Florida 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.

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Statute and Regulation Details

Background info and terminology

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

468.513 Dietitian/nutritionist; licensure by endorsement.—

(1) The department shall issue a license to practice dietetics and nutrition by endorsement to any applicant who the board certifies as qualified, upon receipt of a completed application and the fee specified in s. 468.508.

(2) The board shall certify as qualified for licensure by endorsement under this section any applicant who:

(a) Presents evidence satisfactory to the board that he or she is a registered dietitian; or

(b) Holds a valid license to practice dietetics or nutrition issued by another state, district, or territory of the United States, if the criteria for issuance of such license are determined by the board to be substantially equivalent to or more stringent than those of this state.

(3) The department shall not issue a license by endorsement under this section to any applicant who is under investigation in any jurisdiction for any act which would constitute a violation of this part or chapter 456 until such time as the investigation is complete and disciplinary proceedings have been terminated.

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

468.513 Dietitian/nutritionist; licensure by endorsement.—

(1) The department shall issue a license to practice dietetics and nutrition by endorsement to any applicant who the board certifies as qualified, upon receipt of a completed application and the fee specified in s. 468.508.

(2) The board shall certify as qualified for licensure by endorsement under this section any applicant who:

(a) Presents evidence satisfactory to the board that he or she is a registered dietitian; or

(b) Holds a valid license to practice dietetics or nutrition issued by another state, district, or territory of the United States, if the criteria for issuance of such license are determined by the board to be substantially equivalent to or more stringent than those of this state.

(3) The department shall not issue a license by endorsement under this section to any applicant who is under investigation in any jurisdiction for any act which would constitute a violation of this part or chapter 456 until such time as the investigation is complete and disciplinary proceedings have been terminated.

Temporary/Provisional Licensure (or Certification)

468.511 Dietitian/nutritionist; temporary permit.—

(1) A temporary permit to practice dietetics and nutrition may be issued by the board on the filing of an application, payment of a temporary permit fee, and the submission of evidence of the successful completion of the educational requirement under s. 468.509. The initial application shall be signed by the supervising licensee.

(2) A person practicing under a temporary permit shall be under the supervision and direction of a licensed dietitian/nutritionist.

(3) A temporary permit shall expire 1 year from the date of issuance.

(4) One extension of a temporary permit may be granted for good cause shown.

(5) If the board determines that an applicant is qualified to be licensed by endorsement under s. 468.513, the board may issue the applicant a temporary permit to practice dietetics and nutrition until the next board meeting at which license applications are to be considered, but not for a longer period of time.

(6) If the board determines that an applicant has not passed an examination recognized by the board and is not qualified to be licensed by endorsement, but has otherwise met all the requirements of s. 468.509 and has made application for the next scheduled examination, the board may issue the applicant a temporary permit allowing him or her to practice dietetics and nutrition under the supervision of a licensed dietitian/nutritionist until notification of the results of the examination.

Exceptions/Exemptions

468.505 Exemptions; exceptions.—

(1) Nothing in this part may be construed as prohibiting or restricting the practice, services, or activities of:

(a) A person licensed in this state under chapter 457, chapter 458, chapter 459, chapter 460, chapter 461, chapter 462, chapter 463, part I of chapter 464, chapter 465, chapter 466, chapter 480, chapter 490, or chapter 491, when engaging in the profession or occupation for which he or she is licensed, or of any person employed by and under the supervision of the licensee when rendering services within the scope of the profession or occupation of the licensee.

(b) A person employed as a dietitian by the government of the United States, if the person engages in dietetics solely under direction or control of the organization by which the person is employed.

(c) A person employed as a cooperative extension home economist.

(d) A person pursuing a course of study leading to a degree in dietetics and nutrition from a program or school accredited pursuant to s. 468.509(2), if the activities and services constitute a part of a supervised course of study and if the person is designated by a title that clearly indicates the person’s status as a student or trainee.

(e) A person fulfilling the supervised experience component of s. 468.509, if the activities and services constitute a part of the experience necessary to meet the requirements of s. 468.509.

(f) Any dietitian or nutritionist from another state practicing dietetics or nutrition incidental to a course of study when taking or giving a postgraduate course or other course of study in this state, provided such dietitian or nutritionist is licensed in another jurisdiction or is a registered dietitian or holds an appointment on the faculty of a school accredited pursuant to s. 468.509(2).

(g) A person who markets or distributes food, food materials, or dietary supplements, or any person who engages in the explanation of the use and benefits of those products or the preparation of those products, if that person does not engage for a fee in dietetics and nutrition practice or nutrition counseling.

(h) A person who markets or distributes food, food materials, or dietary supplements, or any person who engages in the explanation of the use of those products or the preparation of those products, as an employee of an establishment permitted pursuant to chapter 465.

(i) An educator who is in the employ of a nonprofit organization approved by the council; a federal, state, county, or municipal agency, or other political subdivision; an elementary or secondary school; or an accredited institution of higher education the definition of which, as provided in s. 468.509(2), applies to other sections of this part, insofar as the activities and services of the educator are part of such employment.

(j) Any person who provides weight control services or related weight control products, provided the program has been reviewed by, consultation is available from, and no program change can be initiated without prior approval by a licensed dietitian/nutritionist, a dietitian or nutritionist licensed in another state that has licensure requirements considered by the council to be at least as stringent as the requirements for licensure under this part, or a registered dietitian.

(k) A person employed by a hospital licensed under chapter 395, by a nursing home licensed under part II of chapter 400, by an assisted living facility licensed under chapter 429, or by a continuing care facility certified under chapter 651, if the person is employed in compliance with the laws and rules adopted thereunder regarding the operation of its dietetic department.

(l) A person employed by a nursing facility exempt from licensing under s. 395.002(12), or a person exempt from licensing under s. 464.022.

(m) A person employed as a dietetic technician.

(n) Any person who provides information, wellness recommendations, or advice concerning nutrition, or who markets food, food materials, or dietary supplements for remuneration, if such person does not provide such services to a person under the direct care and supervision of a medical doctor for a disease or medical condition requiring nutrition intervention, not including obesity or weight loss, and does not represent himself or herself as a dietitian, licensed dietitian, registered dietitian, nutritionist, licensed nutritionist, nutrition counselor, or licensed nutrition counselor, or use any word, letter, symbol, or insignia indicating or implying that he or she is a dietitian, nutritionist, or nutrition counselor.

(2) Nothing in this part may be construed to prohibit or limit any person from the free dissemination of information, or from conducting a class or seminar or giving a speech, related to nutrition.

(3) The provisions of this part have no application to the practice of the religious tenets of any church in this state.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, an individual registered by the commission has the right to use the title "Registered Dietitian" or "Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist," and the designation "R.D." or "R.D.N." An individual certified by the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists has the right to use the title "Certified Nutrition Specialist" and the designation "CNS," and an individual certified by the American Clinical Board of Nutrition has the right to use the title "Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition" and use the designation "DACBN."

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.