The International Confederation of Dietetic Associations (ICDA) stipulates the minimum level of education of a dietitian is “1 : a bachelor's degree, and 2 : a period of supervised professional practice of at least 500 hours.”In this study, we conducted a survey of practical training systems for dietetic students in the world, and compared the result with the current educational system of registered dietitians in Japan. We collected information from notification documents and reports published by government agencies and national professional dietetic organizations and web pages. To collect more detailed information, we contacted the representatives of countries. Over 500 hours of practical training in accordance with ICDA educational standards were conducted in 21 countries investigated, but not in Japan and Norway. Timing of practical training differs depending on the country ; in some countries as Japan students receive practical training during the dietetic course ; whereas in the U. S. and Canada, students generally receive such training after completing the dietetic course. The contents of training in many countries were mainly clinical nutrition and nutritional therapy. Of the countries investigated, Japan has the largest number of dietitians per 100 , 000 of the population and the largest number of occupational areas. This study brought out weak points and advantages of the registered dietitian training system in Japan. Japan should adopt unique countermeasures for improving the expertise of dietitians by increasing the hours of practice training of dietetic students by taking advantage of a great number of dietitians and their occupational areas and their proximity to people's lives.

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