Summary

Kentucky licenses dietitians and offers state certification to nutritionists. However, there is no licensure or certification requirement for providing nutrition care. Only state licensed or certified individuals may use the titles "licensed dietitian," "certified nutritionist," "dietitian," "nutritionist," "LD," "CN," or any other words or titles implying the person is a dietitian or nutritionist.

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: Dietitian: Bachelor's or higher degree from a program, approved by the board, with a major course of study in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, food systems management, or an equivalent major course of study. Nutritionist: Bachelor's degree from a program approved by the board, and a master's degree from a program approved by the board in food science, nutrition, or a closely related area to food science and nutrition. An applicant must have 12+ semester hours of graduate credit in human nutrition from a regionally accredited institution.
• Experience: Dietitian: Completion of superivsed practice under the supervision of a registered dietitian who is accredited by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Nutritionist: Not applicable.
• Examination: Dietitian: The Registered Dietitian (RD) examination established by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), or another examination approved by the Secretary. Nutritionist: Not applicable.

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