South Dakota Licensure Law
In 1996 South Dakota 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.Dietetics practice 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 peoples' health through the provision of nutrition care services.
Activities not requiring licensure:
This act does not prohibit:
1. A dietetic student enrolled in an approved academic program in nutrition and dietetics from engaging in the practice of nutrition and dietetics under the supervision of a licensed nutritionist if the person clearly uses the appropriate student title;
2. Any person in the process of fulfilling the professional experience requirements in nutrition or dietetics necessary for licensure from practicing under the supervision of a licensed nutritionist if the person clearly uses the appropriate training title;
3. Any person, including a dietetic technician or other paraprofessional, from working in a program supervised by a licensed nutritionist, if the person’s activities are within the scope of the person’s designated education and training and if the person does not use the title nutritionist or dietitian unless licensed;
4. A nutritionist or dietitian who is serving in the armed forces, public health services of the U.S., or Veterans Administration from engaging in the practice of nutrition and dietetics if such practice is related to such service or employment;
5. Any person who does not represent himself as a licensed dietitian or licensed nutritionist from furnishing information on food, food materials, or dietary supplements or from engaging in the explanation to customers about food, food materials, or dietary supplements in connection with the marketing and distribution of these products;
6. ANY PERSON WHO PROVIDES WEIGHT CONTROL SERVICES FROM PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES if the program has been reviewed by, consultation is available from, and no program change can be initiated without prior approval by a licensed nutritionist or a licensed nutritionist from another state that has licensure requirements at least as stringent as the requirements for licensure under this Act, or from a dietitian registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration;
7. Any person licensed to practice medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, or chiropractic from advising patients on nutrition when nutrition practice is incidental to the practice of the person’s profession and the person does not use the title nutritionist or dietitian unless so licensed;
8. Any educator employed by a federal, state, county, or municipal agency, elementary or secondary school, accredited college or university, or nonprofit agency, from giving advice on nutrition if the person’s activities are within the scope of the person’s employment and the person does not use the title nutritionist or dietitian unless so licensed.
SINCE THIS STATE HAS 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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