About this apprenticeship
What it involves
Dietitians are regulated healthcare professionals who use evidence-based nutrition science to help individuals and groups improve their health through diet. You will assess patients' nutritional needs, design personalised dietary plans, and work across NHS wards, outpatient clinics, and community settings. The profession is regulated by the HCPC and offers career pathways into specialist clinical areas, research, and public health.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Nutritional science, biochemistry, and the physiology of digestion
Clinical assessment of nutritional status using anthropometry and biochemistry
Medical nutrition therapy for conditions such as diabetes, renal disease, and cancer
Behaviour change principles and motivational interviewing techniques
Enteral and parenteral nutrition support in hospital settings
Public health nutrition and population dietary guidelines
Professional and ethical practice as an HCPC-registered dietitian
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Assess patients' dietary intake, medical history, and nutritional needs
Design individual nutrition care plans and review them regularly
Advise ward teams on enteral or parenteral nutrition for complex patients
Run group education sessions on topics such as diabetes or weight management
Liaise with GPs, nurses, and other allied health professionals
Write detailed clinical notes and discharge nutrition summaries
Interpret blood results to monitor a patient's nutritional response
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 6 (Degree) - roughly Bachelor’s-degree level. Usually needs A-levels or a Level 3 qualification (employers set UCAS-point targets). You earn a full degree while you work - with no tuition fees to pay.
What’s next: Leads into professional roles, sometimes with a Level 7 (Master’s) apprenticeship after.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
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What it’s really like
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