Thank you for applying for UKVRN registration. Please read the accompanying guidance notes and ensure you complete all sections of this form.

How we use your personal data

The information we collect about you in this application form and supporting material will be retained by the Association for Nutrition (AfN) and used only for the purposes of administering the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN).

All the information you give us will be treated as confidential and we will not disclose, sell or circulate the information you give us, other than for the purposes of administering your application and managing the Register.

Part A – Knowledge and understanding

This form is to be used by individuals to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in Nutrition within each of the Core Competency areas. The Competency Mapping form below lists the competency requirements for Registered Associate Nutritionists (ANutr) and must be completed and submitted as part of your portfolio of evidence. Please refer to the ‘Competency Requirements for Registered Associate Nutritionist’ when completing this form.

All applicants must provide evidence of knowledge and understanding at a minimum of honours-degree level for ALL of the sub-competencies listed below

CC1b - Mechanisms for the integration of metabolism, at molecular, cellular and whole body levels for either human or animal systems

CC1c - What nutrients are (including water and oxygen)

CC1d - Nature and extent of metabolic demand for nutrients

CC1e - How nutrients are used by the body (either human or animal), consequences of deficiency and assessment of nutritional status

CC1f - Non-nutrient components of foods, feeds and drinks that affect diet and health, including alcohol for either human or animal systems

CC1g - Nutrient analysis: calculating nutrient contents of foods, feeds and diets of an individual or group of individuals, justifying choice of a method of dietary assessment for a specific stated purpose

CC1h - Digestion, absorption, transportation and storage of nutrients and non-nutrient components of foods or feeds for either human or animal systems

CC1i - Nutrition in health and disease, consequences of an unbalanced diet for either human or animal systems

CC1j - Nature of common conditions that require dietary manipulation or can affect physical activity, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer etc for either human or animal systems

CC1k - How nutritional needs change with age, gender, physical activity, lifestyle etc for either human or animal systems

CC1l - Ability to plan, conduct, analyse and report on investigations into an aspect of nutrition in a responsible, safe and ethical manner

CC1m- Ability to carry out sample selection and to ensure validity, accuracy, calibration, precision, replicability and highlight uncertainty during collection in accordance with the basic principles of good clinical practice

CC1n - Ability to obtain, record, collate, analyse, interpret and report nutrition-related data using appropriate qualitative and quantitative research and statistical methods in the field and/or laboratory and/or intervention studies, working individually or in a group, as is most appropriate for the discipline under study

CC1o - Prepare, process, interpret and present data, using appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques, statistical programmes, spreadsheets and programs for presenting data visually

CC1p - Health research methods, dietary nutrition methodologies and nutritional epidemiology for either human or animal systems

CC1q – Theories of and development of practical skills in communication and learning

CC2b - Effect on chemical composition and nutritional quality of food, feed and diet for either human oranimal systems of:

• methods of food or feed production, preparation, preservation, fortification and format
• sources of food or feed supply
• methods of cooking & storage

CC2c - Familiarity with and/or development of practical skills involved in the methods to analyse the composition of foods or feeds

CC2d - Ability to formulate ideas and opinions concerning foods or feeds, nutrients, non-nutrient components of food and nutrition effectively and appropriately for either human or animal systems

CC2e - Understanding of issues associated with food or feed sustainability

CC3b - Significance of evaluation of nutrition in maintaining and driving public health agendas

CC3c - Factors that affect an individual’s, communities’ and population groups’ nutritional needs and practices for either animal or human systems

CC3d - Religious and cultural beliefs and practices that impact on food, nutrition and health

CC3e - Consideration of financial/social and environmental circumstances on diet and nutritional intake

CC3f - Theories and application of methods of improving health, behaviour and change for either animal or human systems

CC3g - Design and implementation of intervention projects and programmes, methods for monitoring and evaluating effectiveness and efficiency

CC3h - Theories of nutrition health education and nutrition health promotion (humans only)

CC3i – Ability to design/formulate a diet to meet aspecification appropriate for a stated situation for an individual, human or animal, or group of humans or animals

CC4b - Theory and methods of investigating the dietary, nutrient and activity patterns of the general population, sub groups and the individual for either human or animal systems

