No, you are not automatically registered on completion of an accredited programme.

You will need to apply to be a Registered Associate Nutritionist via the Direct Entry pathway as you will need to make a declaration regarding your fitness to practice and confirm that you will abide by the AfN Standards of Ethics, Conduct and Performance, and the AfN Independent and Freelance Practice Standards.

Details on what you need to do to apply can be found here.

If you are able to demonstrate that you have met all of the registration competency requirements, you can submit a portfolio application for ANutr registration. Please however note, that this pathway closes to graduates from UK programmes on 31st December 2025. Therefore you will need to have completed you degree and submitted your application for registration by 31st December 2025 to be able to apply for ANutr registration.

Typically Registered Associate Nutritionist status is suitable for those who have recently graduated and do not, as yet, have sufficient professional practice (usually 3yrs+). For those applying for this level of registration (normally within three years of graduating from a nutrition science degree programme), we expect to see evidence of strong underpinning knowledge in nutrition science meeting our required competencies. If you did not complete an accredited degree you will need to match up the areas covered from your degree syllabus against the relevant competency-mapping form which lists all the required competencies you will need to meet.
Those applying for Registered Nutritionist status must provide evidence of solid underpinning scientific knowledge and, in addition, strong evidence to show how they have attained and developed the required specialist skills and experience through the continued and consistent professional application of this knowledge.

If you are still uncertain which level of Registration or which specialism you should apply for, please read more about the categories, the Guide to Registration and the competencies for each of these.

Not necessarily. The requirement for the EEBN pathway is a MINIMUM of 10 years post-graduation nutrition science experience at a SENIOR level. For example as a Senior Lecturer in Nutrition or as a Head of Nutrition within a company. If you have not held a senior position in nutrition science for at least ten years, you will need to apply for Registered Nutritionist status via the portfolio pathway.

The transcript confirms the name of the module and that it was passed, but does not provide detail on what was covered within the module. Therefore we also require BOTH the module descriptor to provide the assessor with information on what was actually covered within each module being used as evidence AND the transcript as evidence you passed the module.

We would expect Associate Registrants to apply to transfer to Registered Nutritionist Status once they have gained sufficient professional postgraduate experience to be able to demonstrate their independent and consistent application of evidence-based knowledge and skills across the five competency areas, within the specialist area(s) of competence that they are applying for (typically around three years professional practice after graduating – depending on the opportunities you obtain during this period). In order to transfer your category of registration, you do not necessarily need any extra qualifications, however your transfer application must show that you have kept your professional knowledge up-to-date, and should concentrate on how you have developed your nutritional skills and competence through your professional experience since you graduated. The evidence you submit must therefore reflect how you have continually developed through working in the field of nutrition in order to show you now have practical experience of all the competencies required showing that you have worked independently and consistently in applying your knowledge, as well as showing that you continue to abide by our Standards of Ethics, Conduct and Performance in your practice (and AfN Freelance and Independent Practice Standards if working in these settings).
You can find more guidance on preparing your portfolio of evidence to transfer your category of registration here.

If the programme you graduated from is recognised as being of an equivalent level to a UK honours degree or higher level qualification in nutrition, you should be able to apply to join the Register if you feel you can meet all the nutrition competencies required. You will however need to provide a ‘statement of comparability’ which should be obtained from ENIC and will state, in English, exactly what your overseas qualification equates to in the UK.

All of the documentation in your application will also need to be translated into English if the originals are in another language (to allow our assessors to assess the information you have provided). These translations must be certified and signed by the translator to confirm that they are true and accurate.

No, you do not have to be a member of the Nutrition Society to apply to be a Registered Associate Nutritionist or Registered Nutritionist. The AfN and Nutrition Society are entirely separate organisations.

The Nutrition Society is a Learned Society, focused on improving nutrition science knowledge. Therefore many registrants choose to become a member of a learned membership society, so as to complement their registration as a nutrition professional.

Membership with the Nutrition Society does not mean that you are, or are necessarily eligible to be, a Registered Associate Nutritionist or Registered Nutritionist. In the same respect, registration with the Association for Nutrition does not mean you have, or require, membership of the Nutrition Society.

