Dietitians/nutritionists are licensed to practice dietetics, nutrition, or both. Dietetics is the integration and application of principles derived from the science of nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, food, and management and from behavioral and social sciences to achieve and maintain a healthy status. "Nutrition" means the integration and application of principles derived from the science of nutrition, biochemistry, metabolism, and pathophysiology to achieve and maintain a healthy status. The primary function of dietetics and nutrition practice is the provision of medical nutrition therapy. "Medical nutrition therapy" is the provision of nutrition care services for the purpose of managing or treating a medical condition. "Nutrition care services" means any, part or all of the following: Assessing and evaluating the nutritional needs of individuals and groups, and determining resources and constraints in the practice setting, including ordering laboratory tests related to the practice of nutrition and dietetics. Establishing priorities, goals, and objectives that meet nutritional needs and are consistent with available resources and constraints. Providing nutrition counseling in health and disease. Developing, implementing, and managing nutrition care systems. Evaluating, making changes in, and maintaining appropriate standards of quality in food and nutrition services. Ordering therapeutic diets. The terms does not include the retail sale of food products or vitamins.
Annually
GS 90- 357.5
Each applicant for a license as a licensed dietitian/nutritionist shall submit a completed application as required by the Board, submit any fees as required by the Board, and meet one of the following criteria: The applicant shall submit proof of completion for the following educational, supervised practice experience and examination requirements: The applicant has received a baccalaureate degree, master's, or doctoral degree or validated foreign equivalent with a major in human nutrition, foods and nutrition, dietetics, food systems management, community nutrition, public health nutrition, nutrition education, nutrition, nutrition science, clinical nutrition, applied clinical nutrition, nutrition counseling, nutrition and functional medicine, nutritional biochemistry, nutrition and integrative health, or an equivalent course of study, from a college or university accredited at the time of graduation from the appropriate regional accrediting agency recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education and that, as approved by the Board, meets the competency requirements of an ACEND accredited didactic program in dietetics that shall, at a minimum, include the following courses: Fifteen semester hours of clinical or life sciences. These hours must include human anatomy and physiology or the equivalent, microbiology or the equivalent, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. Three semester hours of behavioral sciences, such as psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology, counseling, or educational psychology. Twenty-four semester hours of food and nutrition. At least three semester hours must have been received in each of the following categories: Diet therapy, medical dietetics, clinical nutrition, or the equivalent. Nutrition through life cycle, applied human nutrition, advanced human nutrition, or the equivalent. Foods, food science, food composition and menu planning, food service management, or the equivalent. The applicant has completed a Board-approved internship or documented, supervised practice experience that meets the competency requirements of an ACEND accredited, supervised practice experience and is not less than 1,000 hours under the supervision of a Certified Nutrition Specialist, a Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, a licensed dietitian/nutritionist, a licensed nutritionist, a State-licensed health care practitioner whose licensed scope of practice includes dietetics or nutrition, or an individual with a doctoral degree conferred by a United States regionally accredited college or university with a major course of study in human nutrition, foods and nutrition, dietetics, food systems management, community nutrition, public health nutrition, nutrition education, nutrition, nutrition science, clinical nutrition, applied clinical nutrition, nutrition counseling, nutrition and functional medicine, nutritional biochemistry, nutrition and integrative health, or an equivalent course of study, with a reasonable threshold of academic credits in nutrition and nutrition sciences as described in sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision. Supervisors who obtained their doctoral degree outside of the United States and its territories must have their degrees validated by the Board as equivalent to the doctoral degree conferred by a United States regionally accredited college or university. The applicant has successfully completed the registration examination for dietitian nutritionists administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. The applicant has a valid current registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration that gives the applicant the right to use the term "Registered Dietitian Nutritionist" or "RDN." All persons licensed or who have submitted an application for licensure as a dietitian/nutritionist prior to July 1, 2018, shall remain licensed, eligible for reactivation, or eligible for licensure under the requirements in place at the time of licensure or application, so long as the applicant or licensee remains in good standing and maintains an active or inactive license if obtained or once it is obtained. Additionally, there is a Criminal Record Check
Persons and practices not affected. The requirements of this Article shall not apply to: A health care professional duly licensed in accordance with Chapter 90 of the General Statutes who is acting within the scope of the individual's licensed profession, provided that the individual does not use the titles licensed dietitian/nutritionist or licensed nutritionist. A student or trainee, working under the direct supervision of an individual who meets the criteria outlined in G.S. 90 357.5 or G.S. 90 357.5(c) while fulfilling an experience requirement or pursuing a course of study to meet requirements for licensure, for a limited period of time as determined by the Board. A dietitian/nutritionist or nutritionist serving in the Armed Forces or the Public Health Service of the United States or employed by the Veterans Administration when performing duties associated with that service or employment. A person aiding the practice of dietetics or nutrition if the person works under the direct supervision of a licensed dietitian/nutritionist, licensed nutritionist, or other licensed health care practitioner whose licensed scope of practice includes the practice of dietetics or nutrition and the person performs only support activities that do not require formal academic training in the basic food, nutrition, chemical, biological, behavioral, and social sciences that are used in the practice of dietetics or nutrition. An employee of the State, a local political subdivision, or a local school administrative unit or a person that contracts with the State, a local political subdivision, or a local school administrative unit while engaged in the practice of dietetics or nutrition within the scope of that employment. A retailer who does not hold himself out to be a dietitian or nutritionist when that retailer furnishes nutrition information to customers on food, food materials, dietary supplements and other goods sold at his retail establishment in connection with the marketing and distribution of those goods at his retail establishment. A person who provides weight control services; provided the program has been reviewed by, consultation is available from, and no program change can be initiated without prior approval of one of the following individuals: A North Carolina licensed dietitian/nutritionist, nutritionist, or other health care practitioner whose licensed scope of practice includes the practice of dietetics or nutrition. A dietitian/nutritionist, nutritionist, or other health care practitioner licensed or certified in another state that has licensure or certification requirements that are at least as stringent as under this Article, and other relevant section of this Chapter, and whose licensed scope of practice includes the practice of dietetics or nutrition. A dietitian/nutritionist or nutritionist registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists, or the American Clinical Board of Nutrition. A person who does not hold himself or herself out to be a dietitian or nutritionist when that person furnishes nutrition information on food, food materials, or dietary supplements. This Article does not prohibit that person from making explanations to customers about foods or food products in connection with the marketing and distribution of these products. An herbalist or other person who does not hold himself or herself out to be a dietitian or nutritionist when the person furnishes nonfraudulent specific nutritional information and counseling about the reported or historical use of herbs, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, carbohydrates, sugars, enzymes, food concentrates, or other foods. Any individual who provides nutrition services without remuneration to family members. Any individual who provides nutrition information, guidance, encouragement, individualized nutrition recommendations, or weight control services that do not constitute medical nutrition therapy as defined in G.S. 90 352, provided that the individual does not hold himself or herself out as a licensed dietitian/nutritionist or a licensed nutritionist as prohibited under G.S. 90 365 and does not seek to provide medical nutrition therapy as defined in G.S. 90 352.
NC Board of Dietetics/Nutrition
140 Preston Executive Dr
Ste 205-C
Cary, NC 27513-
919-388-1931
Dietitians and Nutritionists