Whether you come from a medical profession, the care sector, or another field, many of you want to retrain as a dietitian. And you’re right, it’s an exciting profession that serves others, their health, and their well-being!
The profession of dietitian is legally regulated by Law No. 2007-127. A diploma is required to practice, and depending on your profile, you can adapt your pathway.
To help you succeed in your career change and make the right choices beforehand, I have listed 6 essential keys to guide you. Additionally, don’t hesitate to contact practicing dietitians to hear about their experience.
📚 Read also | A dietitian ranked the best distance-learning BTS in dietetics
1. Choose the BTS in Dietetics or the B.U.T in Biological Engineering
The BTS in Dietetics
In France, there are two programs that lead to a diploma in dietetics. First, the BTS in Dietetics, which lasts two years.
It is accessible to people holding a general, technical, or vocational baccalaureate.
This program offers comprehensive instruction including courses in physiology, nutrition, and pathology, as well as 20 weeks of internships for immersion in the professional world.
There are 14 public high schools that offer this two-year (bac+2) dietetics program. Here are the institutions; there may be one near you:
- Valéry Larbaud in Cusset (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)
- Marie Curie in Marseille (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)
- Jean Chaptal in Quimper (Brittany)
- Jean Rostand in Strasbourg (Grand Est)
- Édouard Gand in Amiens (Hauts-de-France)
- Sévigné in Tourcoing (Hauts-de-France)
- Marguerite Yourcenar in Beuvry (Hauts-de-France)
- Auffray in Clichy (Île-de-France)
- Guillaume Tirel in Paris (Île-de-France)
- François Rabelais in Paris (Île-de-France)
- Gregor Mendel in Vincennes (Île-de-France)
- Bazeilles in Bazeilles (Grand Est)
- Joan of Arc in Aulnoye-Aymeries (Hauts-de-France)
- Ducharmoy in Saint-Claude (Guadeloupe)
The B.U.T in Biological Engineering, dietetics and nutrition track
With a duration of 3 years, it awards a bachelor’s degree. The teaching there is even more scientific.
It is ideal for people from the medical field, such as nurses, who want to retrain. This pathway includes 27 weeks of mandatory internship.
The B.U.T has existed since 2021; it replaces the former two-year DUT. It is an interesting alternative for the fields of research, engineering, and agri-food.
In the context of retraining as well, the scientific track of the baccalaureate is strongly recommended: Bac S, ST2S, STAV, STL. It is often the younger graduates who are favored for the few spots in the public sector.
Don’t give up though! Refresher courses in chemistry and biology are very common and will help you a lot going forward.
There are 11 public university institutions (IUTs) that offer the B.U.T in Biological Engineering with a dietetics and nutrition track:
- University of Tours
- University of Rouen
- University of Montpellier
- Paris-Est Créteil University
- University of Clermont Auvergne
- University of Bordeaux
- University of Lille
- Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne University (Sénart campus)
- University of Toulon (La Garde campus)
- Claude Bernard University – Lyon 1 (Villeurbanne Doua campus)
- University of Lorraine
2. Complete training in person or online
Retraining as a dietitian allows some flexibility. Depending on your professional life and your family life, you can arrange your training.
First, consider which suits you best: a BTS in Dietetics, in-person or remote. The same applies to refresher courses, which can be taken remotely with the CNED, for example.
However, note that the B.U.T does not yet offer an online pathway.
Next, you can choose the B.U.T just as you can the BTS:
- Full-time training
- Initial training
- Apprenticeship training
Many distance learning programs for the BTS are offered in an accelerated format.
Be careful, though, because the program is intensive and internships are much harder to complete more quickly. So, I advise against choosing programs that claim to complete the curriculum in a single year.
3. Understand the costs and funding options for your career change
In a public school
Prices for dietetics studies vary widely. Tuition fees at public high schools or IUTs are generally low, often limited to the registration fees set by the state. Scholarship applications are also possible.
In a private school
In-person costs can range from €2,000 to €7,000 per year.
For distance learning, costs average from €950 with the CNED up to €7,000 per year.
Funding for employees’ retraining
Funding for professional retraining is possible depending on your employment situation. If you are an employee, you can apply for the PTP (Projet de Transition Professionnelle), formerly the CIF.
Or consult your CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation), which can finance all or part of the training.
You can also contact your company’s OPCO, which funds certain programs registered in the Répertoire National des Certifications Professionnelles (RNCP), as is the case for the BTS in dietetics.
You are self-employed or operating a micro-enterprise
For the self-employed, there are FAF (Training Insurance Funds).
I’m thinking of AGEFICE and FIFPL, depending on your industry and your revenue.
You are unemployed
You can request support for your project from France Travail to assess financing options: CPF, AIF (Individual Training Assistance…).
Finally, the work-study format (or apprenticeship) of 24 months is covered by the employer. The pay is 25% to 61% of the minimum wage (SMIC).
4. Understand the role of a dietitian
Switching careers to become a dietitian offers many advantages. It’s a fast-growing sector thanks to the growing awareness around food and health.
A dietitian is a health professional specialized in nutrition. Unlike nutrition coaches or naturopaths, she receives regulated training and has an RPPS number (Adeli).
The roles of the dietitian are varied and exciting:
- education and prevention
- therapeutic support
- compliance with food hygiene standards
5. Know the career prospects in nutrition
Becoming a dietitian allows you to work in various professional settings, which correspond to different skills and profiles:
- in private practice
- in a hospital setting
- in institutional catering
- in the agri-food industry
- in teaching and training
- in the sports sector
- in the media and communications
Job opportunities for those with a BTS in dietetics are actually becoming more numerous. As for the dietitian’s salary, it is on average between €1,800 and €3,500 gross.
📚 Also read | 6 career paths for the BTS in dietetics
6. Follow the steps for your career change
In summary, here are my tips for successfully switching careers to become a dietitian:
- Take your time to define your project and your motivations, thanks to a skills assessment and by contacting various qualified dietitians.
- Next, research the institutions or online programs to choose the one that best fits your situation and pace.
- Plan the funding of your project by mobilizing available assistance.
- Look for your internship placements as early as possible: institutional catering, a hospital placement, and an optional placement related to your ambitions.
- Specializations and further studies after the BTS or the B.UT are possible thanks to the various University Diplomas (D.U) and Master’s degrees.
Your work experience can be a real asset on this path. With good preparation and strong determination, I wish you success in achieving your professional goal and in thriving in this rewarding profession.
