Model Practice Act

As the Academy seeks to modernize dietetics laws across the country, the Model Practice Act represents our stance on licensure by providing a comprehensive, inclusive and uniform framework that:

• serves as a prototype that can be adapted by legislators to fit the needs of states
• protects consumers by identifying qualified nutrition providers and ensuring providers of medical nutrition therapy have met consistent standards
• supports access to timely, cost-effective nutrition care

Although individual states may introduce modifications and accommodations, the core principles and policies of the model legislation serve as a valuable guide during the drafting process by supporting bills that:

1. License and regulate qualified nutrition professionals under two pathways — licensed dietitians and licensed nutritionists
2. Allow practitioners to practice at their level of competence, thereby ensuring access to timely, qualified nutrition care
3. Unless otherwise exempt, require a license for the narrowly tailored provision of medical nutrition therapy — the practice of which presents a clear risk of harm to the public if not provided by qualified practitioners

By upholding the principles of public protection, ethical practice and professional competence, the Model Practice Act underscores the Academy's commitment to promoting excellence in the field of nutrition and dietetics and protecting the public.

The Model Practice Act is subject to ongoing modifications to reflect evolving industry standards, advancements in research and practice, and changes in professional regulation.

What Does "Dual Pathway" Mean?

The Academy supports a dual pathway approach to licensure, offering separate pathways to become either a licensed dietitian or a licensed nutritionist.

This approach allows multiple routes for qualified individuals to become licensed to provide medical nutrition therapy at varying levels, based on their education, training and demonstrated competencies. It upholds rigorous standards for education, supervised practice and professional competence, while allowing flexibility in the methods of training and areas of practice.

Under this framework, licensed dietitians qualify through requirements aligned with ACEND-accredited programs, which include extensive clinical training across a range of settings. These include inpatient care environments such as hospitals and long-term care facilities; outpatient settings treating high-acuity patients, such as dialysis centers and oncology clinics; and community and public health sites.

This comprehensive preparation enables dietitians to provide nutrition care services across the full spectrum of care—from complex clinical conditions to preventive and wellness-focused services—in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

The licensed nutritionist pathway offers an alternative for individuals who meet defined standards for education, supervised practice, and examination, but whose training is focused primarily on wellness, chronic disease prevention and management, and personalized nutrition.

Their supervised practice typically takes place in private counseling practices, community health or wellness centers, and telehealth platforms. Licensed nutritionists are qualified to deliver a spectrum of care ranging from preventive nutrition services to medical nutrition therapy in low-acuity health care settings.

This dual pathway model reflects a flexible and inclusive licensing framework. It acknowledges the need for a diverse range of qualified practitioners to deliver safe and effective nutrition care across various patient populations and practice environments.

What is Medical Nutrition Therapy for Purposes of the Model Practice Act?

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is a specialized area of nutrition practice that involves the use of individualized nutrition interventions to treat or manage medical conditions and diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders and many others.

It plays a crucial role in optimizing a person's nutritional health to improve their overall well-being and manage specific medical conditions. MNT is typically provided by registered dietitians or other qualified nutrition professionals who are trained to assess a person's nutritional needs, create personalized dietary plans and monitor the effectiveness of the nutrition therapy.