunswick. In the other provinces, "nutritionist" is an unprotected title that can be used by anyone to describe their involvement in a food-related practice.
Dietitians of Canada is the national professional association, providing member services for dietitians.
Information on assessment of qualifications
Foreign-trained and qualified dietitians and nutritionists should first contact the relevant provincial regulatory body, which can determine whether an assessment is needed and provide the assessment prior to your arrival in Canada.
Students who wish to complete an internship should contact the national organization, Dietitians of Canada, for information. Their address is as follows:
- Dietitians of Canada (DC)
- 480 University Avenue, Suite 604
- Toronto ON M5G 1V2 Canada
- Phone : 416-596-0857
- Fax : 416-596-0603
- Email : centralinfo@dietitians.ca
- http://www.dietitians.ca/
You should note that if you are already licensed to practise your occupation in a province or territory of Canada, and later wish to work in a non-regulated occupation, employers may request that you provide them with a formal assessment of your academic credentials.
If that is the case, or if you wish to have your credentials assessed for a purpose other than practising a regulated occupation in Canada, you may consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, "Assessment and recognition of credentials for the purpose of employment in Canada" and contact an academic credential evaluation service. Although evaluation services offer expert advice on how qualifications obtained abroad compare with academic credentials obtained in Canada, their evaluations are advisory only and do not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for employment or certification purposes in Canada. Please note that evaluation services charge a fee for their assessments.
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources Development Canada regarding:
Specific Provincial/Territorial Information
List of provincial dietitian/nutritionist associations
Alberta
- College of Dietitians of Alberta (CDA)
- 740, 10707-100 Avenue
- Edmonton AB T5J 3M1 Canada
- Phone : 780-448-0059
- Phone (alternate): 1 866 493-4348
- Fax : 780-489-7759
- Email : office@collegeofdietitians.ab.ca
- http://www.collegeofdietitians.ab.ca/
British Columbia
- College of Dietitians of British Columbia
- 1367 West Broadway, Suite 409
- Vancouver BC V6H 4A7 Canada
- Phone : 604-736-2016
- Phone (alternate): 1.877.736.2016
- Fax : 604-736-2018
- Email : info@collegeofdietitiansbc.org
- http://www.collegeofdietitiansbc.org/
Manitoba
- College of Dietitians of Manitoba
- 36 - 1313 Border Street
- Winnipeg MB R3H 0X4 Canada
- Phone : 204-694-0532
- Phone (alternate): 1-866-283-2823
- Fax : 204-889-1755
- Email : office.cdm@mts.net
- http://www.manitobadietitians.ca/
New Brunswick
- New Brunswick Association of Dietitians (NBAD)
- 1-3653 Main Street
- Tracadie-Sheila NB E1X 1E2 Canada
- Phone : 506-395-7333
- Fax : 506-395-7383
- http://www.adnb-nbad.com/
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland and Labrador College of Dietitians (NLCD)
- P.O. Box 1756, Stn. C
- St. John's NL A1C 5P5 Canada
- Phone : 709-753-4040
- Phone (alternate): 1-877-753-4040
- http://www.nlcd.ca/
Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia Dietetic Association (NSDA)
- 212- 1496 Bedford Highway
- Halifax NS B4A 1E5 Canada
- Phone : 902-835-0253
- Fax : 902-835-0523
- Email : info@nsdassoc.ca
- http://www.nsdassoc.ca/
Ontario
- College of Dietitians of Ontario (CDO)
- 5775 Yonge Street, Suite 1810, Box 30
- Toronto ON M2M 4J1 Canada
- Phone : 416-598-1725
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-668-4990
- Fax : 416-598-0274
- Email : information@cdo.on.ca
- http://www.cdo.on.ca/
Prince Edward Island
- PEI Dietitians Registration Board
- 153 Spring Street
- Summerside PE C1N 3G2 Canada
- Phone : 902-436-2438
- Email : peidrb@pei.sympatico.ca
Quebec
- Ordre professionnel des diététistes du Québec (OPDQ)
- 2155, rue Guy, bureau 1220
- Montréal QC H3H 2R9 Canada
- Phone : 514-393-3733
- Phone (alternate): 1-888-393-8528
- Fax : 514-393-3582
- Email : opdq@opdq.org
- http://www.opdq.org/
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan Dietitians Association (SDA)
- 17, 2010-7th Ave.
- Regina SK S4R 1C2 Canada
- Phone : 306-359-3040
- Fax : 306-359-3046
- Email : registrar@saskdietitians.org
- http://www.saskdietitians.org/