This is our most frequently asked question. The answer is: an individual who has completed a nutrition science degree that does not explicitly contain at least 300 hours of clinical practicum training in Clinical Nutrition/Nutritional Medicine and substantial theory in clinical related topics (i.e. pathophysiology, pharmacology, independent clinical examination, independent complex case taking, counselling, and independent Clinical Nutrition / Nutritional Medicine prescribing) has not undertaken a clinical degree (in the context of being a bona fide independent clinician) – and therefore, is ineligible to join AARPN. 

While some nutrition science degrees allow for industry placement to occur in clinical settings, this is generally unstructured and not part of a formal clinical practicum program, and does not constitute clinical practicum training. A nutrition scientist can seek out a transitional pathway into a clinical degree (that meets AARPN’s standards), bridging the required clinical skillset.

The Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA) represents nutrition scientists. The NSA accredits the quality of an individual’s nutrition science training, and does not involve itself in any clinical aspect of the nutrition sector whatsoever. Some AARPN members – especially those who have concurrent academic/research commitments – choose to also hold membership with the NSA.

Using their already completed Nutrition Science degree for recognised prior learning (RPL), a nutrition scientist can gain advanced standing towards an AARPN recognised clinical degree, which upon completion (and meeting of all other AARPN requirements) enables them to transition to a clinically trained Practicing Nutritionist. All RPL scenarios are calculated on a case-by-case basis – with some nutrition scientists (for instance) joining the Torrens University Clinical Nutrition degree program, needing to complete as little as four trimesters worth of study. 

A nutrition scientist bridging to a clinical degree will undertake clinically relevant theory subjects (pertaining to being a bona fide independent clinician), and 300+ hours of clinical practicum training in Clinical Nutrition – as these elements will not have been undertaken in their non-clinical nutrition science degree. For more information on nutrition scientists transitioning to a clinical pathway, please contact an AARPN representative.

Only individuals who have completed an AARPN recognised degree are eligible to join AARPN. Dietitian degree qualification training does not contain clinical practicum training in Nutritional Medicine, and therefore AARPN’s clinical practicum requirements are not met. Further, these Dietitian training programs do not contain all the theoretical components necessary to underpin an independent Nutritional Medicine prescribing capacity. Some AARPN members hold both Dietitian and Practicing Nutritionist qualifications: it is an AARPN policy that members who hold multiple accredited titles only engage the title concordant with their employment setting/s. 

Yes. A CPN is trained to engage with both health and disease – both from the perspective of supporting good health and supporting the remediation of disease states. CPN degree programs contain the combination of pathophysiology training and independent clinical examination, which imbues an intrinsic capacity to assess and monitor wellbeing and identify when referral to other health professionals is required – such as referral to Medical Doctors, Psychologists, Counsellors, and Exercise Physiologists.

CPNs do not diagnose disease. CPNs are trained to take a detailed medical case history which can include information on previous medical diagnoses and results of previous pathology tests. A CPN – in a scientific evidence based manner – will use acquired information in conjunction with their own clinical expertise (and any additional pathology testing required) to generate a differential assessment that translates the client’s needs within a nutritional biochemical scientific paradigm. This enables the CPN to identify and construct a customised Nutritional Medicine intervention program to help the client obtain their health goals. Any novel information or insight gained on emerging pathology is referred to the client’s primary Medical Doctor.

Yes and yes. CPNs work either independently or within multidisciplinary clinics, including alongside other allied health professionals and Medical Doctors. GPs are able to refer patients to a CPN – as they are able to refer to any allied health professional who holds expertise pertinent to their patient’s needs.

Neither ‘Nutritionist’ or ‘Dietitian’ are protected terms in Australia. That said, ongoing advocacy work undertaken within the dietary services space seeks to protect the public from opportunistic players (such as organisations that deceitfully promote comparable access to the dietary services space via non-degree pathways, etc.)

Qualified practitioners within the dietary services space are identified by trademarked professional titles (such as AARPN’s Certified Practicing Nutritionist), so as to identify them from lesser qualified individuals.

Currently, the dietary services space is a self-regulating space, occupied by the clinically trained Practicing Nutritionist profession and Dietitian profession – both with their unique forms of self-regulating constructs and each being represented in the allied health sphere by their respective, single-profession associations.   

Clinically trained Practicing Nutritionists are a self regulating health profession, in the same way that many other non AHPRA registered allied health professions are also self-regulating, such as Dietitians and Exercise Physiologists.