Whether you come from a medical profession, caregiving, or another field, many of you are considering retraining as a dietitian. And you’re right, it’s a fascinating profession, serving others, their health, and their well-being!
The profession of dietitian is legally regulated by Law No. 2007-127. A diploma is necessary to practice and, depending on your profile, you can adapt your path.
To help you successfully retrain and make the right choices in advance, I have listed 6 essential keys to guide you. In addition, do not hesitate to contact practicing dietitians for their feedback and experience.
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1. Choose BTS in Dietetics or B.U.T Biological Engineering
The BTS in Dietetics
In France, there are two training courses that qualify you in dietetics. First, the BTS in Dietetics, which lasts two years.
It is accessible to individuals with a general, technical, or vocational baccalaureate.
This program offers comprehensive education 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 provide this two-year higher education course in dietetics. Here are the institutions, perhaps there’s 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)
- Jeanne D’Arc in Aulnoye-Aymeries (Hauts-de-France)
- Ducharmoy in Saint-Claude (Guadeloupe)
The B.U.T Biological Engineering Dietetics and Nutrition Path
With a duration of 3 years, it grants the bachelor’s level. The education here is even more scientific.
It’s ideal for individuals from the medical field, like nurses, wishing to retrain. This path includes 27 weeks of mandatory internship.
The B.U.T has existed since 2021, replacing the former 2-year DUT. It is an interesting alternative for the fields of research, engineering, and food industry.
In a retraining context as well, the scientific baccalaureate track is highly recommended: Bac S, ST2S, STAV, STL. It is often the younger graduates who are favored for the few places in the public sector.
Don’t give up, however! Remedial courses in chemistry and biology are very common and will greatly assist you moving forward.
There are 11 public university institutions (IUT) offering the B.U.T Biological Engineering Dietetics and Nutrition path:
- University of Tours
- University of Rouen
- University of Montpellier
- Université Paris-Est Créteil
- University Clermont Auvergne
- University of Bordeaux
- University of Lille
- University Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne (Sénart site)
- University of Toulon (La Garde site)
- Claude Bernard University – Lyon 1 (Villeurbanne Doua site)
- University of Lorraine
2. Pursue training on-site or remotely
Retraining as a dietitian offers some flexibility. Depending on your professional and family life, you can organize your training accordingly.
First, study what suits you best between a BTS in Dietetics on-site or remotely. The same applies to remedial courses, for example, remotely with CNED.
However, note that the B.U.T currently does not offer a remote path.
Then, you can choose for the B.U.T as well as for the BTS:
- Full-time training
- Initial training
- Apprenticeship training
Many distance training options for the BTS are offered in an accelerated version.
Nonetheless, be careful, because the program is dense and internships are much more difficult to complete quickly. Therefore, I advise against opting for programs that offer to complete the curriculum in just one year.
3. Mastering Costs and Financing of Your Career Change
In Public Schools
The costs for dietetics studies vary greatly. Tuition fees in public high schools or IUT are usually low, often limited to state-set registration fees. Scholarship applications are also possible.
In Private Schools
On-site costs can range from 2,000 euros to 7,000 euros per year.
Remote learning costs average from 950 euros with CNED up to 7,000 euros per year.
Funding for Employee Career Change
Funding for professional retraining is possible depending on your employment situation. If you are employed, you can apply for the PTP, Professional Transition Project, formerly CIF.
Or consult your CPF, Personal Training Account, which may finance all or part of the training.
Additionally, you may contact your company’s OPCO, which funds certain training registered in the National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP), such as the BTS in dietetics.
You Are Self-Employed or in a Micro-Enterprise
For self-employed individuals, there are FAF, Training Insurance Funds.
I think of the AGEFICE and FIFPL, depending on your sector and turnover.
You Are Unemployed
You can request support for your project from France Travail to evaluate financing possibilities: CPF, AIF (Individual Training Assistance…), etc.
Finally, the alternance program (or apprenticeship) for 24 months is covered by the employer. The salary ranges from 25 to 61% of the minimum wage.
4. Understanding the Role of a Dietician
Switching to the dietician profession offers many advantages. It is a booming sector due to increasing awareness around food and health.
The dietician is a health professional specialized in nutrition. Unlike nutrition coaches or naturopaths, she has regulated training and an RPPS (Adeli) number.
The roles of the dietician are varied and exciting:
- education and prevention
- therapeutic support
- adherence to food hygiene standards
5. Knowing the Career Opportunities in Nutrition
Becoming a dietician allows you to work in various professional settings, which align with different skills and profiles:
- privately
- in hospitals
- in collective catering
- in the agri-food industry
- in teaching and training
- in the sports sector
- in media and communication
The career prospects for a BTS in dietetics are increasingly numerous. Regarding the dietician’s salary, it typically ranges from 1,800 to 3,500 euros gross.
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6. Following the Steps for Career Transition
To summarize, here are my tips for successfully transitioning to a dietician:
- Take your time to define your project and motivations, with the help of skills assessment and by contacting various qualified dieticians.
- Then, learn about institutions or online programs to choose the one that best fits your situation and pace.
- Plan the financing of your project by utilizing available funds.
- Search early for your internship locations: collective catering, hospital internship, and optional internship related to your ambitions.
- Specializations and further studies after BTS or B.UT are possible through various University Diplomas (D.U) and Masters.
Your experience in the workforce can be a real asset in this path. With good preparation and solid determination, I wish you to achieve your professional goal and thrive in this beautiful profession.
