Maryland 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

10.56.01.03 Application Procedures. (Regulations)

In order to obtain a license, the applicant shall:

A. Submit to the Board an application on the form provided by the Board;

B. Pay to the Board the application fee set forth in COMAR 10.56.02;

C. Submit evidence that the applicant:

(1) Is a registered dietitian, or

(2) Meets the requirements of Regulations .04, .05, and .07 of this chapter;

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

§5–305.

(a) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Board may waive an examination requirement of this title for an individual who:

(1) Is licensed to practice dietetics in another state or country;

(2) Is registered to practice dietetics by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; or

(3) Is certified by the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists.

(b) The Board may grant a waiver under this section only if the applicant:

(1) Pays the application fee set by the Board under § 5–206 of this title; and

(2) Provides adequate evidence that the applicant:

(i) Meets the qualifications otherwise required by this subtitle; and

(ii) 1. Became licensed in the other state or country after passing, in that state or country, an examination that the Board determines to be comparable to the examination for which the applicant is seeking the waiver;

2. Became registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics after meeting the examination waiver requirements of that Commission or its predecessor; or

3. Became certified by the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists after meeting the examination waiver requirements of that Certification Board or its predecessor.

Temporary/Provisional Licensure (or Certification)

N/A

Exceptions/Exemptions

§5–103.

(a) This title does not limit the right of an individual to practice a health occupation that the individual is authorized to practice under this article.

(b) This title does not limit the right of an individual or group to provide services and information related to nonmedical nutrition while:

(1) Employed by or operating a health, weight loss, or fitness program;

(2) Employed by or operating a health food store;

(3) Employed by or operating a business that sells health products including dietary supplements, food, or food materials, or provides nonmedical nutritional information or distributes nutritional literature; or

(4) Conducting classes or disseminating information related to nonmedical nutrition.

(c) This title does not limit the right of an individual to provide services related only to the purchasing, preparation, and service of food to groups of people.

(d) This title does not limit the right of an individual to provide nonmedical nutritional information or to distribute nutritional literature.

§5–301.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, an individual shall be licensed by the Board before the individual may practice dietetics in the State.

(b) The following individuals may practice dietetics without a license:

(1) A student or trainee, working under the supervision of a licensed dietitian-nutritionist while fulfilling an experience requirement or pursuing a course of study to meet requirements for licensure, for a limited period of time as determined by the Board;

(2) An individual employed by the United States government to practice dietetics, while practicing within the scope of that employment; and

(3) An individual who aids in the practice of dietetics, if the individual works under the supervision of a licensed dietitian-nutritionist or licensed physician.

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.