Arkansas Licensure Law
In 1989 Arkansas passed a licensure law - Dietetics Practice Act - which regulates and defines the scope of practice in dietetics. Dietetics practice is defined as 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 peoples' health through the provision of nutrition care services. No person shall engage in the practice of dietetics in the State of Arkansas unless said person has in his/her possession a current license or a provisional license duly issued by the board under the provision of the Dietetics Practice Act.This shall not be construed to effect or prevent:
A. dietetic students who engage in clinical practice under the supervision of a dietitian as part of a dietetic education program approved or accredited by the American Dietetic Association;
B. a dietitian who is serving in the armed forces of the Public Health Service of the U.S. or is employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs from engaging in the practice of dietetics provided such practice is related to such service or employment;
C. a cooperative extension home economist from performing nutrition tasks incidental to the practice of his/her profession, providing that such persons do not hold themselves out under the titles Dietitian, or Licensed Dietitian or Provisional Licensed Dietitian;
D. a duly licensed physician, pharmacist or nurse from engaging in the practice of his/her profession, providing that such persons do not hold themselves out under the titles Dietitian, or Licensed Dietitian or Provisional Licensed Dietitian;
E. any person employed by, supervised by, under the guidance of, or in consultation with a Licensed Dietitian such as a dietetic technician, home economist, dietary manager or food service supervisor from performing nutrition tasks in the practice of his/her profession, providing that said persons do not hold not hold themselves out under the titles Dietitian, or Licensed Dietitian or Provisional Licensed Dietitian;
F. any person who has received a doctorate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university in/with a concentration in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, public health nutrition, or food systems management, providing that said persons do not hold themselves out under the titles Dietitian, or Licensed Dietitian or Provisional Licensed Dietitian;
G. a non-resident dietitian practicing dietetics in this state, if the dietetics practice is performed for no more than 180 consecutive working days and if: the dietitian is licensed under the laws of another state which has licensure requirements at least as stringent as the requirements of this Act; or the dietitian has met qualifications as specified by this ACT.
H. ANY PERSON WHO OFFERS WEIGHT CONTROL PROGRAMS PREPARED under the supervision of or approved by a Registered Dietitian or a Licensed Dietitian who is licensed under the laws of this state or another state which has licensure requirements at least as stringent as the requirements of this Act, as determined by the Board, providing that such persons do not hold themselves out under the titles Dietitian, or Licensed Dietitian or Provisional Licensed Dietitian;
I. any person employed by a hospital or long term care facility licensed by the State Department of Health or the Department of Human Services and operating under the rules and regulations of said agencies shall be exempt from this act; provided that person’s practice of dietetics is related to such employment;
J. any person employed by a facility which is conducted by and for those who rely exclusively under treatment by prayer alone for healing in accordance with the tenets or practices of any recognized religious denomination; provided that person’s practice of dietetics is related to such employment, providing that said persons do not hold themselves out under the titles Dietitian, or Licensed Dietitian or Provisional Licensed Dietitian;
K. any person who has received a doctorate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university in/with a concentration in animal nutrition and his practice is related to said degree, providing that said persons do not hold themselves out under the titles Dietitian, or Licensed Dietitian or Provisional Licensed Dietitian;
L. any health care professional or nutritionalist from engaging in dietetics practice without a license under this act, providing that said persons do not hold themselves out under the titles Dietitian, or Licensed Dietitian or Provisional Licensed Dietitian;
M. the sale of vitamins, over the counter health care products or food supplements by persons who are not licensed under this Act, nor shall this Act prevent nutritionists from advising customers in regard to such products, providing that said persons do not hold themselves out under the titles Dietitian, or Licensed Dietitian or Provisional Licensed Dietitian;
SINCE THIS STATE HAS STRICT LICENSURE LAWS, IT IS ILLEGAL TO PROVIDE ANY NUTRITION SERVICES WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF A LICENSED DIETITIAN.
Although every attempt has been made to summarize the state licensure statutes, to provide health professionals with accurate statements regarding individual state regulations, Lifestyle Management Associates cannot guarantee that all information is current at all points in time, and cannot guarantee or be held responsible for any misinterpretations of the law. Every attempt has been made to persuade all allied health professionals to associate with registered, licensed dietitians.
For more detailed information on the licensure laws of this state and to obtain state licensure agency contact information visit www.cdrnet.org/certifications/licensure/index.htm.
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