The NJAND’s Public Policy Panel is actively advocating for health and wellness policies in New Jersey and beyond. Our team consists of Co-Public Policy Coordinators, a State Policy Representative, a State Regulatory specialist, a Consumer Protection Coordinator, and a Nutrition Services Payment Specialist. Our most recent effort is continued access to telehealth services and the continuation of pay parity for nutrition providers. Last month, the NJAND along with 20+ NJ-based organizations signed a letter of support to protect access to telehealth services. Click here to see the letter of support.
Licensure in New Jersey
The New Jersey Board of Dietetics and Nutrition has been meeting monthly since November 2022 to write draft regulations for the Dietetics and Nutrition Licensing Law which establishes a dual pathway for licensure for Dietitians and Nutritionists. This law ensures that only licensed individuals are permitted to provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and it limits titles that are commonly misused and abused in the marketplace.
Under the law, any unlicensed individual in New Jersey will be prohibited from using the following professional titles: “dietitian nutritionist,” “nutritionist,” “dietitian,” “dietician,” “nutrition counselor,” “nutrition specialist,” “LDN,” “LD,” “LN,” “nutritional therapy practitioner,” “nutritional therapy consultant,” “certified nutrition therapy practitioner,” “master nutrition therapist,” “licensed dietitian nutritionist,” “licensed nutritionist” or any other title, designation, words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia indicating one as a provider of medical nutrition therapy, unless licensed to practice.
A dietitian registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) may continue to use the title Registered Dietitian or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and the designation “RD” or “RDN”, and a nutritionist certified by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists may use the title Certified Nutrition Specialist and the designation CNS, and an individual may use any lawfully earned federally trademarked title.
The New Jersey Board of Dietetics and Nutrition consists of three dietitians and one CNS. It is awaiting a physician appointment as well as a public member appointment. The board submitted it’s DRAFT regulations for review in January of this year. It will take approximately one year for the DRAFT regulations to reach the public comment phase where concerns/recommendations can be voiced by the public. The final rules/regulations must be adopted within one year from the date the public comment period closes. The rules should be officially adopted within the next two-three years. An application for licensure will become available shortly after the rules are adopted.
The board meeting schedule and additional information can be found here. All are welcome to attend. However, please note that you cannot make any comments until the official meeting ends and the comment period begins. Please continue to check here for updates. We thank you for your patience! (Updated 6/05/24)
Dietetics and Nutrition Licensing Law FAQ’s
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