Not at present. The nutrition profession as a whole is only voluntarily regulated (by the Association) which means the term ‘nutritionist’ is not regulated by law (unlike Dietitians who must be on a statutorily regulated register before they are allowed to use the title Dietitian). An individual does not have to be on the UKVRN to work in the nutrition industry, however employers are increasingly looking for registered status in posts they advertise, as registration with UKVRN is widely recognised as a bench mark of quality, science based nutritional knowledge and skills. All the individuals on the UKVRN are professional nutritionists, upholding our Standards of Ethics, Conduct and Performance at all times and have provided evidence that they have met rigorous standards through their qualifications and experience.

Yes, Registered Nutritionists (RNutrs) are able to work with individual clients and many do so, providing support on following healthy diets, achieving goals such as weight management or in aiding sports performance etc. However, it must be noted that dietary advice should not be given in relation to the management or treatment of a pre-existing medical condition(s). Individuals requiring dietary support for their pre-existing medical condition(s) should normally be referred to a regulated health professional. Registered Nutritionists may work with such individuals in respect to their pre-existing medical condition, but only under the clinical lead of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional such as a GP or a dietitian. Registered Nutritionists may work independently with individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, providing the advice and support they are providing is not in respect to their medical condition and does not contraindicate with the management of their medical condition. Usually this will require the Registered Nutritionist  to work in collaboration with the healthcare professional managing the medical condition and/or alongside the Dietitian leading on the dietary aspects of a treatment/management plan.

Our Standards of Ethics, Conduct and Performance (which all registrants must abide by) states that UKVRN registrants are expected to work within their scope of practice. You should also ensure you have appropriate indemnity insurance in place (AfN Registrant’s can get preferred rates with certain suppliers – a current Registration number is required. Details are available in the Registrants’ Area).

It is advisable for RNutrs working independently, to participate in regular peer mentoring. You must also comply with the AfN Freelance and Independent Practice Standards.

Registered Associate Nutritionists (ANutrs) can work with individual clients in the same way that a Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) can, but you must have in place support/mentoring from an appropriately qualified nutrition professional such as a Registered Nutritionist or Registered Dietitian.

Our Standards of Ethics, Conduct and Performance (which all registrants have agreed to abide by) states that UKVRN registrants are expected to work within his/her scope of practice. You should also ensure you have appropriate indemnity insurance in place (AfN Registrant’s can get preferred rates with certain suppliers – a current Registration number is required. Details are available in the Registrants’ Area). You must also comply with the AfN Freelance and Independent Practice Standards.

By itself no, a diploma or degree in nutritional therapy or naturopathic nutrition will not be enough to enable you to meet the required standards to join the UKVRN as you have to show how you have developed professional competency, ethics and values to practice within our statement of professional conduct.

A diploma is not equivalent to a science-based bachelors degree with honours or a masters in nutrition. You might be able to meet the criteria if you can show you learnt ‘on the job’ over a long period (usually about a minimum of seven to ten years) and this knowledge and experience is science-based and at the level equivalent of a university graduate with at least an honours level degree. Alternatively, you could study at a university, preferably on an accredited programme.

Possibly – if you have been working professionally in the field of nutrition science at or above the level equivalent of a university graduate with at least an honours level degree for a minimum of 7-10 years, you should work through the requirements on the relevant competency mapping form to check that you can meet all our required competencies.

If you can demonstrate at least honours degree level knowledge and understanding of all the standards you can apply for Registered Associate Nutritionist registration.

If you are able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of nutrition science at at least honours degree level plus evidence of your consistent, independent evidence-based application of all the competencies and continual professional development, you can apply for Registered Nutritionist registration.

You will also need to show that you uphold our professional ethics, work within the statement of professional conduct and share our values, as set out in our Standards of Ethics, Conduct and Performance. You will need to provide a portfolio of evidence to support your application and provide the names of two referees (one of whom should ideally be a Registered Nutritionist or Dietitian).

By itself no, a foundation degree is not enough to enable you to meet the required standards. You need at least a bachelors with honours degree level qualification in nutrition science that meets our standards of education. You have to show how you developed professional competency, ethics and values to practice within our statement of professional conduct.

