LICENSURE INFORMATION

Last updated December 2007

by Elaine Lyons MS, RD, LDN

MDA Liaison to the Licensure Board

Disclaimer: We at MDA can offer basic information, but please remember that the Board of Registration makes all the decisions on the licensure process. Please contact them directly with questions.

TOP 10 REASONS TO APPLY FOR LICENSURE ASAP!

1. Recognition by consumers and colleagues
2. Identification as state-regulated nutrition professional
3. JCAHO Recognition
4. Qualify as a provider by insurance companies
5. Comply with Pew Commission recommendations
6. Have greater ease in obtaining licensure in another state
7. Keep the licensure fee LOW
8. Meet criteria of MNT
9. Employers are requesting RDs to be LDNs
10. It is easy! Only 5 steps: (a) Gather supporting documentation (b) Complete & (c) notarize application (d) Pay $170.00 (e) Submit application.

Questions about Getting Licensed

Q. Where can I get an application and what is the process for submitting it?

A. This application can also be downloaded from the state Web site at http://www.state.ma.us/reg/boards/nu. Our checklist will lead you through the process step by step.

Q. Where can I get help?

A. For immediate answers to licensure related questions, please contact the MA Board of Registration, Division of Professional Licensure at www.state.ma.us/reg/boards/nu or 617-727-3073.

Registered Dietitians: Become a Licensed Dietitian / Nutritionist In Five Easy Steps!! 

1. Gather Supporting Documentation:
• College Sealed Transcripts - Do not send in an opened transcript envelope. If you are an RD, submit the transcript which demonstrates your highest relevant degree.
• Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Sealed Verification - Do not send in an opened CDR envelope. To receive your CDR verification, contact CDR at 312-899-0040 x 5500 or cdr@eatright.org 
2. Complete Application
• This application can be downloaded from the Board of Registration of Dietitians / Nutritionists licensure Web site at www.mass.gov/dpl/boards/nu 
3. Obtain Notarization of Application.
• To find a notary, check with your town hall, or local bank.
4. Write Check for $170.00.
• Make Check payable to: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
5. Submit all of the above to:

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Division of Professional Licensure Board of Dietitians and Nutritionists

239 Causeway St., Suite 500

Boston, MA 02114

Questions Regarding the Licensure Application Process?

Contact the Board of Registration at: 617-727-3073

Remember To Renew Your License! You've Earned It, Now Keep It!

The Division of Professional Licensure must enforce the late fee for all renewals past the expiration date. This is standard practice for all Division of Professional Licensure Licensees.

It would be advisable to mark in your calendar 45 days prior to your licensure renewal to make sure you have received the materials you need to renew your license.

Renewal is NOT Automatic

"As a condition of renewal, each licensee must certify that he or she has completed the continuing education requirements…The specific requirements for continuing education may be found in Chapter 4 of the Board's regulation, CMR 268."*

Questions about credits counting toward licensure should be addressed to the Board of Registration of Dietitians / Nutritionists. A good rule of thumb is: if it is related to nutrition and a minimum of 50 minutes of organized learning then it is likely it will count toward licensure. Many, but not all, learning experiences counted for credit by the CDR also count toward licensure. Read MDA's summary about counting CEUs.

Contact the Board if you have specific questions. Use the email option on the Board's Web site or contact the Division of Professional Licensure at 617-727-3073. If your state provides licensure for MNT, you must be licensed by your state to receive coverage. The information regarding this is: http://www.medicarenhic.com/whats_new/archive2001/med-nutrition-therapy.htm.

This means that if you work in MA and bill Medicare you need to be licensed by the Board of Registration of Dietitians / Nutritionists in Massachusetts, even if you are already licensed in another state. Go to the Licensure Web site for an application and fees.

*Note: Information compiled from the Board of Registration of Dietitians / Nutritionists Web site and the previous licensure information on the massnutrition.org Web site.

Check your License Status

You can check your status (and see your license number) at the Division of Professional Licensure Web site You can check your status (and see your license number) at the Division of Professional Licensure Web site: www.mass.gov/dpl/boards/nu. Choose the "check a license" link on the left side of the page.

