Missouri

Summary

Missouri licenses only dietitians under an exclusive scope of practice model for certain activities, specifically “dietetics practice”, including “medical nutrition therapy”. An individual must complete requirements aligned with the Registered Dietitian pathway in order to qualify for licensure. Section 324.206 of the statute, “Permitted acts by persons not holding themselves out as dietitians”,  contains exemptions and requirements before performing acts or services. In 2021, an additional practice exemption for non-RDs was added under paragraph (7), which states that a person “credentialed in the field of nutrition” is not prohibited from “providing advice, counseling, or evaluations in matters of food, diet, or nutrition to the extent such acts are within the scope of practice listed by the credentialing body and do not constitute medical nutrition therapy”. A credentialed person practicing under the exemption, but not holding himself or herself out as a dietitian, must meet specific disclosure requirements prior to performing any act or service. (See the second paragraph of section 324.206).  

The law does not preclude the practice of nutrition by those licensed in other health professions whose scope of practice includes nutrition care. Only licensed individuals may use the titles “dietitian” or the abbreviations “L.D.” or “L.D.N.”.

Special State of Emergency Summary:

Out of state licensed practitioners may treat patients via telehealth on a volunteer or free basis during an emergency. Missouri Revised Statutes 191.1145.

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: A bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution, with the completion of a didactic program in dietetics that is approved or accredited by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
  • Experience: Completion of a supervised practice requirement from an institution that is certified by a nationally recognized professional organization as having a dietetics specialty or who meets criteria for dietetics education established by the State Committee for Dietitians.
  • Examination: The Registered Dietitian (RD) examination established by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)

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