Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Analysing Data or Information Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

The Work

In the hospital situation, the Dietician will work as a member of the dietetic department team, and will be responsible to doctors and surgeons for the planning and implementation of therapeutic diets. Education of patients embarking on long-term diets is a major responsibility.  
 
Some food manufacturers employ Nutritionists/ Dieticians to give advice on the nutritional and dietetic aspects of their products; this work may include lecturing and writing articles.  
Studies of the social conditions of various groups that include investigations of dietary habits are occasionally organised by international organisations. The expertise of the Nutritionist/Dietician is important in these surveys.  
 
Other areas of employment include nutrition education to professional groups such as nurses and doctors who are involved in educating the public. The Nutritionist/Dietician may also be directly involved in nutrition education to various groups of the general public (e.g. sports-people, mothers, the elderly, teachers, etc.).

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Assess nutritional needs, diet restrictions, and current health plans to develop and implement dietary-care plans and provide nutritional counseling.
• Evaluate laboratory tests in preparing nutrition recommendations.
• Counsel individuals and groups on basic rules of good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to improve their quality of life.
• Advise patients and their families on nutritional principles, dietary plans, diet modifications, and food selection and preparation.
• Incorporate patient cultural, ethnic, or religious preferences and needs in the development of nutrition plans.
• Consult with physicians and health care personnel to determine nutritional needs and diet restrictions of patient or client.
• Record and evaluate patient and family health and food history, including symptoms, environmental toxic exposure, allergies, medication factors, and preventive health-care measures.
• Develop recipes and menus to address special nutrition needs, such as low glycemic, low histamine, or gluten- or allergen-free.
• Coordinate diet counseling services.
• Develop curriculum and prepare manuals, visual aids, course outlines, and other materials used in teaching.

Further Information

• Dietitian - from: GradIreland
• Dietitian - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Dietitian - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Dietitian - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

There are a variety of study routes for students wishing to pursue a career as a Dietitian. However, not all courses lead to the direct path of being able to practise in Ireland once qualified.

Regulation of health and social care professionals in Ireland

In Ireland, if you want to practise as a Dietitian, you must be registered with CORU, - Ireland’s regulator of health and social care professionals:

CORU regulates Ireland’s health and social care education and training programmes

One of the functions of the Registration Boards at CORU is to approve and monitor education and training programmes. The purpose of regulating education and training programmes is to ensure that all graduates entering the Register meet the necessary standards and have the knowledge and skills required for public protection. This ensures the delivery of safe and effective practise to the benefit of the service user.

What does this mean when selecting a course to study in Ireland?

This is the current list of Approved Qualifications to work as a Dietitian.  If you achieve one of these qualifications, you are eligible to apply for CORU registration.

What about studying abroad, and practising in Ireland once qualified?

If your professional qualification is awarded outside of Ireland and you want to register and work in Ireland, the process is a little more complex. You must first apply to have that qualification “recognised” by the Registration Board for your profession.

To be eligible to apply for recognition of your international qualification, you must have completed professional training, which gives you eligibility to practise your profession in the country where you were awarded the qualification.

The Registration Board will assess your qualification as well as any other relevant qualifications and work experience for compliance with the standards required for practising in Ireland.

If you are unsure about health and social care regulation, CORU is happy to help with any questions. You can contact CORU at [email protected]

Training & Development Pathways

FET Centre Traineeship: Health Service Skills, Healthcare Support at NFQ Level 5 Search FET Courses.

FET PLC Courses: Dietetics, Nutrition & Food Science, Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, Nutrition & Dietetics, Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Science, Health, Nutrition and Fitness, Nutrition, Health and Wellbeing at NFQ Levels 5 Search FET PLC Courses.

Apprenticeship: Advanced Healthcare NFQ Level 6. There are no current Dietitian Apprenticeships in this career area, but new apprenticeship are being added all the time NFQ level 5-10 Search Apprenticeships.

Higher Education CAO Entry: Health Science with Dietetics Studies, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Food Science & Health, Health Science & Physiology, Nutrition & Health Science at NFQ Levels 7-8 Search CAO courses.

Professional Development

Postgraduate Study Options Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Human Nutrition and Dietetics at NFQ level 9 Search Post grad programmes.

Last Updated: August, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €42k - €65k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
HSE/ Indeed/ Paysacle

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was above the national average for this occupation, although employment in 2022 were similar to 2021 levels. The CSO Census data shows that employment was spread across a large number of roles in 2022, with increases across all within this occupation since 2016.

While the numbers employed have increased since 2016, for the most part, the supply from the education and training system has not, and plans to expand training will not have an impact on the potential supply to the labour market in the short-term, given the duration of training required. This has led to issues for a number of roles within this group; for instance, there is an increasing number of students opting to study veterinary medicine in Poland due to the lack of available places to study in Ireland.

Psychologists and pharmacists were added to the employment permits Critical Skills list in June 2022 although new permits issued in 2022 primarily related to radiographers/sonographers, with a small number issued for dentists and pharmacists. With a quarter of those employed aged 55 years or older, replacement demand alone will create job opportunities in the coming years. Demand remains high across these occupations and issues with recruitment are occurring; however, as the numbers employed are too small across the roles for detailed analysis, evidence of shortages are difficult to determine.

• Health Service Executive (HSE)

  • Dr Steevens' Hospital, Steevens Lane, Dublin, 8
  • 041 685 0300
  • Click Here

• Public Appointments Service

  • Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
  • (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute

  • C/O Airfield Estate, Overend Ave, Dundrum, Dublin 14 Dublin, D14 EE77
  • 01 2150508
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• CORU - Regulating Health & Social Care Professionals

  • Infinity Building, George’s Court, George’s Lane, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 E98Y
  • (01) 293 3160
  • [email protected]/ [email protected]/ [email protected]
  • Click Here