Maine Licensure Law

Practice of dietetics is defined as the professional discipline of assessing the nutritional needs of an individual, including recognition of the effects of the individual’s condition and economic circumstances, and the applying of scientific principles of nutrition to prescribing means to ensure the individual’s proper nourishment and care.

Persons and practices exempt Nothing in this act prevents the activities of:

1. Licensed persons. Any person licensed or registered in this state under any other law from engaging in the profession or occupation for which that person is licensed or registered;

2. Persons giving general nutrition-related information. Individuals who give general nutrition-related information;

3. State and federal employees. State and federal employees in state or federally funded cooperative extension food and nutrition programs and supplemental food and nutrition programs for women, infants, and children.

4. Persons marketing or distributing food products. Persons who market or distribute food, food materials or dietary supplements or any person who engages in the explanation of the use of those products or the preparation of those products; and

5. PERSONS PROVIDING WEIGHT CONTROL SERVICES. Any person who provides weight control services, provided that;

a. The weight control program either recommends physician consultation generally or has in place procedures which require physician referral when medical conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypoglycemia, morbid obesity and pregnancy exist; and

b. The program has been reviewed by, consultation is available from and no program change may be initiated without prior approval by: a licensed dietitian; a dietitian licensed in another state that has licensure requirements determined by the Board to be equal to the requirements in this act; or a dietitian in another state who is registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association.

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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