This bill changes the title of a person licensed by the board from "dietitian" to
"dietitian or nutritionist," and changes the title of the board to the Dietetics and
Nutrition Care Services Affiliated Credentialing Board. In the bill, a dietitian or
nutritionist is a person who practices dietetics and nutrition care services. The bill
defines "dietetics and nutrition care services," generally, as the integration and
application of certain scientific principles to achieve and maintain optimal human
health. In the bill, the practice of dietetics and nutrition care services includes
assessing nutritional needs and dietetic and nutrition therapy and excludes the
retail sale of food products or vitamins.
Requirements for licensure by the board
Under current law, to be certified as a dietitian or nutritionist, a person must:
1) receive a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in certain nutrition fields from
a college or university that the board determines is accredited or receive a degree
from a program in nutrition approved by the board; 2) complete at least 900
supervised hours of dietetics practice; and 3) pass the registration examination, or
its equivalent, established by the American Dietetic Association (ADA). A person
who has satisfied these educational and practice requirements and who has applied
to take the next available examination, may obtain a temporary dietitian certificate.
Under the bill, to be licensed by the board, a person must: 1) possess a
bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree granted from a regionally accredited college
or university and complete a didactic program in dietetics approved by the ADA; 2)
complete 900 supervised practice hours under a supervised practice program

accredited by the ADA; and 3) pass the registration examination for dietitians
established by the ADA. A person who satisfies these educational and practice
requirements and who submits a letter from the ADA verifying their registration
eligibility status, may obtain a temporary license.
The bill requires an applicant for renewal of a license to provide DRL with proof
of registration with the ADA or satisfactory completion of continuing education
requirements established by the board by rule.
Exemptions from licensure
Current law exempts a person who is licensed or certified and lawfully
practicing in certain fields from obtaining certification from the board provided the
person practices within the scope of his or her license or certificate and does not claim
to be a dietitian or licensed in a nutrition-related field. In addition, current law
exempts the following from obtaining certification from the board: 1) persons who
are pursuing a degree or certificate from an educational program approved by the
board; 2) a dietetic technician or assistant working under the supervision of a
certified dietitian; 3) a dietitian serving in the U.S. armed forces; and 4) a person who
markets or distributes food and other goods, who explains the use, benefits, or
preparation of food and other goods, and who furnishes nutritional information
about food and other goods provided that person does not claim to be a dietitian or
certified dietitian and that person complies with applicable law.
Under the bill, the following persons do not need to obtain a license from the
board: 1) a licensed or certified nurse, chiropractor, dentist, physician, physical
therapist, podiatrist, athletic trainer, occupational therapist, optometrist,
pharmacist, or acupuncturist lawfully practicing within the scope of that license or
certificate; 2) a dietitian or nutritionist serving in the U.S. armed forces; 3) a retailer
that furnishes oral or written general nutrition information about food and other
goods; 4) a person who is not practicing dietetics and nutrition care services who
provides general nutrition information about food and other goods; and 5) a person
who provides weight control services under a program of instruction approved in
writing by a licensed dietitian, a physician, or a person registered as a dietitian with
the ADA.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB115, s. 1 1Section 1. 15.406 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,4,22 15.406 (2) Dietitians Dietetics and nutrition care services affiliated
3credentialing board.
(intro.) There is created in the department of regulation and
4licensing, attached to the medical examining board, a dietitians dietetics and

1nutrition care services
affiliated credentialing board consisting of the following
2members appointed for 4-year terms:
SB115, s. 2 3Section 2. 15.406 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,4,54 15.406 (2) (a) Three dietitians individuals who are certified licensed as a
5dietitian or nutritionist
under subch. V of ch. 448.
SB115, s. 3 6Section 3. 48.981 (2) (a) 24. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,4,77 48.981 (2) (a) 24. A dietitian or nutritionist.
