South Dakota

Summary

South Dakota licenses only dietitians as licensed dietitians or licensed nutritionists under an exclusive scope of practice model. Individuals must have completed requirements aligned with the Registered Dietitian pathway in order to qualify for licensure. This law does not apply to other specified licensed health care professionals who have nutrition specified in their scope of practice. Only licensed individuals may use the titles “licensed dietitian”, “licensed nutritionist”, “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: Nutritionist: A master's or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution with a major course of study in human nutrition, public health nutrition, clinical nutrition, nutrition education, community nutrition, or foods and nutrition. Dietitian: Proof of registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); or a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution with a major course of study in human nutrition, nutrition education, food and nutrition, dietetics, or food service management.
  • Experience: Dietitian: Completion of a documented, supervised pre-professional practice experience component in dietetic practice of at least 900 hours under the supervision of a registered dietitian, nutrition or dietetic professional licensed by a state, or a person with a doctoral degree with a major course of study in human nutrition, nutrition education, food and nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management. Nutritionist: Not applicable.
  • Examination: Dietitian: The Registered Dietitian (RD) examination established by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); Nutritionist: Successful completion of a comprehensive nutrition competence examination administered 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.