Georgia 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

Section 43-11A-8 - Grant of license without examination.

The board may grant, upon application and payment of proper fees, a license without examination to a person who, at the time of application, either:

(2) Presents evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is registered as a registered dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association or its successor organization.

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

Section 43-11A-8 - Grant of license without examination.

The board may grant, upon application and payment of proper fees, a license without examination to a person who, at the time of application, either:

(1) Holds a valid license as a licensed dietitian issued by another state, political territory, or jurisdiction acceptable to the board if, in the board's opinion, the requirements for that license are substantially equal to or greater than the requirements of this chapter; or

Temporary/Provisional Licensure (or Certification)

43-11A-10. Provisional permits.

A provisional permit to practice as a provisionally licensed dietitian under the supervision of a dietitian may be issued by the board upon the filing of an application with appropriate fees and submission of evidence of successful completion of a substantial portion of the requirements for licensure as provided by Code Section 43-11A-9, at the discretion of the board. The permit shall be issued for one year and may be renewed at the discretion of the board for a length of time determined by the board. A renewal fee may be required by the board to maintain a provisional license.

Exemptions; Exceptions

43-11A-18. Exceptions.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect or prevent:

(1) A student enrolled in an approved academic program in dietetics from engaging in the practice of dietetics under the supervision of a dietitian; or a dietetic technician, certified dietary manager, or dietetic aide in a health care facility from providing nutrition services under the supervision of or in consultation with a dietitian;

(2) A dietitian who is serving in the armed forces of the United States or any other federal agency from engaging in the practice of dietetics, provided that such practice is related to service or employment;

(3) Persons licensed to practice the professions of dentistry, medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, nursing, or pharmacy from engaging in the practice of dietetics when incidental to the practice of their profession, except that such persons may not use the title "dietitian";

(4) A nonresident registered dietitian from practicing dietetics in this state for five days without a license or up to 30 days per year with licensure from another state if the requirements for licensure are substantially equal to the requirements contained in this chapter;

(5) Employees of a department, agency, or division of state, county, or local government from engaging in the practice of dietetics within the discharge of official duties when such practice is directed by or in consultation with a dietitian licensed under this chapter;

(6) Persons who were engaged in dietetic practice prior to July 1, 1994, but the prohibition of Code Section 43-11A-16 shall apply to such persons on and after July 1, 1995;

(7) Persons who provide weight control services, provided the weight control program has been reviewed by, consultation is available from, and no program change can be initiated without the prior approval of either a dietitian licensed under this chapter, a dietitian licensed in another state which has licensure requirements which are substantially equal to the requirements contained in this chapter, or a registered dietitian;

(8) Persons from marketing or distributing food, disseminating information on food, food materials, dietary or food supplements, or minerals or herbs, including but not limited to operators and employees of health food stores or other licensed businesses which sell such products, provided that such persons shall not engage in the oral or written explanation of the historical use, benefit, or preparation of such products which is intentionally deceptive or fraudulent, and such persons shall not furnish specific nutrition information related to such products which is deceptive or fraudulent. Persons included in this paragraph shall not use the title "dietitian" and shall not designate themselves by any other term or title which implies that such persons are licensed under this chapter;

(9) The practice of the tenets of any religion, sect, or denomination whatsoever, provided that a member of such religion, sect, or denomination shall not use the title "dietitian" and shall not designate himself or herself by any other term or title which implies that such member is engaged in dietetic practice; or

(10) Persons with a master's or doctorate degree from any regionally accredited college or university with a major course of study in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, food systems management, or nutrition education, or persons with a doctorate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major course of study in nutritional biochemistry, provided that such persons shall not use the title "dietitian."

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.