Under the Registration Regulation, all members, including temporary members, must be clearly identified when practicing dietetics by using their professional title of “Registered Dietitian” or “RD”, or the French equivalent, “diététiste professionel(le)” and “Dt.P.
Having their professional title after their name, dietitians can then indicate that they work in a specific area: public health, diabetes, pediatrics, oncology, or otherwise. It is also generally accpetable to indicate that a practice is restricted to a particular area, such as children.
THE DIETITIAN TITLE IS RESTRICTED
Using the title dietitian in Ontario is prohibited under the Dietetics Act, 1991, unless a person is a member of the College of Dietitians of Ontario. It is an offence for employers to aid and abet employees to inappropriately use the dietitian and doctor titles.
The Act states:
Restricted Titles
7. (1)No person other than a member shall use the title "dietitian", a variation or abbreviation or an equivalent in another language. 1991, c. 26, s. 7 (1).
7. (2)No person other than a member shall hold himself or herself out as a person who is qualified to practise in Ontario as a dietitian or in a specialty of dietetics. 1991, c. 26, s. 7 (2).
(9)Every person who contravenes subsection 7 (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $25,000 for a first offence and not more than $50,000 for a second or subsequent offence.
INAPPROPRIATE USE
The professional misconduct regulation prohibits the inappropriate use of a term, title or designation in respect of a dietitian's practice. An inappropriate use may include:
- Using a false or misleading term such as Medical Dietitian when the person is not a physician; or
- Implying specialization or certification such as Paediatric Dietitian, since there are no recognized and certified specialties in dietetics.
IMPROPER USE OF THE "DOCTOR" TITLE
Dietitians who hold a doctorate or Ph.D. may not use the title "doctor" in the course of providing or offering to provide health care services to individuals in Ontario. The title of “doctor” may be used by dietitians in academic, research, and other non-health care settings if the dietitian is not delivering health care services.
If you find that an individual is claiming to be a dietitian and that they are not registered with the College, please contact our Director of Registration.