Arkansas Statutes

Medical nutrition therapy is a medical treatment. Like other non-physician practitioners providing medical treatments, registered dietitian nutritionists generally can practice MNT because of licensure and certification laws, which provide authority for RDNs to provide this medical service. It is with this understanding that the Academy strongly recommends — unless there is an applicable exception or exemption or a state does not provide for licensure or certification requirements — practitioners hold licensure or certification in all states where the practitioner's clients or patients are located when services are provided.

Links to State Boards, Statutes and Regulations

• Board/Agency Website
• Statute
• Regulation

Statute and Regulation Details

Background info and terminology

Licensure (or Certification) by Endorsement of RDN Credential/Exemptions

17-83-303. License applicants – Requirements

The Arkansas Dietetics Licensing Board may issue a license as licensed dietitian to an applicant who qualifies as follows:

(2) The applicant files an application and provides evidence of current registration as a registered dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Licensure (or Certification) by Reciprocity or Endorsement of Another License

17-83-305. Out-of-state license – Reciprocity.

Reciprocity shall be provided for licensed dietitians from other states, provided that the standards for licensing in that state are not less than those provided for in this chapter as determined by the Arkansas Dietetics Licensing Board.

Temporary/Provisional Licensure (or Certification)

17-83-304. Provisional licenses.

(a) A provisional license to practice as a dietitian may be issued by the Arkansas Dietetics Licensing Board upon the filing of an application and submission of evidence of successful completion of the education requirements. (b) A provisional license shall expire eighteen (18) months from the date of issuance. Provisional licenses may be renewed one (1) time upon submission to the board of a satisfactory explanation for the applicant's failure to become licensed within the original eighteen-month period. (c) A provisional license shall permit the holder to practice only under the supervision of a dietitian licensed in this state.

Exceptions/Exemptions

17-83-104. Exemptions.

This chapter does not affect or prevent:

(1) Dietetics students who engage in clinical practice under the supervision of a dietitian as part of a dietetic education program approved or accredited by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and approved by the Arkansas Dietetics Licensing Board;

(2) A dietitian who is serving in the armed forces or the United States Public Health Service or is employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs from engaging in the practice of dietetics, provided that the practice is related to that service or employment;

(3) A cooperative extension home economist from performing nutrition tasks incidental to the practice of his or her profession, if the person does not hold himself or herself out under the title of dietitian or licensed dietitian;

(4) A licensed physician, pharmacist, or nurse from engaging in the practice of dietetics if incidental to the practice of his or her profession, and if the person does not hold himself or herself out under the title of dietitian or licensed dietitian;

(5) A person employed by, supervised by, under the guidance of, or in consultation with a licensed dietitian, such as a dietetic technician, home economist, dietary manager, or food service supervisor, from performing nutrition tasks in the practice of his or her profession, if the person does not hold himself or herself out under the title of dietitian or licensed dietitian;

(6) A person who has received a doctoral degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university in or with a concentration in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, public health nutrition, or food systems management;

(7) A nonresident dietitian practicing dietetics in this state, if: (A) The dietetics are performed for no more than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive working days; and (B) The dietitian: (i) Is licensed under the laws of another state that has licensure requirements at least as stringent as the requirements of this chapter, as determined by the board; or (ii) Has met qualifications as specified in this chapter for the practice of dietetics;

(8) A person who offers weight control programs prepared under the supervision of or approved by a registered dietitian or a licensed dietitian who is licensed under the laws of this state or another state that has licensure requirements at least as stringent as the requirements of this chapter, as determined by the board, if the person does not hold himself or herself out under the title of dietitian or licensed dietitian;

(9) A person employed by a hospital or long-term care facility licensed by the Department of Health or the Department of Human Services and operating under the rules of the Department of Health or the Department of Human Services if the person's practice of dietetics is related to the employment;

(10) A person employed by a facility that is operated by and for those who rely exclusively upon treatment by prayer alone for healing in accordance with the tenets or practices of any recognized religious denomination if the person's practice of dietetics is related to the employment;

(11) A person who has received a doctoral degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university in or with a concentration in animal nutrition and whose practice is related to the degree;

(12) A healthcare professional or nutritionist from engaging in dietetics practice without a license under this chapter;

(13) The sale of vitamins, over-the-counter healthcare products, or food supplements by persons who are not licensed under this chapter; or

(14) Nutritionists from advising customers in regard to vitamins, over-the-counter healthcare products, or food supplements

Updated August 2023

Disclaimer: This page is not intended to constitute legal or career advice. All information, content and materials are for general informational purposes only and may not represent the most up-to-date legal or other information. This website contains links to other third-party websites, which are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites, nor does such information necessarily constitute a legally binding interpretation of state policy. The ultimate authority to interpret each state's requirements is the licensing board or agency of that state.