Illinois

Summary

Illinois licenses dietitians and nutritionists as licensed dietitian nutritionists under an exclusive scope of practice model. Only a licensed dietitian nutritionist can provide medical nutrition therapy, which is defined in the Act as nutrition care services provided for the treatment or management of a disease or medical condition. This law does not apply to other licensed health professionals. Additional exemptions are found in 225 ILCS 20.

Individuals who have applied for a license may practice for up to 6 months after the application is submitted. 225 ILCS 30/15

Click the buttons below to read the state statute and rules, or to navigate to the state regulatory entity's website.

Practice Act/Statute Rules & Regulations Regulatory Body

Qualification Requirements for State Licensure or State Certification:
  • Academic: Bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution with a major course of study in human nutrition, foods and nutrition, dietetics, food systems management, nutrition education, nutrition, nutrition science, clinical nutrition, applied clinical nutrition, nutrition counseling, nutrition and functional medicine, nutritional biochemistry, nutrition and integrative health, or an equivalent major course of study as recommended by the Board.
  • Experience: Completion of at least 900 hours of a dietetic internship or documented, supervised practice experience in dietetics and nutrition services, under the supervision of a "qualified supervisor." "Qualified supervisor" means:

    (1) When supervising the provision of medical nutrition therapy by a supervisee, an individual who is:  

    (A) a registered dietitian nutritionist or a certified nutrition specialist;  

    (B) a licensed dietitian nutritionist licensed pursuant to this Act; or  

    (C) a health care professional licensed under the laws of the State, including a licensed or certified dietitian nutritionist, who acts under the licensed scope of practice.  

    (2) When supervising the provision of nutrition care services not constituting medical nutrition therapy by a supervisee, an individual who either meets the requirements of paragraph (1) or all of the following requirements:  

    (A) has been regularly employed or self-employed in the field of clinical nutrition for at least 3 of the last 5 years immediately preceding commencement of the applicant's supervised practice experience; and  

    (B) holds a doctoral degree with a major course of study in dietetics, human nutrition, foods and nutrition, community nutrition, public health nutrition, nutrition education, nutrition, nutrition science, clinical nutrition, applied clinical nutrition, nutrition counseling, nutrition and functional medicine, nutritional biochemistry, nutrition and integrative health, or an equivalent course of study as recommended by the Board and approved by the Department conferred by either:  

    (i) a United States regionally accredited college or university accredited at the time of graduation from the appropriate regional accrediting agency recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education; or (ii) an institution outside the United States and its territories with the supervisor's doctoral degree validated as equivalent to the doctoral degree conferred by a United States regionally accredited college or university as recommended by the Board and approved by the Department.  

    A "qualified supervisor" under paragraph (1) shall be licensed in the State if supervising a supervisee providing medical nutrition therapy to an individual in the State.  

    See practice act and rules for additional information and supervision details.

  • Examination: May be or may include examinations given by the Board for Certifications of Nutrition Specialists, the Commission on Dietetic Registration, or another examination approved by the Department.

Disclaimer: This is a preliminary interpretation of language of state statutes and regulations, and cannot substitute for legal counsel.