Maryland Licensure Law
In 1994 Maryland amended it statutes and passed a licensure law - Maryland Dietitians and Licensed Nutritionists Act - which regulates and defines the scope of practice in dietetics. An individual must be licensed as a dietitian within the state to practice dietetics.Practice of dietetics is defined as a practice through which the principles derived from integrating knowledge of food, biochemistry, physiology, management science, behavioral science, and social science to human nutrition are applied.
Certain rights not limited by the Act:
a. Practice of health occupation not limited - This act does not limit the right of an individual to practice a health occupation that the individual is authorized to practice under this act.
b. Providing services and information related to nonmedical nutrition not limited. - This act does not limit the right of an individual or group to provide services and information related to nomedical nutrition while;
1. EMPLOYED BY OR OPERATING A HEALTH, weight loss, or fitness program;
2. employed by or operating a health food store;
3. employed by or operating a business that sells health products including dietary supplements, food, or food materials, or provides nonmedical nutritional information or distributed nutritional information;
4. conducting classes or disseminating information related to nonmedical nutrition.
c. Right to provide services related to purchasing, etc., of food to groups of people not limited. - This act does not limit the right of an individual to provide services related only to purchasing, preparation, and service of food to groups of people. Right provide nonmedical nutritional information not limited. - this act does not limit the right of an individual to provide nonmedical nutritional information or to distribute nutritional literature.
THIS STATE APPEARS TO HAVE LESS RESTRICTIVE LICENSURE LAWS AND IT MAY BE LEGAL TO PROVIDE A WEIGHT MANAGMENT PROGRAM WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF A LICENSED DIETITIAN. HOWEVER, FOR PROFESSIONAL AND LEGAL REASONS IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS CONFER WITH A LICENSED OR REGISTERED DIETITIAN.
All Nutrition Manager Consultants sign an agreement with Lifestyle Management Associates to confer with an AASDN professional.
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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