I am not registered yet and am uncertain whether I should apply for Associate or Full Registration
Typically Associate status is suitable for those who have just graduated, or who do not as yet have three years professional practice. For those applying for this level of registration (normally within two years of graduating from a nutrition degree course), we expect to see evidence of strong underpinning knowledge in nutrition science meeting our required competencies. If you do not have an accredited degree you will need to match up the areas covered from your degree syllabus against the relevant self-assessment form which lists all the required competencies you will need to meet.
Those applying for Full Registration must provide evidence of solid underpinning scientific knowledge and, in addition, strong evidence to show how they have attained and developed the required specialist skills and experience through the professional application of this knowledge.
If you are still uncertain which level of Registration you should apply for please read more about the categories, check the registration flowchart, read the Guide to Registration or contact registration@associationfornutrition.org
When should I apply to transfer from Associate status to full registration?
We would expect Associate Registrants to apply to transfer to Full Registered Status once they have gained around three years professional postgraduate experience. In order to transfer your category of registration, you do not necessarily need any extra qualifications, however your transfer application must show that you have kept your professional knowledge up-to-date, and should concentrate on how you have developed your nutritional skills and competence through your professional experience since you graduated. The evidence you submit must therefore reflect how you have developed through working in the field of nutrition in order to show you now have
practical experience of all the competencies required, as well as showing that you continue to abide by our Code of Ethics in your practice.
You can find more guidance on preparing your portfolio of evidence to transfer your category of registration here.
I have an overseas degree, can I still apply to join the UKVRN?
If the course you graduated from is recognised as being of an equivalent level to a UK honours degree or higher level qualification in nutrition, you should be able to apply to join the Register if you feel you can meet all the nutrition competencies required. You will however need to provide a ‘statement of comparability’ which should be obtained from
NARIC and will state, in English, exactly what your overseas qualification equates to in the UK.
All of the documentation in your application will also need to be translated into English if the originals are in another language (to allow our assessors to assess the information you have provided).
Do I have to be a member of the Nutrition Society to be on the Register?
No, you do not have to be a member of the Nutrition Society to be a Registered Nutritionist.
The Registration application process looks so complictated – I don’t know where to start!
Although it may seem quite daunting when you first come to think applying for registration, if you read the
Guide to Applying for Registration beforehand, and work through the relevant competency mapping form systematically, it should be fairly straight forward to identify examples of evidence to submit in your portfolio. If, however, you have read the Guide and are still having difficulty in assembling your application please contact
registration@associationfornutrition.org.
Is the term ‘Registered Nutritionist’ a statutorily regulated title?
Not at present. The nutrition profession as a whole is only voluntarily regulated (by the Association) which means the term ‘nutritionist’ is not regulated by law (unlike Dietitians who must be on a statutorily regulated register before they are allowed to practice). An individual does not have to be on the UKVRN to work in the nutrition industry, however employers are increasingly looking for registered status in posts they advertise, as registration with UKVRNis widely recognised as a bench mark of quality, science based nutritional knowledge and skills. All the individuals on the UKVRN are professional nutritionists, upholding our Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct at all times and have provided evidence that they have met rigorous standards through their qualifications and experience.
Can a Registered Nutritionist work with individual clients?
Registered Nutritionists are able to work with individual clients but they must only do so if those individuals are healthy and are without any known pre-existing medical condition(s). Our Code of Ethics and Statement of Professional Conduct (which all registrants must abide by) states that individuals with a pre-existing medical condition must be referred to a regulated health professional, or that nutritionists may work with such individuals only under the supervision of a dietitian.
I have a diploma in nutritional therapy, is this enough for me to join the Register?
By itself no, it is not enough to enable you to meet the required standards. You have to show how you developed professional competency, ethics and values to practice within our statement of professional conduct. A diploma is not equivalent to a science-based bachelors degree with honours or a masters in nutrition. You might be able to meet the criteria if you can show you learnt ‘on the job’ over a long period (usually about seven years). Alternatively, you could study at a university, preferably on an accredited course.
I don’t have a degree in nutrition but I have worked for many years in the nutrition industry and would describe myself as a nutritionist, am I able to apply for Registration?
Yes, if you have been working professionally in the field of nutrition for around seven years, you should run through the requirements on the relevant competency mapping form to check that you can meet all our required competencies. You will also need to show that you uphold our professional ethics, work within the statement of professional conduct and share our values, as set out in our Code of Ethics. You will need to provide a portfolio of evidence to support your application and provide the names of two professional referees.
I have a foundation degree in nutrition and health, is this enough for me to join the Register?
By itself, no, it is not enough to enable you to meet the required standards. You need a qualification in nutrition that meets our standards of education. You have to show how you developed professional competency, ethics and values to practice within our statement of professional conduct. A foundation degree is not equivalent to a science-based bachelors degree with honours or a masters in nutrition. You might be able to meet the criteria if you can show you learnt ‘on the job’ over a long period (usually about seven years). Alternatively, you could
study at a university, preferably on an
accredited course.
I am about to take maternity leave, do I still need to pay my Registration fees?
If you inform the Registration Office (registration@associationfornutrition.org) of the date your maternity leave begins, you are entitled to 'voluntarily suspend' your Registration for a period of up to 24 months. During this time you will not need to pay any Registration fees that would be due, and can simply re-instate your active Registration by contacting us again when you return to work. Please note, however, if you leave it longer than 24 months to re-activate your Registration, you will be required to formally re-apply in full for registered status.
How do I access the members' only section?
This is only available to current registrants. Please follow our short guide on how to create your online account.