The Dietetic Profession – Legislative Provisions in Poland and Abroad

The indispensable qualifications for a dietitian in a medical facility are established by the Ministry of Health's regulation of 20 July 2011. Individuals employed in the following positions: dietitian, senior dietitian, junior or senior dietetic assistant must meet specific requirements. A graduation from a specialized school in the field of nutrition or a technical school or a vocational school with a degree in food technology with a focus on dietetics is required. For the position of senior dietetic assistant, a seven-year work experience or a doctoral degree with a focus on dietetics is also required. It is important to note that the practice of the profession of dietitian in the private sector is not regulated, which can be confusing for those seeking professional dietary advice.

In the United Kingdom, the dietary title is legally protected. Only a person registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) can use it. The HCPC is an independent regulatory body that maintains a register of qualified and qualified medical professionals. Patients who use dietary services and are dissatisfied with the services and the applied therapies have the right to report their concerns to the HCPC. It gives customers a sense of security and the certainty of getting advice from a qualified dietitian. Customers are allowed to verify whether the specialist they have contacted is in the above-mentioned register - it is available on the HCPC website. A dietitian in the United Kingdom must have at least a degree in dietetics or a related field (then an additional requirement is a postgraduate degree in dietetics). In the UK, there is also the term 'nutritionist' (dietary specialist). This title is not legally protected and anyone can use it. However, there is a voluntary register of dietary specialists maintained by the Association for Nutrition (AfN). Registered individuals can call themselves 'registered nutritionist'. Completing a course accredited by the AfN allows for entry into such a register. The AfN sets the course standards. Therefore, a potential customer can check whether the dietary specialist providing services is registered and thus well-informed. In the UK, the role of a dietary specialist differs from that of a dietitian. A dietary specialist is an educational expert who provides information about food and healthy eating. Only a dietitian is authorized to evaluate, diagnose and treat dietary problems in patients.

In order to work as a dietitian in the UK and be registered in the register, it is necessary to undergo a verification process of education and professional experience by HCPC. HCPC compares the qualifications obtained by the candidate with the UK standards. In order to start the verification process, the necessary documents must be submitted: a form covering personal data, an undergraduate diploma with a curriculum vitae, a detailed description of the professional experience, together with the contact details of the HCPC. The HCPC compares the qualifications obtained by the candidate with the UK standards. To start the validation process, it is necessary to submit the necessary documentation: a personal data form, an academic diploma with the curriculum vitae, a detailed professional experience description with the supervisor's contact details, which may enable the applicant to obtain employment or internship in a law enforcement institution due to legal reasons. A validation of the membership of the practitioner's professional services in the course of the course. In other professional medical societies, the GCPC and other professional language standards are required. It is also necessary to provide an assessment of the health and dietary competence of the patient in order to ensure that he/she is able to comply with the relevant dietary regulations and/or healthcare requirements. In this case, the relevant information is required to be provided by