Dietitian

About

Dietitians evaluate the nutritional needs of individuals and groups, then advise and assist them on appropriate diets based upon principles from the sciences of nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, food management, and behavioral or social sciences. They confer with physicians and other health professionals to coordinate medical and nutritional needs. They must ensure that nutritional needs are consistent with available resources and constraints; establish goals and priorities; provide counseling in health and disease; and, evaluate and change recommendations to continually provide the best standards of food quality and nutrition. A dietitian may work in a hospital, clinic, public health program, extended care facility, university, business, government agency, or private practice. The major areas of practice are clinical, community, management, and consultant dietetics. Dietitians in nursing homes or small hospitals may also manage the food service department.

Code Citation IC, Ch 152A; 645 IAC 81-83

Who Applies Persons wishing to supply clients with nutritional and dietetic services in the State of Iowa.

When To Apply After completion of academic and supervised experience requirements and passing the registration examination for dietitians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Initial Requirements A dietitian must have a baccalaureate degree with major course work of study in human nutrition, food and nutrition, nutrition education, dietetics, or food systems management or in an equivalent major course of minimum academic requirements as established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and approved by the board; complete an accredited competency-based supervised experience approved by the ACEND program of the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Applicants who have obtained their education outside the U.S. and its territories must have their academic degrees validated as equivalent by an accredited college or university.

Duration Two years.

Processing Time 1 – 3 weeks after all required materials are on file. Online renewal in real time.

Fee Structure Initial License: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/chapter/645.5.pdf Renewal: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/chapter/645.5.pdf Exam: Arranged by applicant, fee paid to the American Dietetic Association.

Renewal Requirements Thirty hours of continuing education are required biennially for license renewal.

Exam Applicants apply directly to the Commission on Dietetic Examination.

Additional Information Persons wishing to supply clients with nutritional and dietetic services in the State of Iowa.