Voluntary regulation of the nutritional therapy profession is now
being overseen by the Nutritional Therapy Council (NTC), which works
closely with The Princes’ Foundation for Integrated Health (FIH) to
provide a national registration scheme for nutritional therapists.
The NTC’s mission is to establish, uphold and advance the standards of
qualifications, competence and conduct of those who practise nutritional
therapy as a profession, in order to protect the public and provide
guidance to practitioners.
On October 1st 2006 the NTC launched its new national register.
Practitioners can apply for registration through the voluntary scheme and
will be assessed on their training and experience. If they meet agreed
National Occupational Standards and can demonstrate that they provide safe
and effective nutritional therapy, they are able to join the register.
Maintaining professional standards is a vital element of regulation and
practitioners will be required to undertake continuing professional
development to ensure that they continue to meet standards.
There are many different professions working within the broad field
of nutrition. Only practitioners in nutritional therapy and dietitians are
trained in clinical practice to give one-on-one personal advice.
Dietitians work principally in the National Health Service and are
regulated by the Health Professions Council. Their professional body is
the British Dietetic Association.
The Nutritional Therapy Council registration scheme is for practitioners
of nutritional therapy; fully independent practitioners who assess the
whole individual and work with the client to achieve and maintain health
through nutritional means.
The Nutrition Society is a learned society whose aim is to advance the
scientific study of nutrition and its application to the maintenance of
human and animal health. They hold a register for nutritionists who are
qualified to provide general information about food and healthy eating,
but are not trained in clinical practice or to give specific information
about individual therapeutic diets.
Competing interests:
Registered nutritional therapist, publicity chair of the Nutritional Therapy Council
Rapid Response:
Regulation of Nutritional Therapists
Voluntary regulation of the nutritional therapy profession is now
being overseen by the Nutritional Therapy Council (NTC), which works
closely with The Princes’ Foundation for Integrated Health (FIH) to
provide a national registration scheme for nutritional therapists.
The NTC’s mission is to establish, uphold and advance the standards of
qualifications, competence and conduct of those who practise nutritional
therapy as a profession, in order to protect the public and provide
guidance to practitioners.
On October 1st 2006 the NTC launched its new national register.
Practitioners can apply for registration through the voluntary scheme and
will be assessed on their training and experience. If they meet agreed
National Occupational Standards and can demonstrate that they provide safe
and effective nutritional therapy, they are able to join the register.
Maintaining professional standards is a vital element of regulation and
practitioners will be required to undertake continuing professional
development to ensure that they continue to meet standards.
There are many different professions working within the broad field
of nutrition. Only practitioners in nutritional therapy and dietitians are
trained in clinical practice to give one-on-one personal advice.
Dietitians work principally in the National Health Service and are
regulated by the Health Professions Council. Their professional body is
the British Dietetic Association.
The Nutritional Therapy Council registration scheme is for practitioners
of nutritional therapy; fully independent practitioners who assess the
whole individual and work with the client to achieve and maintain health
through nutritional means.
The Nutrition Society is a learned society whose aim is to advance the
scientific study of nutrition and its application to the maintenance of
human and animal health. They hold a register for nutritionists who are
qualified to provide general information about food and healthy eating,
but are not trained in clinical practice or to give specific information
about individual therapeutic diets.
Competing interests:
Registered nutritional therapist, publicity chair of the Nutritional Therapy Council
Competing interests: No competing interests