Application and Licensing

(1) Application. (a) Application for licensure must be made in the manner prescribed by the Board and/or on forms furnished by the Board. Applicants may purchase from the State Bookstore a copy of M.G. L. c. 112, §§ 201 through 210 regarding dietitian/nutritionist and the regulations of the Board (268 CMR). Licensees are required to be familiar with 268 CMR. (b) No application shall be acted upon by the Board unless said application is made on forms which are furnished by the Board, and unless said application is completely and properly filed out in the manner prescribed by the Board, signed under the penalties of perjury, and accompanied by such other information that the Board may require. (2) Licensure. In order to be licensed as a dietitian/nutritionist, applicants for original license must meet the requirements for licensure pursuant to M.G.L. c.112, § 203, to wit: (a) be at least 18 years of age or older; (b) be of good moral character; (c) possesses a bachelor’s degree, its equivalent or higher; Acceptability of Degree Programs: An applicant’s educational degree shall be accepted by the Board if the educational institution or program which awarded that degree is accredited by an organization or entity which has been recognized by the United States Department of Education, or any like institution approved by the Board, as an appropriate accrediting body for the degree program in question. The Board may, at its discretion, grant an applicant credit towards satisfaction of the baccalaureate degree requirement for education received at an institution outside of the United States if the applicant submits proof satisfactory to the Board that such foreign education is substantially equivalent to that provided in a baccalaureate degree program in an institution accredited by the United States Office of Education. 1. A bachelor’s degree, its equivalent, or higher, shall be with a major course of study in Dietetics and Nutrition, human nutrition, nutrition education, or public health nutrition, or 2. The bachelor’s degree, its equivalent, or higher with a reasonable threshold of undergraduate level academic credit hours in nutrition and nutrition sciences as determined by the Board, and shall, at a minimum, include: a. Biological Sciences: nine semester hours (must include human anatomy and physiology or equivalent, and microbiology or equivalent); b. Chemistry: six semester hours (must include biochemistry or equivalent); c. Behavioral Sciences: three semester hours (such as psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology, counseling, or educational psychology); and d. Foods and Nutrition: 24 semester hours which must include at least three semester hours in each of the following categories: i. diet therapy, medical dietetics, clinical nutrition or equivalent; ii. nutrition through life cycle, applied human nutrition, advanced human nutrition or equivalent; iii. foods, food science, food composition and menu planning, food service management or equivalent. (MA REG. # 1337, Dated 4-21-17) 3.01: continued (d) have successfully completed a Board approved clinical internship or supervised professional experience; 1. a formal, post baccalaureate internship approved by the Board of not less than 900 hours in the Field of Dietetics and Nutrition supervised by a licensed dietitian/nutritionist; or 2. comparable paid professional experience that satisfies the Board that the licensee is competent to practice as a licensed dietitian/nutritionist. Paid professional experience includes, but is not limited to, appropriate activities as described in 268 CMR 5.01: Appropriate Standards of Practice and Activities. The experience must consist of a minimum of 32 hours per week of employment; fewer hours will be prorated. Evidence of experience shall typically include a job description, with verification from an immediate supervisor, and a resume of jobs or positions for the following required amounts: a. three years of post baccalaureate paid professional experience in the Field of Dietetics and Nutrition; or b. two years of post masters degree paid professional experience in the Field of Dietetics and Nutrition; or c. one year of post doctorate paid professional experience in the Field of Dietetics and Nutrition. (e) have passed a written or electronic competency examination approved by the Board and designed to test the competency and knowledge needed to practice; and (f) have paid the appropriate fee as established by the Secretary of Administration and Finance pursuant to M.G.L. c. 7, § 3B. (3) Licensure by Reciprocal Recognition. The Board, upon receipt of the required fee and a completed application on a form provided by the Board, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112, § 208, may issue a license without examination and by reciprocal recognition to any person who holds a license, certification or registration as a dietitian/nutritionist, or the equivalent thereof as determined by the Board, issued by another state or jurisdiction, provided that: (a) the requirements and standards for that license, certificate or registration are substantially equivalent to or exceeds the standards of the Commonwealth as determined by the Board; and (b) the applicant has not had his or her license, certification or registration in that other jurisdiction revoked, suspended, or otherwise encumbered as a result of formal disciplinary proceedings instituted by the government agency responsible for licensure, certification or registration in that jurisdiction.