West Virginia 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

§ 30-35-7. Qualifications; licensure; examinations; waivers and fees

(d) Upon application and submission of the applicable fee, the board may waive the examination requirements of this section and issue a license to practice as a licensed dietitian to an applicant who is registered by the commission on dietetic registration or who has been duly licensed as a nutritionist or dietitian under the laws of another state if the standards for licensing in that state are no less stringent than those required under the provisions of this article.

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

§ 30-35-7. Qualifications; licensure; examinations; waivers and fees

(d) Upon application and submission of the applicable fee, the board may waive the examination requirements of this section and issue a license to practice as a licensed dietitian to an applicant who is registered by the commission on dietetic registration or who has been duly licensed as a nutritionist or dietitian under the laws of another state if the standards for licensing in that state are no less stringent than those required under the provisions of this article.

Temporary/Provisional Licensure (or Certification)

§30-35-6. Provisional permits; renewals; fees

(a) The board may issue a provisional permit to engage in practice as a licensed dietitian to any person who has not met the experience requirements set forth in this article upon the filing of an application and submission of evidence of successful completion of the education requirements of this article. A provisional permit expires one year from the date of issuance. Renewals may be issued for a period not to exceed three years upon request by the applicant and submission of a satisfactory explanation for the applicant's failure to become licensed.

(b) The fee for a provisional permit or renewal is fifty dollars, which shall be submitted with the application. All fees collected shall be deposited to the credit of the fund provided in section five of this article.

Exceptions/Exemptions

Provided, however, That the requirements and provisions of this article do not apply to any person employed as a cook at any public or private educational institution in this state.

(c) Nothing in this article may be construed to affect individuals who furnish nutrition information on food, food materials or dietary supplements or who engage in explanation to customers about food, food materials or dietary supplements in connection with the marketing and distribution of those products, and who do not use the title "dietician" or "licensed dietician."

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.