Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of licensure?
The purpose of professional licensure is to protect the public from harmful, ineffective and fraudulent services provided by potentially unqualified or incompetent practitioners.
Licensing provides the public with access to state-recognized and authorized providers of health care services, a way to verify a practitioner’s credentials and standing, and a record of complaints or disciplinary actions. Licensing assures that practitioners:
• Meet and maintain educational standards
• Have knowledge and skills required to practice at a competent level
• Can perform the scope of practice established for the profession
What is the difference between private registration/certification and licensure?
Certification or registration, such as the RD or DTR credential, is not overseen by a government body.
A license is granted through state law to ensure that a practitioner meets professional standards. Licensure statutes include educational requirements and generally provide a defined scope of practice. It is illegal for a person to practice a profession in a particular state without meeting the standards specified in state law. There is a licensing body within the state government that administers and enforces the licensing process. The public can verify an individual’s license through the state agency.
How much will a license cost?
The fees will be determined by the State. For reference, in other states the application fee ranges from $50 to $290, and the renewal fee ranges from $20 to $125 per cycle (which can vary but generally occurs annually or biannually).
How would licensure affect RDs who do not have a master’s degree?
Everyone who holds the RD credential will be eligible for licensure as a dietitian.
How will licensure affect specialty areas of dietetic practice?
No separate or additional license will be required under the statute for specialty practice. Licensure sets minimum standards of qualification. Employers may require additional certifications beyond licensure.
Will licensure open the door for reimbursement?
Federal and state regulations include provisions for reimbursement of licensed health professionals for specified services and settings. While dietitians are not mentioned specifically, generally payers look to licensure to identify providers that qualify for credentialing.
Will registered dietitians who are licensed in another state be able to practice in California?
Unless otherwise exempt under the licensing statute, registered dietitians from other states will need to apply for a California license to practice or provide telehealth services for clients in California.
Registered dietitians serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Public Health Service or employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs would be exempt from state licensing when engaged in the practice of medical nutrition therapy related to service or employment.
Will licensing be considered part of a hospital’s credentialing requirements for dietitians who apply for clinical privileges to write orders?
The process and requirements for clinical privileging are determined by each facility, including which professions qualify for specific clinical privileges. For most health professions, primary source verification of licenses and other credentials is a standard part of the credentialing process at licensed health care facilities.
How will licensing of dietitians and nutritionists affect other health care practitioners and others that give nutrition advice?
Licensing of dietetic and nutrition professionals will designate qualified professionals who may lawfully deliver medical nutrition therapy according to their licensed scope of practice.
Licensing of dietitians will not limit the legal scope of practice for other licensed health care practitioners.
Licensing of RDs will not prevent consumers from seeking general nutrition advice from anyone they choose. The California Business and Professions Code Section 2068 allows
anyone to give general nutrition advice and information about products they sell. However, this section “confers no authority to practice medicine or surgery or to undertake the prevention, treatment, or cure of disease, pain, injury, deformity, or physical or mental conditions or to state that any product might cure any disease, disorder, or condition in violation of any provision of law.”
Additionally, this legislation would not require individuals who provide individualized nutrition recommendations for the wellness and primary prevention of chronic disease, health coaching, holistic and wellness education, guidance, motivation, behavior change management, services for non-medical weight control, or other nutrition care services to be licensed so long as the services provided do not constitute medical nutrition therapy and such individuals do not represent themselves using titles protected under the licensing law.
What are the challenges to licensing dietitians in California?
Licensing the practice of medical nutrition therapy to protect Californians from unqualified or incompetent nutrition care requires passage of legislation. The steps include writing a bill, introducing it as active legislation, and shepherding the bill through the California legislative process to obtain approval from the California Assembly, California Senate and the Governor. This process needs active involvement of a paid lobbyist, support from California dietitians and allies in other professions, collaboration with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, navigating the political process, garnering the support of state assembly representatives and senators, and understanding that there will likely be groups and individuals who oppose the bill and other unforeseen hurdles.