CC4c - Scientific basis of the safety and health promoting properties of nutrients and non-nutrient components of food or feed, based on knowledge of the metabolic effects of nutrients, anti-nutrients, toxicants, additives, pharmacologically active agents (drugs); nutrient-nutrient interactions, nutrient-gene interactions, ‘nutraceuticals’, functional foods, and any other metabolically active constituents of foods or feeds and the diet

CC4d - Scientific basis for the measurement and estimation of nutritional requirements, dietary reference values for the general population for either human or animal systems

CC4e - Understanding of the general principles underpinning, and strengths and limitations of, common methods of assessment of nutritional status including clinical, anthropometric, dietary, biochemical, physiological, and functional methods for either human or animal systems

CC4f – Understanding the general principles and methods associated with determining the efficacy, health attributes, health claims, safety, and legal aspects of foods, feeds, drinks and supplements for either human or animal systems

CC4g - Ability to recognise strengths and weaknesses in dietary, nutrition and health research methods, in order to understand the limitations of the scientific basis of nutritional knowledge for either human or animal systems

CC4h - Ability to integrate knowledge and understanding from a variety of sources to identify or propose solutions in one of the following areas: Improvement of human health or improvement of the welfare and/or productivity of animals or improvement of food production and sustainability

PC2 - Awareness of and adherence to responsibilities and accountability in relation to the relevant & current International, European & national legislation, national guidelines, local policies and protocols

PC3 - Regular development and improvement of professional practice and competence through continuing professional development

PC4 - Continual reflection on and evaluation of own practice against best practice standards, guidelines and protocols to improve practice in the best interest of clients

PC5 - Continual assessment and management of risk in own practice

PC6 - Awareness and understanding of research and other developments in the relevant evidence base(s) within own specialty

PC7 - Critical appraisal of the outcomes of relevant research and evaluations and application to improve own practice

PC8 - Awareness of the role of audit and review in quality management, including quality control, quality assurance and the use of appropriate outcome measures

PC9 - Understanding of and commitment to equality, diversity and rights, and to practice in a nondiscriminatory manner

PC10 - Understanding of and commitment to necessity of obtaining informed consent whenever required

PC11 – Understanding of the need to establish appropriate professional relationships and, where appropriate, work effectively as part of a team

PC12 – Understanding of the need to work, where appropriate, in partnership with other professionals, support staff, individuals, groups, colleagues, commercial organisations, the media and stakeholders

PC13 - Ability to communicate effectively with individuals and groups using a range of methods and/ or media to enable them to make informed choices about nutrition

Declarations regarding Fitness to Practice

This information will remain confidential and is only for AfN use in assessing suitability for registration. If the answer is yes to any of the below, please provide further details which may include the date, nature of the health condition, offence, penalty or sanction received, information regarding the circumstances, and a copy of the certificate of conviction/sanction.

Individuals applying for registration, or renewing or restoring their registration must make the following declarations regarding information held by the AfN for the purpose of administering the UKVRN and agreement to adhere to standard terms and conditions, for their application to be accepted.

Please ensure that you read these declarations carefully and understand your obligations.

I declare I have read, understood and will uphold the AfN Standards of Ethics, Conduct and Performance.

I undertake to inform AfN of any health conditions, criminal conviction(s), police cautions and/or any disciplinary proceedings by any employer, regulatory, statutory or professional body, whether in the UK or overseas.

I consent to AfN communicating with other regulator(s) and enforcement agencies (such as the police) about my UKVRN registration as part of AfN’s duty to protect the public and promote high standards.

I understand that it is my responsibility to obtain support and/or supervision by a statutorily regulated health professional in order to work with vulnerable clients in the following groups if I do not have the special knowledge for autonomous practice: Children, Disabled, Ill /or at high risk

I understand that unless I pay the annual registration subscription my name will not appear on the public record of the UKVRN Register and I will be unable to continue using the professional title Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) or Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr).

I consent to the AfN contacting any person to obtain further information about my application or to verify the information which I have provided, including the programme director or programme administrator or other authorised person from my university to confirm I hold the qualifications listed in this application; and agree that any person whom is contacted may provide the AfN with any information about me which they hold.

I understand that the AfN may contact me during the application process to request information and/or to update me on the progress of the application

I understand that I may be contacted by the AfN if a complaint is made against me as a registrant, relating to Fitness to Practice

I confirm that I have provided complete and accurate information in this form and accompanying documents.