Requirements for Massachusetts License

• Licensed Dietitians/Nutritionists are required to complete a minimum of 30 units of continuing education activities every two years, which is a condition of license renewal.
• The Board, in its discretion, may approve other programs of continued professional competence that contribute to a licensee’s professional growth.
• Board approved continuing education activities shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Successful completion of an education program, course, seminar, or workshop that is sponsored by an approved organization.
2. Authorship of published books, chapters of published books, articles in refereed journals, research projects, and /or other such publications, approved by the Board and related to the science or practice of nutrition. A maximum of three (3) units may be credited for each book chapter, article, or project.
3. Instruction or presentation of an academic course, workshop, poster session, or seminar for the first time. Credit for two (2) units of continuing education will be given for each unit taught or presented.
4. Successful completion of an academic course related to contemporary nutritional practice, and offered by an educational institution or program recognized by the United States Department of Education. Each semester hour shall equate to 15 continuing education units; trimester hours shall equate to 12 units; quarter hours shall equate to ten units.

Continuing Education Credits

• A unit of continuing education must be a minimum of 50 minutes of an organized learning experience.
• The program must contribute to the licensee’s professional competence in nutritional practice. Professional competence in nutritional practice means that the program must address “the science of human nutrition” and enhance the licensee’s knowledge of human nutrition.
• Programs that address marketing, management, business or technical skills will not be accepted.

Providers of Continuing Education Programs and Activities

Course work endorsed or sponsored by the following organizations is approved for continuing education hours if course work meets the previously specified requirements:

• The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
• Boards of Licensure of other states
• Courses offered by governmental agencies
• Academic courses or continuing education programs offered by accredited academic institutions offering degrees related to professional practice
• Organizations so designated by the Board

Documentation

• It is the Licensee’s responsibility to maintain adequate documentation of continuing education activities.
• Keep all Documents! For example, the title of the program or course or poster session; the number of hours; dates, location, continuing education forms; the name of the Board-recognized entity/academic institution/sponsoring agency; syllabus, exams and tests.

Waivers of Continuing Education Requirements

The Board may, at its discretion, fully waive or extend the deadline of the continuing education requirements for any licensee who, for reasons of health, disability, out-of-state military service, or undue hardship, cannot meet the requirements. Licensees must submit such requests to the Board in writing.

Audits

• The Board may conduct random surveys for compliance of the documentation of any licensee’s continuing education.
• The licensee must provide required documentation.

Counting CEUs for Massachusetts State Licensure

As with any Continuing Education Credit (CEU) for Licensure or the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the burden of proof is on the licensee to demonstrate that the poster / lecture / learning experience meets the requirements for continuing education listed in the Rules and Regulations for licensure of Dietitians and Nutritionists.

Upon reviewing the Rules and Regulations of the MA Board of Registration of Dietitians / Nutritionists, it is the belief that:

• The poster / lecture / learning experience must be nutrition related; and
• A CEU must be a minimum of 50 minutes of an organized learning experience.

Since the burden of proof is on the licensee to demonstrate that the poster / lecture / learning experience is nutrition related, if you doubt that you would be able to prove the above if audited by the Licensure Board, then you should consider not counting the poster / lecture / learning experience toward your Licensure CEUs and finding other ways to achieve the necessary number of CEUs to renew your MA license.

The Massachusetts Dietetic Association will not be held responsible for whether or not a poster / lecture / learning experience counts toward licensure CEUs. For more information on Licensure, please go to the Licensure web site: www.mass.gov/dpl/boards/nu

Helpful hint: Keep a record of each poster / lecture / learning experience you visit / attend. Be sure that it is nutrition related if you want to count it toward Licensure. Keep a summary of these experiences with your CEU records.

Additional Fact: Please be aware that the legal representation of the MA State license for dietitians and nutritionists is "LDN", "Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist". Please keep this in mind when you write your signature and order business cards, letterhead, etc.