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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>368313</law_id><section_number>54.1-2731</section_number><catch_line>Prohibited terms; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="118" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="3" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="9" identifier="27.1">Dietitians and Nutritionists</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> As used in this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">nutritional genomics</span>&#x201D; means the consideration of biochemical or genetic information to evaluate how genetics affect gene function and how genetic variation alters nutrient response, including the study of how dietary and other lifestyle choices influence the function of humans at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and populational levels. <a id="paragraph-1371600" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2731/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No person shall hold himself out to be or advertise or permit to be advertised that such person is a dietitian or nutritionist unless such person: <a id="paragraph-1371601" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2731/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Has (i) received a baccalaureate or higher degree in nutritional sciences, community nutrition, public health nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, or human nutrition from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and (ii) satisfactorily completed a program of supervised clinical experience approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; <a id="paragraph-1371602" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2731/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Has active registration through the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; <a id="paragraph-1371603" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2731/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Has an active certificate of the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists as a Certified Nutrition Specialist; <a id="paragraph-1371604" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2731/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Has an active certification as a Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition; <a id="paragraph-1371605" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2731/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Has a current license or certificate as a dietitian or nutritionist issued by another state; or <a id="paragraph-1371606" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2731/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Has the minimum requisite education, training and experience determined by the Department of Health Professions appropriate for such person to hold himself out to be, or advertise or allow himself to be advertised as, a dietitian or nutritionist.
				The restrictions of this section apply to the use of the terms &#x201C;dietitian&#x201D; and &#x201C;nutritionist&#x201D; as used alone or in any combination with the terms &#x201C;licensed,&#x201D; &#x201C;certified,&#x201D; or &#x201C;registered,&#x201D; as those terms also imply a minimum level of education, training and competence. <a id="paragraph-1371607" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2731/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any person who meets the requirements set forth in subsection B who receives <span class="dictionary">nutritional genomics</span> testing information shall maintain such information in accordance with applicable federal and state <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-1371608" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2731/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A person who does not meet the requirements of subsection B but who (i) has a baccalaureate degree with a major in food and nutrition or dietetics or has equivalent hours of food and nutrition coursework and (ii) has two years of work experience in nutrition or dietetics concurrent with or subsequent to completion of such degree may hold himself out as a dietitian or nutritionist, provided he is employed by or under <span class="dictionary">contract</span> to a government agency and practices solely within the scope of such employment. <a id="paragraph-1371609" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2731/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Any person who willfully violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-1371610" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2731/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1995, c. 391; 2016, c. 91; 2025, c. 341.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
