Minnesota

Minnesota licenses dietitians and nutritionists under an exclusive scope of practice model. This law does not apply to exempted licensed health care professionals. However, there is a broad exemption for providers of alternative and complementary care including "healing practices utilizing food, food supplements, nutrients." Only licensed individuals may use the titles “licensed dietitian”, “licensed nutritionist”, “dietitian”, and “nutritionist”.

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

Dietitians and Nutritionists Practice Act Complementary and Alternative Health Care Practices Act Rules & Regulations Regulatory Body

Qualification Requirements for State Licensure or State Certification:
  • Academic: Dietitian: A bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution with a major in dietetics, human nutrition, nutrition education, food and nutrition, or food services management. Nutritionist: A master's or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution with a major in human nutrition, public health nutrition, clinical nutrition, nutrition education, community nutrition, or food and nutrition, or evidence of certification by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists as a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS).
  • Experience: Dietitian: Completion of a documented supervised preprofessional practice experience component in dietetic practice of at least 900 hours under the supervision of a registered dietitian, a state licensed nutrition professional, or an individual with a doctoral degree with a major course of study in human nutrition, nutrition education, food and nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management. Nutritionist: Completion of a documented supervised preprofessional practice experience component in dietetic practice of not less than 900 hours under the supervision of a registered dietitian, a state licensed nutrition professional, or an individual with a doctoral degree with a major course of study in human nutrition, nutrition education, food and nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management, or evidence of certification by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists as a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS).
  • Examination: Dietitian: The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Nutritionist: The Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) exam of the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS), or the aforementioned education and experience requirements alone.

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