Dietitian / Clinical Dietitian

Last Update on 16/11/2020

Practice as a Clinical Dietitian and/or Dietitian

General Information

In order to practice as a Clinical Dietitian or/and Dietitian in the Republic of Cyprus, one needs to register with the Cyprus Registration Board for Food Scientists, Food Technologists and Dietitians, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, and obtain a Certificate of Registration.

Every physical person is eligible to register with the Cyprus Registration Board for Food Scientists, Food Technologists and Dietitians, provided that the Cyprus Registration Board for Food Scientists, Food Technologists and Dietitians is satisfied that he/she fulfills the following criteria:

  • Is a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus or a European citizen or a spouse of Cyprus citizen who has his/her permanent residence in Cyprus, at the time of the application’s submission;
  • Is at least 21 years old;
  • Has not been convicted for a moral offence or inherent moral obscenity, which at the discretion of the Board makes him/her unfit to register as a dietitian;
  • Has a Degree or University Diploma or Equivalent qualification (of a dietitian, clinical dietitian ), from any country as the Board determines by notice published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cyprus as a recognized qualification for the purposes of the ‘Registration of Food Scientists and Dietitians Law’ (N. 31(I)/96);
  • Is a professional member, associate member or fellow or affiliate or active member of the Dietetic Association of UK or USA or the Health and Professional Council (HCPC) or Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) (the last two are for the clinical dietitians);
  • If the degree of the person requesting registration to the Registry of Dietitians is in Clinical Dietetics or the candidate holds the professional title of RD (Registered Dietitian in the USA, Canada, Australia, UK, New Zealand and South Africa, or other accredited places) then the registration is as Clinical Dietitian.

The application for entry of a member in the Register of Dietitians, in the case of dietitians or clinical dietitians, can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or by contacting directly the competent authority:

Cyprus Registration Board for Food Scientists,
Food Technologists and Dietitians
P.O.Box 28604
2081 Nicosia
Tel.:+357 22070699
Fax:+357 22070233
E-mail: cyrbfstd@outlook.com, eleni.andreou@cyrbfstd.com, eandreou@eleniandreou.diet
Website: http://www.moh.gov.cyhttp://www.cydadiet.org

  1. The application should be accompanied by the following documents:

    • Copy of Birth Certificate or copy of Identity Card or copy of Passport;
    • Certified copy of a relevant Degree/Diploma/Certificate;
    • Certified copy of the transcript of the above mentioned Degree/Diploma/Certificate;
    • Certified copy of a membership registration to professional body recognized by the Association;
    • Certified documentation for practical experience as a clinical dietitian or/and dietitian (self-employed or employee);
    • Original Certificate of Clear Criminal Record;
    • Leaflets for Internal Information System (IMI);
    • Payment of registration fee of €50.

The registration fee is €50 and is payable with the application.

The subscription renewal fee is €35.

The applicant is informed in writing regarding the authorization decision within three months from the date from the date that the application form and supporting documents were duly submitted and a Registration Certificate is sent only with approval.

The Certificate of Registration is valid for one year from the date of issue. The renewal fee is €35 and is mandatory.

Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision

A person who is not satisfied by a Council decision may, within twenty (20) days of the date on which the Council’s decision is notified to him/her, challenge that decision by written Administrative Action to the Minister of Health; this provision is regulated in the Health Professionals Registration Councils (Exercise of Hierarchical Administrative Action) Law of 2017.

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such a decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated. However, such a revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

Registered Dietitians, Clinical Dietitians, Food Scientists and Food Technologists are obliged to comply with the provisions of the ‘Registration of Food Scientists and Dietitians Law’ (N. 31(Ι)/96), the relevant Bylaws as well as the Code of Ethics of the Cyprus Dietetic and Nutrition Association, as periodically amended.

Indicatively, professional members should comply with the following:

  • Offer satisfactory and detailed information in a simple and understandable manner to enable the client/patient form his/her own decision;
  • Present the client with substantiated information and interpret controversial information without any bias recognizing that opinions vary;
  • Protect confidential information regarding their clients and guarantee, as far as possible, full confidentiality without any limitation;
  • Offer professional services with objectivity and with respect to the unique needs and values of their client;
  • Offer professional services in a manner sensitive to the educational and social level of the client without discriminating against others on the basis of sex, nationality, religion, economic and social classes or a person’s disability;
  • Not allow sexual harassment towards themselves and strictly refrain from such behavior in relation to their clients/patients;
  • Although the fee charged to clients can be set freely, dietitians should not claim an exorbitant fee to a degree of profiteering.

The Cyprus Registration Board for Food Scientists, Food Technologists and Dietitians is the delegated body to exercise disciplinary control and impose disciplinary penalties, such as the deletion of a registered dietitian from the registry.