Mississippi Licensure Law
In 1994 Mississippi amended its statutes and passed a licensure law which regulates and defines the scope of practice in nutrition. An individual must be licensed as a dietitian within the state to practice dietetics.Practice of dietetics 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 people’s health.
Exceptions include:
a. A student enrolled in an approved academic program in dietetics, if such practice constitutes a part of a supervised course of study, and if the student is designated by a title which clearly indicates his or her status as a student or trainee.
b. A dietitian serving in the Armed Forces, the Public Health Service of the United States, or employed by the Veterans Administration from engaging in the practice of dietetics, if that practice is related to his service or employment.
c. Any person providing dietetic services, including but not limited to dietetic technicians, dietetic assistants and dietary managers, working under the direct technical supervision of a licensed dietitian, except that such persons may not use the title “dietitian” or “nutritionist”.
d. Persons licensed or registered to practice the health professions when covered under the scope of practice of his or her profession, except that such persons may not use the title “dietitian” or “nutritionist”.
e. Persons who perform the activities and services of a nutrition educator in the employ of a federal, state, county or municipal agency, or another political subdivision, or a chartered elementary or secondary school or accredited degree-granting educational institution insofar as such activities and services are part of a salaried position except that such persons may not use the title “dietitian” or “nutritionist”.
f. Federal, state, county or local employees involved with programs providing the services of nutrition educator that help to prevent disease and maintain good nutritional health, including but not limited to the Cooperative Extension Service, the Child Nutrition Program, and Project Head Start, except that such persons may not use the title “dietitian” or “nutritionist”.
g. Individuals who do not hold themselves out to be dietitians from marketing or distributing food products including dietary supplements as defined by the FDA or from engaging in the explanation and education of customers regarding the use of such products, except that such persons may not use the title “dietitian” or “nutritionist”.
h. Any person from furnishing general nutrition information as to the use of food, food materials, or dietary supplements, nor prevent in any way the free dissemination of literature; provided, however, no such individual may call themselves a dietitian or nutritionist unless they are licensed under this chapter by the Department pursuant to those regulations.
i. A nonresident dietitian may practice dietetics in Mississippi for five days without other state’s licensure or with registration with The American Dietetics Association.
MISSISSIPPI LAW DOES NOT EXPLICITELY PROVIDE A PROVISION FOR WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND NUTRITION SERVICES BY NONLICENSED INDIVIDUALS. IT, THEREFORE, IS ASSUMED TO BE ILLEGAL FOR NONLICENSED INDIVIDUALS TO PROVIDE ANY NUTRITION SERVICES WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF A LICENSED 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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