A foundation degree is not equivalent to a science-based bachelors degree with honours or a masters in nutrition. You might be able to meet the criteria if you can show you learnt ‘on the job’ over a long period (usually about a minimum of seven to ten years) and this knowledge and experience is at least at the level equivalent of a university graduate with an honours level degree. Alternatively, you could study at a university, preferably on an accredited programme.

Possibly. Our register covers animal nutrition and therefore you can apply for Registered Associate Nutritionist registration if you are able to demonstrate how you meet the competencies through your knowledge and understanding of nutrition at, at least honours degree level for animal systems and the feed supply chain. If you are also able to demonstrate your consistent and independent application of this knowledge and understanding in your evidence based practice, you can apply for registration as a Registered Nutritionist with a specialist competency area of animal nutrition.

Providing you have not lapsed your registration at the time you inform the Registration Office (registration@associationfornutrition.org) of the date your maternity/parental leave will begin, you are entitled to request to ‘voluntarily suspend’ your Registration for a period of up to 24 months. During this time your registration will be temporarily suspended (inactive status) and therefore you will not need to pay any Registration fees that would be due and you will not be eligible for CPD review during this period, you will however continue to receive regular communications from us. When you are ready to return to work, you can simply re-instate your Registration to active status by contacting us (providing it is before the 24 month period has elapsed) and renewing your registration into the nearest renewal cycle.

Please note:
1) If you remain off the register for longer than 24 months your registration will also automatically transfer from ‘voluntarily suspended (inactive)’ to ‘lapsed’ and you will then be required to apply for reinstatement through the standard procedures.
2) To be eligible for voluntarily suspended (inactive) status, you must return the application form for a this change in registration status prior to your registration lapsing, as it is not possible to move to this registration status once a registration has been lapsed.

If your registration has lapsed, and you did not voluntarily suspend your registration in advance for maternity leave, ill health or a pre-approved sabbatical reason, you will be required to apply for reinstatement. The process of reinstatement varies depending on how long your registration has been lapsed, therefore please contact the Registration Office for more information about your particular circumstances and to obtain the relevant reinstatement forms/information.

Please contact the Registration Office to discuss the process and evidence required if you wish to apply for an extenuating circumstances assessment.

Submissions should have each file individually numbered and named. These must not be merged into a single pdf, in order to aid navigation. Please see details on submitting on the Apply for Registration pages.

Applications for ANutr via the Direct Entry route take on average 10 working days to process, providing the pass list has been submitted by the university and we have received payment and a certified copy of your ID with the application form.

Applications via portfolio for ANutr, RNutr (incl. transfer) take on average eight to twelve weeks to assess, after references have been received. Although please note this may be longer during particularly busy times.

Application fees cover the cost of assessment, administration and the first year’s registration fee. If you are unsuccessful in your application, the registration proportion (£82 ANutr/£134 RNutr) will be refunded. There are no refunds for unsuccessful transfer portfolios, as no portion of the fee contributes to the annual registration fee.

There are a number of variations that affect the cost to AfN of processing an application and running the UKVRN. The application and registration fees covers the cost of the first year’s registration for new applicants (refundable if unsuccessful), administration of applications, requesting and receiving references, obtaining and checking university pass lists, allocating portfolios to assessors and processing the responses – requesting further evidence or a second assessment if required, maintaining and updating the UKVRN database, undertaking fitness to practice investigations, preparing and sending correspondence, postage, staff costs, promoting the role that Registrants have in improving the health of the nation and raising awareness of Registrant’s expertise.

Information will be requested to be returned within 2 weeks. An extension to this can be offered on request, but information must be provided within 4-weeks, otherwise the office has the right to suspend processing your application.

Registrants are assigned to one of the two annual registration cycles based on the date of admission to the UKVRN:
* Admission from 01 January to 30 June – April cycle
* Admission from 01 July to 31 December – October cycle

Renewal of registration will then be due each subsequent year prior to/on either 01 April or 01 October, based on the assigned registration cycle.

Please note – Registration cycles are calculated from date of admission to the UKVRN – not from date of application.

Of course – please email the registration team at registration@associationfornutrition.org  and they will be happy to help