SB115, s. 4 8Section 4. 146.81 (1) (em) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,4,109 146.81 (1) (em) A dietitian certified An individual licensed as a dietitian or
10nutritionist
under subch. V of ch. 448.
SB115, s. 5 11Section 5. 146.89 (1) (r) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,4,2112 146.89 (1) (r) "Volunteer health care provider" means an individual who is
13licensed as a physician under ch. 448, dentist or dental hygienist under ch. 447,
14registered nurse, practical nurse, or nurse-midwife under ch. 441, optometrist
15under ch. 449, or physician assistant under ch. 448, or pharmacist under ch. 450, who
16is certified as a
dietitian or nutritionist under subch. V of ch. 448, or who is a nurse
17practitioner, as defined in s. 255.06 (1) (d), or who performs functions described for
18pharmacy technicians in rules promulgated by the pharmacy examining board, and
19who receives no income from the practice of that health care profession or who
20receives no income from the practice of that health care profession when providing
21services at the nonprofit agency or school specified under sub. (3).
SB115, s. 6 22Section 6. 146.997 (1) (d) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,4,2423 146.997 (1) (d) 6. A dietician certified An individual licensed as a dietitian or
24nutritionist
under subch. V of ch. 448.
SB115, s. 7 25Section 7. 180.1901 (1m) (br) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,5,2
1180.1901 (1m) (br) Dietitians Dietetics and nutrition care services affiliated
2credentialing board under subch. V of ch. 448.
SB115, s. 8 3Section 8. 251.06 (3) (e) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,5,74 251.06 (3) (e) 2. A public health nutritionist, who is a certified licensed dietitian
5or nutritionist, as defined in s. 448.70 (1m) (5), is credentialed as a registered
6dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, and meets qualifications that
7the department shall specify by rule.
SB115, s. 9 8Section 9. 252.14 (1) (ar) 4m. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,5,109 252.14 (1) (ar) 4m. A dietitian certified An individual licensed as a dietitian
10or nutritionist
under subch. V of ch. 448.
SB115, s. 10 11Section 10. 440.03 (13) (b) 23. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,5,1212 440.03 (13) (b) 23. Dietitian or nutritionist.
SB115, s. 11 13Section 11. 440.08 (2) (a) 27m. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,5,1514 440.08 (2) (a) 27m. Dietitian or nutritionist: November 1 of each
15even-numbered year; $56.
SB115, s. 12 16Section 12. 440.08 (2) (a) 27m. of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin
17Act 20
and 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:
SB115,5,1918 440.08 (2) (a) 27m. Dietitian or nutritionist: November 1 of each
19even-numbered year.
SB115, s. 13 20Section 13. 446.02 (6m) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,6,221 446.02 (6m) No chiropractor may provide counsel, direction, guidance, advice,
22or a recommendation to a patient regarding the health effects of vitamins, herbs, or
23nutritional supplements unless the chiropractor has been issued a certificate under
24sub. (2) (c). This subsection does not apply to a chiropractor licensed under this

1chapter who is certified licensed as a dietician dietitian or nutritionist under subch.
2V of ch. 448.
SB115, s. 14 3Section 14. Subchapter V (title) of chapter 448 [precedes 448.70] of the
4statutes is amended to read:
SB115,6,55 chapter 448
SB115,6,9 6SUBCHAPTER V
7DIETITIANS DIETETICS AND NUTRITION
8 CARE SERVICES
AFFILIATED
9 CREDENTIALING BOARD
SB115, s. 15 11Section 15. 448.70 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 448.70 (1g) and amended
12to read:
SB115,6,1413 448.70 (1g) "Affiliated credentialing board" means the dietitians dietetics and
14nutrition care services
affiliated credentialing board.
SB115, s. 16 15Section 16. 448.70 (1d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB115,6,1816 448.70 (1d) "Accreditation commission" means the commission on
17accreditation for dietetics education of the American Dietetic Association or its
18successor.
