Florida Licensure Law

The Florida legislature finds that the practice of dietetics and nutrition or nutrition counseling by unskilled and incompetent practitioners presents a danger to the public health and safety. The sole legislative purpose in enacting this act, according to the legislativre, is to ensure that every person who practices dietetics and nutrition or nutrition counseling in the state of Florida meets minimum requirements for safe practice.

Practice of dietetics is defined as providing assessment of nutritional needs and make appropriate recommendations; nutritional counseling or education; develop, administer, evaluate and consult regarding nutritional standards.

Nothing in this act may be construed as prohibiting or restricting the practice, services, or activities of:

1. A person licensed in this state when engaging in the profession or occupation for which he or she is licensed, or of any person employed by and under the supervision of the licensee when rendering services within the scope of the profession or occupation of the licensee.
2. Any person employed as a dietitian by the government of the U.S. if the person engages in dietetics solely under direction or control of the organization by which the person is employed.
3. A person employed as a cooperative extension home economist.
4. A person pursuing a course of study leading to a degree in dietetics and nutrition from an accredited institution.
5. A person fulfilling the supervised experience if the activities and services constitute a part of the experience necessary to meet the requirements.
6. Any dietitian or nutritionist from another state practicing dietetics or nutrition incidental to a course of study when taking or giving a postgraduate course provided such dietitian or nutritionist is licensed in another jurisdiction or is a registered dietitian or holds an appointment on the faculty of an accredited school.
7. A person who markets or distributed food, food materials, or dietary supplements, or any person who engages in the explanation of the use and benefits of those products or the preparation of those products, if that person does not engage for a fee in dietetics and nutrition practice or nutrition counseling.
8. An educator who is in the employ of a nonprofit organization approved by the council; a federal, state, county, or municipal agency, or other political subdivision; an elementary or secondary school; or an accredited institution of higher education the definition of which applies to other sections of this act, insofar as the activities and services of the educator ape part of such employment.
9. ANY PERSON WHO PROVIDES WEIGHT CONTROL SERVICES or related products, provided the program is reviewed by, consultation is available from and no program change can be initiated without prior approval by a licensed dietitian/nutritionist, a dietitian or nutritionist licensed in another state that has licensure requirements considered by the council to be at least as stringent as the requirements for licensure under this act, or a registered dietitian.
10. A person employed by a hospital, nursing home or assisted living facility.
11. A person employed as a dietetic technician. 12. The provisions of this act have no application or the practice of the religious tenets of any church.

While this state does allow nonlicensed individuals to provide dissemniation of nutrition information, it does not allow for individuals to provide nutrition counseling or weight management programs.

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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