Below is an overview of the requirements to become a PFNO Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN).
Eligibility Criteria
Education
- Completion of a bachelor's (4 years program) or master's (2 year program) degree from an HEC accredited institute, with coursework/ specialization/ major subject in Food Nutrition or related fields.
- The students with degree in Food Sciences or related fields have to complete a Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Nutrition/Dietetics, which provides the coursework required for eligibility to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
Internship/Training
- To become a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, you must complete a supervised practice or internship at a healthcare facility, community agency, or other relevant organization. The specific requirements depend on the type of Nutritionist you wish to become:
- Clinical Dietitians: Complete at least one year of practice in a clinical setting.
- Public Health Nutritionists: Complete at least one year of practice in a public health setting or teaching foods and nutrition in a post-secondary teaching institute.
Registration Exam
- PFNO has developed a registration exam to certify practicing Nutritionists and Dietitians.
- The exam is held annually.
- Applicants who do not fulfill the specified degree criteria may still be eligible if they can provide satisfactory evidence that they have acquired all the required competencies through an accredited degree program with supervised training under Registered Nutritionists/Dietitians.
- Those who pass the exam are certified as Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists (RDN) for a period of three years.