North Carolina

Summary

North Carolina licenses dietitians as licensed dietitian nutritionists and nutritionists as licensed nutritionists. There is no licensure requirement for providing nutrition services that are not medical nutrition therapy.

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: For Licensed Dietitian Nutritionists: A bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution with a major in human nutrition, foods and nutrition, dietetics, food systems management, 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, that meets the competency requirements of an ACEND accredited didactic program in dietetics that shall, at a minimum, include 15 semester hours of clinical or life sciences. These hours must include human anatomy and physiology or the equivalent, microbiology or the equivalent, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. The applicant must also have 3 semester hours of behavioral sciences, and 24 semester hours of food and nutrition. At least 3 semester hours must have been completed in each: Diet therapy, medical dietetics, clinical nutrition, or the equivalent; Nutrition through life cycle, applied human nutrition, advanced human nutrition, or the equivalent; and Foods, food science, food composition and menu planning, food service management, or the equivalent. For Licensed Nutritionists: A master's or higher nutrition degree from a regionally accredited institution with a major in human nutrition, foods and nutrition, dietetics, 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, or a master's or doctoral degree in a field of clinical health care. An applicant shall have completed coursework from a regionally accredited institution in medical nutrition therapy that shall consist of the following courses: 15 semester hours of clinical or life sciences, with at least three semester hours must be in human anatomy and physiology or the equivalent; and 15 semester hours of nutrition and metabolism, with at least six semester hours in biochemistry.
    • Please Note: The NCBDN does not allow the use of partial course credits to fulfill the coursework requirements.
  • Experience: Dietitian Nutritionists: Board-approved internship or a documented, supervised practice experience that meets the competency requirements of an ACEND accredited, supervised practice experience of at least 1,000 hours under the supervision of a Certified Nutrition Specialist, a Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, a licensed dietitian/nutritionist, a licensed nutritionist, a State-licensed health care practitioner whose licensed scope of practice eincludes dietetics or nutrition, or an individual with a doctoral degree with a major course of study in human nutrition, foods and nutrition, dietetics, 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, with a reasonable threshold of academic credits in nutrition and nutrition sciences.Nutritionists: Board-approved internship or a documented, supervised practice experience in nutrition services of at least 1,000 hours, involving at least 200 hours of nutrition assessment, 200 hours of nutrition intervention, education, counseling, or management, and 200 hours of nutrition monitoring or evaluation under the supervision of a Certified Nutrition Specialist, a Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, a licensed dietitian/nutritionist, a licensed nutritionist, a State-licensed health care practitioner whose licensed scope of practiceincludes dietetics or nutrition, or an individual with a doctoral degree with a major course of study in human nutrition, foods and nutrition, dietetics, 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, with a reasonable threshold of academic credits in nutrition and nutrition sciences.
  • Examination: Dietitian Nutritionists: The applicant has successfully completed the registration examination for dietitian nutritionists administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Nutritionists: Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS) Certified Nutrition Specialist exam, Diplomate exam administered by the American Clinical Board of Nutrition, or another exam approved by the Board and meeting the requirements defined in G.S. 90-359.

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