Rhode Island Licensure Law
In 1997 Rhode Island amended its statutes and passed a licensure law - Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Licensing of Dietitians/Nutritionists - which regulates and defines the scope of practice in nutrition. An individual must be licensed as a dietitian within the state to practice dietetics.Dietetics means the professional discipline of applying and integrating scientific principles of nutrition pursuant to different health, social, cultural, physical, physiological, manangement, and behavioral and social sciences in the provision of dietetic services.
Exceptions include:
These rules and regulations shall not be construed as preventing or restricting the practice, service of activities of:
a. Any person who does not call him/herself a dietitian/nutritionist from providing nutritional information to customers or any consumer as to the use of food, food products or dietary supplements in connection with the marketing and distribution of those products;
b. ANY PERSON WHO PROVIDES A WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM AND/OR HEALTH MAINTENANCE COUNSELING AS LONG AS SUCH PERSONS DO NOT ENGAGE IN NUTRITION COUNSELING FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF DISEASE, and do not hold themselves out to be dietitians/nutritionists.
c. A person licensed or certified in this state under any other law from engaging in the profession or occupation for which the person is licensed or certified; and any person holding a doctoral degree from an accredited institution in nutrition or a related field as determined by the Board; and any person with a bachelor’s degree in home economics who furnished nutrition information incidental to the practice of his/her profession.
d. A person employed as a nutritionist/dietitian by the government of the U.S. or the state of R.I., or by a participating local agency of the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children, if the person practices solely under the direction or control of the organization by which the person is employed.
e. A student enrolled in an accredited academic program in dietetics/nutrition.
f. Family members, friends, or acquaintances who provide gratuitous nutrition advice, as long as the advisor does not hold him/herself out to be a dietitian/nutritionist.g. Not-for-profit health related agencies which provide nutrition information in the normal course of doing business.
IT APPEARS THAT RI ALLOWS NONLICENSED INDIVIDUALS TO PROVIDE WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AS LONG AS THEY WORK ONLY WITH THE HEALTHY POPULATION AND DO NOT HOLD THEMSELVES OUT TO BE A DIETITIAN OR NUTRITIONIST.
However, for professional and legal reasons it is recommended that all nonlicensed individuals confer with a licensed or registered dietitian.
FOR THESE REASONS, 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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