License: Dietician

MS State Dept. of Health Office of Licensure Professional Licensure Division external site

P.O. Box 1700

Jackson, MS 39215-1700

(601) 364-7360

Definitions: "Commission on Dietetic Registration" (CDR) means the Commission on Dietetic Registration that is a member of the National Commission for Health Certifying Agencies. "Degree" means a degree received from a college or university that was accredited through the Council on Post-secondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was conferred. "Registered Dietitian" means a person registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. "Licensed Dietitian" means a person licensed pursuant to these regulations. "Provisionally Licensed Dietitian" means a person provisionally licensed pursuant to these regulations. "Dietetics Practice" means the integration and application of the principles derived from the sciences of nutrition, biochemistry, food, physiology, management and behavioral and social sciences to achieve and maintain people's health. Dietetic practice includes, but is not limited to: a. Providing medical nutrition therapy. b. Development, administration, evaluation, and consultation regarding nutritional care standards of quality in food services and medical nutrition therapy. c. Providing nutrition counseling in health and disease. d. Developing, implementing, and managing nutrition care systems. e. Providing case management services. "Medical nutrition therapy" is a nutritional diagnostic therapy and counseling services for the purpose of disease management. It means the assessment of the nutritional status of patients with a condition, illness, or injury that appropriately requires medical nutrition therapy as part of the treatment. The assessment includes review and analysis of medical and diet history, blood chemistry lab values, and anthropometric measurements to determine nutritional status and treatment modalities. a. Therapy ranges from diet modification and nutrition counseling to administration of specialized nutrition therapies, such as intravenous medical nutritional products as determined necessary to manage a condition or treat illness or injury. b. Administration of specialized nutrition therapies does not include the clinical aspects of insertion of the nasogastric tube, initiation of the intravenous line, nor administration of nutritional feedings/fluids, or medications via the intravenous, nasogastric, or gastrostomy route. "Diet modification and nutrition counseling" means intervention and advice in assisting individuals or groups in the development of personal diet plans to achieve appropriate nutritional intake. To develop the diet plan, the dietitian integrates information from the nutritional assessment with information on food and other sources of nutrients and meal preparation consistent with cultural background and socioeconomic status. "Nutrition Educator" shall mean one who communicates scientific nutrition information to individuals and/or groups and who provides information on food sources of nutrients to meet normal nutrition need based on the most current "Recommended Dietary Allowances" of the Food and Nutrition Board, National Academy of Sciences, and National Research Council. "Dietitian" means one engaged in dietetics practice, medical nutrition therapy or nutrition education. The terms dietitian or dietician are used interchangeably in this chapter. Licensure Requirements: An applicant for licensure shall submit to the Department, verified by oath, written evidence in form and content satisfactory to the Department that the applicant: 1. has passed an examination as administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration or other examination as approved by the Department; 2. is in good standing in any other state or jurisdiction where licensed; 3. is of good moral character; and 4. is presently in good standing with the Commission on Dietetic Registration Provisional License: The Board may, in its discretion, issue a provisional license for the practice of dietetics for a period of one (1) year, providing the applicant submits to the Department, verified by oath, in form and content satisfactory to the Department that the applicant: 1. is a resident of the State of Mississippi; and 2. has received a baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited through the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, with a major in dietetics or an equivalent major course of study as approved by the Department; and 3. Submits proof of having successfully completed a planned program of dietetic experience which makes the applicant eligible for registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, or its successor organization: and a. will be practicing only under the direct technical supervision of a dietitian. b. is of good moral character. 4. In its discretion, and upon application, the Board may renew a provisional license from year to year, not to exceed five (5) years, from the date of the issuance of the original provisional license. General Provisions: 1. The Board shall issue licenses which, upon expiration of the initial license, shall be renewed biennially. 2. The licensure term for regular licenses shall be construed as April 1 of even numbered years through March 31 of odd numbered years. 3. The Department shall issue provisional licenses which, upon expiration of the initial provisional license, shall be renewed annually. 4. The licensure term for provisional licenses shall be construed as April 1 through March 31. Exceptions and Exemptions No person shall engage in the practice of dietetics or represent himself to be a dietitian unless he is licensed by the Board, except as otherwise provided in this section. 1. A student enrolled in an approved academic program in dietetics, if such practice constitutes a part of a supervised course of study, and if the student is designated by a title which clearly indicated his or her status as a student or trainee. 2. A registered dietitian who is serving in the Armed Forces or the Public Health Service of the United States or is employed by the Veteran Affairs provided such practice is related to such service or employment. 3. Any person providing dietetic services, including but not limited to dietetic technicians, dietetic assistants, and dietary managers, working under the direct technical supervision of a licensed dietitian, except that such persons may not use the title "dietitian" or "nutritionist." 4. Persons licensed or registered to practice the health professions when covered under the scope of practice of his or her profession, except that such persons may not use the title "dietitian" or "nutritionist." 5. Persons who perform the activities and services of a nutrition educator in the employ of a federal, state, county or municipal agency, or another political subdivision, or a chartered elementary or secondary school or accredited degree-granting educational institution insofar as such activities and services are part of a salaried position except that such persons may not use the title "dietitian" or "nutritionist.". 6. Federal, state, county or local employees involved with programs providing the services of nutrition educator that help to prevent disease and maintain good nutritional health, including but not limited to the Cooperative Extension Service, the Child Nutrition Program, and Project Head Start, except that such persons may not use the title "dietitian" or "nutritionist." 7. Individuals who do not hold themselves out to be dietitians from marketing or distributing food products including dietary supplements as defined by the Food and Drug Administration or from engaging in the explanation and education of customers regarding the use of such products, except that such persons may not use the title "dietitian" or "nutritionist." 8. Any person from furnishing general nutrition information as to the use of food, food materials, or dietary supplements, nor prevent in any way the free dissemination of literature; provided, however, no such individual may call themselves a dietitian or nutritionist unless they are licensed under this chapter by the Department pursuant to these regulations. 9. A nonresident dietitian may practice dietetics in Mississippi for five (5) days with other state's licensure or with registration with the American Dietetics Association.