SB115, s. 17 19Section 17. 448.70 (1m) of the statutes is renumbered 448.70 (5) and amended
20to read:
SB115,6,2221 448.70 (5) "Certified Licensed dietitian or nutritionist" means an individual
22who is certified licensed as a dietitian or nutritionist under this subchapter.
SB115, s. 18 23Section 18. 448.70 (1r), (6) and (7) of the statutes are created to read:
SB115,7,224 448.70 (1r) "Dietetic and nutrition therapy" means nutritional diagnostic,
25therapy, and counseling services provided to an individual or group of individuals for

1the purpose of managing disease. Such services include nutrition assessment,
2interventions, reassessment, and follow-up interventions.
SB115,7,4 3(6) "Practice of dietetics and nutrition care services" includes each of the
4following but does not include the retail sale of food products or vitamins:
SB115,7,95 (a) Assessing the nutritional needs of an individual or group of individuals
6based upon biochemical, anthropometric, physical, and dietary data; determining
7the resources and constraints to meet the nutritional needs of that individual or
8group of individuals; and recommending proper nutrition intake to satisfy those
9needs.
SB115,7,1210 (b) Establishing priorities, goals, and objectives to meet the nutritional needs
11of the individual or group of individuals based on available resources and
12constraints.
SB115,7,1413 (c) Providing nutrition counseling to an individual or group of individuals
14regarding health and disease.
SB115,7,1615 (d) Evaluating, adjusting, and maintaining standards of quality in dietetics
16and nutrition care services.
SB115,7,1717 (e) Providing dietetic and nutrition therapy.
SB115,7,19 18(7) "Registration commission" means the commission on dietetic registration
19of the American Dietetic Association or its successor.
SB115, s. 19 20Section 19. 448.70 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,8,621 448.70 (2) "Dietetics and nutrition care services" means the integration and
22application of principles of nutritional science, biochemistry, derived from the
23sciences of
food science, physiology, food systems , nutrition, management,
24behavioral science communication, biology, physiology, behavior, and the social
25science in order sciences to achieve or and maintain the optimal human health of an

1individual or group of individuals. "Dietetics" includes assessing the nutritional
2needs of an individual or group of individuals and determining available resources
3and constraints in meeting those nutritional needs; establishing priorities, goals and
4objectives that meet those nutritional needs and are consistent with available
5resources and constraints; providing nutrition counseling; or developing,
6implementing and managing nutritional care systems
.
SB115, s. 20 7Section 20. 448.70 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB115,8,98 448.70 (3) "Dietitian or nutritionist" means an individual who practices
9engages in the practice of dietetics and nutrition care services.
SB115, s. 21 10Section 21. 448.71 of the statutes is created to read:
SB115,8,13 11448.71 License required. Except as provided in s. 448.72, no person may
12engage in the practice of dietetics and nutrition care services unless the person is
13licensed as a dietitian or nutritionist under this subchapter.
SB115, s. 22 14Section 22. 448.72 (intro.) and (1) (intro.) of the statutes are consolidated,
15renumbered 448.72 (intro.) and amended to read:
SB115,8,18 16448.72 Applicability. (intro.) This No license is required under this
17subchapter does not do any of the following: (1) (intro.) Require a certificate under
18this subchapter
for any of the following:
SB115, s. 23 19Section 23. 448.72 (1) (a) and (b) of the statutes are repealed.
SB115, s. 24 20Section 24. 448.72 (1) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 448.72 (9) and
21amended to read:
SB115,9,322 448.72 (9) A person pursuing a supervised course of study, including
23internships, leading to a degree or certificate
student enrolled in a dietetics
24educational program that is from an accredited educational program or an
25educational program approved
by the affiliated credentialing board accreditation

1commission if the student's enrollment is for the purpose of meeting eligibility
2requirements to take the examination for dietitians established by the registration
3commission
.
SB115, s. 25 4Section 25. 448.72 (1) (d) of the statutes is repealed.
