The Role of Nutrition in Maintaining Health in the Nation's Elderly: Evaluating Coverage of Nutrition Services for the Medicare Population (2000)
Chapter: Appendix D: State Licensure Laws for the Practice of Dietetics (as of June 1999)
Appendix D
State Licensure Laws for the Practice of Dietetics (as of June 1999)
STATUTORY DEFINITIONS
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Licensing statutes explicitly define the scope and requirements of professional practice. It is illegal to practice a regulated profession without first obtaining a license from the state.
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Statutory certification limits the use of particular professional titles to persons meeting predetermined requirements, but persons not certified can still practice the profession.
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Registration is the least restrictive form of state regulation. In California (the only state where this statutory category is currently used), registration is an entitlement law that prohibits use of the title “dietitian” by persons not meeting state-mandated qualifications. However, unregistered persons may practice the profession. Typically, exams are not given and enforcement of the registration requirement is minimal.
PROFESSIONAL REGULATION: STATE UPDATE
Alabama (1989)1—licensing of dietitian-nutritionists
Arkansas (1989)—licensing of dietitians
California (1995)1—registration of dietitians
Connecticut (1994)—certification of dietitians
Delaware (1994)—certification of dietitian-nutritionists
District of Columbia (1986)—licensing of dietitians and nutritionists
Florida (1988)—licensing of dietitian-nutritionists and nutrition counselors
Georgia (1994)1—licensing of dietitians
Idaho (1994)—licensing of dietitians
Illinois (1990)—licensing of dietitians and nutrition counselors
Indiana (1994)—certification of dietitians
Iowa (1985)—licensing of dietitians
Kansas (1989)1—licensing of dietitians
Kentucky (1994)1—licensing of dietitians and certification of nutritionists
Louisiana (1987)1—licensing of dietitian-nutritionists
Maine (1994)1—licensing of dietitians and dietetic technicians
Maryland (1994)1—licensing of dietitians and nutritionists
Minnesota (1994)—licensing of dietitian-nutritionists
Mississippi (1994)1—licensing of dietitians and protection of nutritionist title
Montana (1987)1—licensing of nutritionists and protection of dietitian title
Nebraska (1995)1—licensing of medical nutrition therapist
Nevada (1995)—certification2 of dietitians
New Mexico (1997)1—licensing of dietitians, nutritionists, and nutrition associates
New York (199l)—certification of dietitians and nutritionists
North Carolina (199l)—licensing of dietitians and nutritionists
North Dakota (1989)1—licensing of dietitians and certification2 of nutritionists
Ohio (1986)—licensing of dietitians
Oklahoma (1984)—licensing of dietitians
Oregon (1989)—certification2 of dietitians
Puerto Rico (1974)1—licensing of dietitians and nutritionists
Rhode Island (l991)1—licensing of dietitians and nutritionists
South Dakota (1996)—licensing of dietitian-nutritionists
Tennessee (1987)—licensing of dietitian-nutritionists
Texas (1993)1—certification2 of dietitians
Utah (1996)1—certification of dietitians
Vermont (1993)—certification of dietitians
Virginia (1995)—certification2 of dietitians and nutritionists
Washington (1988)—certification of dietitians and nutritionists
West Virginia (1996)—licensing of dietitians
Wisconsin (1994)—certification of dietitians
SOURCE: Reproduced with permission from the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 1997. Update on state licensure laws and ADA regulatory remarks. J Am Diet Assoc 97:1251.
