How to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in Saskatchewan

Are you curious about what it takes to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD or RDN)? There are 5 key steps to becoming a practicing dietitian in Saskatchewan!

Step 1: Complete the required prerequisite and apply

A minimum of one year of University is needed to acquire the necessary prerequisites to apply to the Nutrition program within the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the University of Saskatchewan . These prerequisites can be complete at the University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, or other institution. Prerequisite classes include foundational sciences, psychology, English, and others. You can find the full list of prerequisites classes listed on the University of Saskatchewan page via this link.

A test of critical skills and personal interview are also part of the application process to assess your non-academic competencies. You can learn more about the test of critical skills and personal interview here.

You can If you are a successful applicant, you will be offered one of the 28 total positions offered each year within the Nutrition program!

Step 2: Complete 3 years of course-based work 

You’ll spend 3 years learning nutrition science, physiology, metabolism, food science, and more.F rom micronutrients and macronutrients to custom nutrition program planning and clinical care, these 3 years provide the foundation for becoming a Registered Dietitian.  Professional practice classes are integrated into the curriculum to ensure you’re ready to enter the final year of the program and successful collaborate with the interprofessional healthcare team! You can review the full curriculum here. 

Step 3: Complete a practicum 

The final year of the nutrition program involves a 36-week practicum in partnership with the Saskatchewan Health Authority where you receive mentorship in a variety of practice areas. You will provide medical nutritional therapy in hospitals, visit small communities across the province to improve health through nutrition, contribute to public health initiatives, and experience what it is like to be in a management role! You’ll even have a chance to complete elective placements to expand your knowledge in speciality areas of interest including sports nutrition, digestive health, eating disorders, pediatrics, and more!

Step 4: Write the national board exam 

Once you have completed your practicum, you will challenge the Canadian Dietetic Registration Exam (CDRE) national board exam. Successful completion of this exam is required to become a Registered Dietitian in Canada!

Step 5:  Register with a regulatory body

Now that you are a Registered Dietitian, the final step is to register with the Saskatchewan Dietetic Association (SDA) to become a licensed practitioner in Saskatchewan. The SDA is the professional regulatory body for dietitians in Saskatchewan. The SDA regulates in the public’s interest by setting and monitoring the standards for dietetic practice and investigating complaints and directing disciplinary action. 

In order to practice dietetics, dietitians must renew their license with SDA annually; this will require ongoing continuing education. For example, both Courtney and Darian complete ongoing education to maintain their license and report their learnings to the SDA.

Upon completing the five steps outlined above, dietitians have the opportunity to work in a variety of fields to use their unique knowledge and expertise to enhance lives and improve health. You’ll find dietitians working in hospitals, health clinics, nursing homes, grocery stores, the food industry, government, research, and even running their own businesses as we do at Vitality Nutrition!  

If you are interested in working with a dietitian to reach your health and nutrition goals, we invite you to review our philosophy and programs to see if the dietitians at Vitality Nutrition are the best fit for you!