SB115, s. 26 5Section 26. 448.72 (1) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 448.72 (10) and
6amended to read:
SB115,9,117 448.72 (10) A dietitian or nutritionist who is serving in the U.S. armed forces,
8as defined in s. 40.02 (57m), or in the commissioned corps of the federal public health
9service or is employed by the U.S. veterans administration, and who is engaged in
10the practice of dietetics and nutrition care services as part of that service or
11employment.
SB115, s. 27 12Section 27. 448.72 (1) (f) of the statutes is repealed.
SB115, s. 28 13Section 28. 448.72 (2) of the statutes is repealed.
SB115, s. 29 14Section 29. 448.72 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 448.76 (3) and amended
15to read:
SB115,9,2016 448.76 (3) Prohibit an An individual described in sub. (1) (e) from using s.
17448.72 (10) may use
the title "dietitian or nutritionist" or any letters or designation
18that represents or may tend to represent the individual as a dietitian or nutritionist,
19if the title, letters, or designation is used only in the course of the individual's service
20or employment.
SB115, s. 30 21Section 30. 448.72 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 448.76 (4) and amended
22to read:
SB115,9,2523 448.76 (4) Prohibit an An individual who is registered as a dietitian with the
24registration commission on dietetic registration of the American Dietetic Association
25from using may use the title " dietitian" or "registered dietitian" or the initials, "R.D.".
SB115, s. 31
1Section 31. 448.72 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 448.76 (5) and amended
2to read:
SB115,10,63 448.76 (5) Prohibit an An individual who is registered as a dietetic technician
4with the registration commission on dietetic registration of the American Dietetic
5Association from using
may use the title "dietetic technician" or," "dietetic technician
6registered" registered," or the initials, "D.T.R.".
SB115, s. 32 7Section 32. 448.72 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 448.76 (6) and amended
8to read:
SB115,10,149 448.76 (6) Prohibit an An individual from using may use the title "dietitian",
10," "dietitian or nutritionist," "licensed dietitian" or," "licensed dietitian or
11nutritionist,"
"certified dietitian"," or "certified dietitian or nutritionist" if the person
12is licensed or certified as a dietitian or nutritionist under the laws of another state
13which has licensure or certification requirements that the affiliated credentialing
14board determines to be substantially equivalent to the requirements under s. 448.78.
SB115, s. 33 15Section 33. 448.72 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
SB115,10,1816 448.72 (7) A person who is lawfully practicing within the scope of a license or
17certificate granted under chs. 441, 446, or 447, subchs. I to IV, VI, and VII of ch. 448,
18or 449 to 451.
SB115, s. 34 19Section 34. 448.72 (11) of the statutes is created to read:
SB115,10,2420 448.72 (11) (a) A retailer that furnishes oral or written general nutrition
21information related to food, food materials, dietary supplements, and other goods
22sold at the retailer's establishment or a similar establishment in connection with the
23marketing and distribution of the food, food materials, dietary supplements, or other
24goods at the retailer's establishment.
SB115,11,4
1(b) A person that furnishes oral or written general nutrition information
2related to food, food materials, or dietary supplements or the marketing of food, food
3materials, or dietary supplements, provided the person is not engaged in the practice
4of dietetics and nutrition care services.
SB115, s. 35 5Section 35. 448.72 (12) of the statutes is created to read:
SB115,11,96 448.72 (12) A person who provides weight control services to an individual or
7group of individuals, provided the person complies with s. 448.76 and presents a
8general program of instruction for weight control that has been approved in writing
9by one of the following:
SB115,11,1010 (a) A person licensed under this subchapter.
SB115,11,1111 (b) A physician as defined in s. 448.01 (5).
SB115,11,1512 (c) A person who is licensed or certified as a dietitian or nutritionist under the
13laws of another state which has licensure or certification requirements that the
14affiliated credentialing board determines to be substantially equivalent to the
15licensure requirements under s. 448.78.
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