FAQ

 


 

  1. When will I get a renewal notice? 

    Although there is no statutory requirement to give notice, the Board sends several emails to the email address on file starting on April 15th annually through the delinquent renewal period to all licensees as a courtesy. An email is sent upon lapse of a license, and on or around April 1st of the year following the lapse of a license.  Please keep your Licensee Dashboard up to date with your current information, including your mailing address and email address. The Board will not waive the late fee or the reinstatement due to failure to receive a renewal notice.  Additionally, the Board is not responsible for an individual’s practice without a license, due to the individual’s failure to renew or failure to receive renewal notice.

  2. What types of licenses are available?

     

    Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist (LDN) licenses are given to individuals who have successfully completed the registration exam given through CDR.  The minimum requirements for LDN licensure in Louisiana are: 

    -Application for License

    -Applicable fee

    -Copy of CDR Card

    -Official copy of Transcript showing degree awarded in accepted field

    -Official Verification Statement from an ACEND accredited supervised practice program

    -Official Verification of Licensure from any state in which you hold or have ever held licensure

     

    Provisional Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist (Provisional LDN) licenses are given to individuals who have not yet passed the registration exam given through CDR. Provisional LDNs require supervision by an LDN.  The minimum requirements for Provisional LDN licensure in Louisiana are: 

    -Application for License

    -Applicable fee

    -Official copy of Transcript showing degree awarded in accepted field

    -Official Verification Statement from an ACEND accredited supervised practice program

    -Official Verification of Licensure from any state in which you hold or have ever held licensure

     

  3.  

    -Online application to LBEDN for Provisional LDN License with applicable fee

    -Official Transcript showing degree awarded in accepted field

    -Official Verification Statement from an ACEND accredited supervised practice program

    -Once a job is obtained, submit Supervision Form and Formal Job Description 

    -Take the registration exam through CDR

     

    Upgrade to LDN must be requested online once CDR exam is passed.

  4.  

    If you hold a Provisional LDN license: 

    -Upgrade Request

    -Applicable fee 

    -Copy of CDR card

     

    If you do not hold a license, apply for LDN license:

    -Application for License

    -Applicable fee

    -Copy of CDR Card

    -Official copy of Transcript showing degree awarded in accepted field

    -Official Verification Statement from an ACEND accredited supervised practice program

  5.  

    If you have not already obtained licensure, you must submit the following to LBEDN:

    If you passed the exam:

    -Application for LDN license

    -Applicable fee

    -Copy of CDR card

    -Official copy of Transcript showing degree awarded in accepted field

    -Official Verification Statement from an ACEND accredited supervised practice program

    -Formal Job Description

     

    If you have not passed the exam:

    -Application for Provisional LDN license

    -Applicable fee

    -Supervision Form

    -Official copy of Transcript showing degree awarded in accepted field

    -Official Verification Statement from an ACEND accredited supervised practice program

    -Formal Job Description

  6. Do I need a job prior to obtaining a license?

     

    A job is not required to obtain licensure.

  7. Registration vs. Licensure: What's the Difference?

     

    The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) represents RD’s/RDN’s. Dietitians are credentialed/registered by CDR, the credentialing agency of AND. Membership in AND is voluntary, although important for reimbursement in many employment settings.

    Dietitians/Nutritionists are licensed by LBEDN in Louisiana. Licensure is mandatory in Louisiana. Licensure laws vary by state. Because of the title protection in Louisiana, individuals registered by CDR may not call themselves a “Registered Dietitian”, “RD”, “Registered Dietitian Nutritionist” or “RDN” without actually having the license.

  8. Dietetic/Nutrition Scope of Practice

     

    Dietetics/Nutrition practice is defined as the integration and application of principles derived from the sciences of nutrition, biochemistry, food, physiology, management, behavioral, and social sciences to achieve and maintain client health through the provision of nutrition care services, which shall include:

    (a) Assessing the nutritional needs of individuals and groups based upon appropriate biochemical, anthropometric, physical, and dietary data to determine nutrient needs and recommend to the primary health care provider appropriate nutritional intake enteral and parenteral nutrition.

    (b) Establishing priorities, goals, and objectives that meet nutritional needs and are consistent with available resources.

    (c) Providing nutritional counseling by advising and assisting individuals or groups on appropriate nutritional intake by integrating information on food and other sources of nutrients and meal preparation consistent with cultural background and socioeconomic status.

    (d) Developing, implementing, and managing nutrition care systems.

    (e) Evaluating, making changes in, and maintaining standards of quality in food and nutrition care services.

     

  9. Guidelines for Credential Placement?

     

    The Board encourages Licensed Dietitians/Nutritionists to use the designation LDN after their name on all professional correspondence, as this is the legal designation for licensing in the State of Louisiana.  In accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Board recommends the following order for listing your credentials:  name, graduate academic degree, RD or RDN, LDN, followed by other certifications.  The following is given as an example:  Jane Doe, MS, RD or RDN, LDN, CDE. Please reference the attached docuent from the CDR entitled "Guidelines for Credential Placement" for further information.

     

  10. How often must I renew my state licensure?

     

    Licensure renewal is required annually by June 30th.  Please be reminded that licensure renewal is required in addition to the renewal of your CDR card annually.

     

  11. I just received my license on March 15th.  Am I really required to renew by June 30th?

     

    Yes.  Licenses issued from July 1 - March 31 must renew by June 30th of that fiscal year

     

     

  12. How do my University and Internship Director know to send my documents to LBEDN?

     

    You must contact your University and Internship Director to have these documents mailed or emailed directly to the Board Office at: LBEDN, 37283 Swamp Road, Suite 3B, Prairieville, LA 70769 or tjeanmarie@lbedn.org

     

  13. I am or have been licensed in other states. Do I have to submit any information about my licensure?

     

    You must contact the state(s) in which you hold or have ever held licensure to have them send a Verification of Licensure directly to the Board Office via email to tjeanmarie@lbedn.org as part of the application process.  Paper verifications are not needed.

    **Proof of licensure is not adequate. This must be a Verification of Licensure.

     

    In order to request a verification of your Louisiana licensure to be sent to another regulatory board, please log into your Licensee Dashboard.  Once logged in, you should select the "Forms" tab, then the "Verification of Licensure" tab.  Once the online form and payment have been submitted, your request will be processed.  

     

  14. Who is eligible for Inactive Status?

     

    Inactive status may be granted to licensees who are retired or who do not practice dietetics/nutrition during the fiscal year, July 1-June 30.

     

  15. How do I claim "Inactive Status"?

     

    Licensees must pay the annual renewal fee and complete the affidavit provided at the time of licensure renewal.

     

  16. What can I do with an "Inactive" license?

     

    Licensees on inactive status or who are retired shall not supervise individuals or otherwise engage in the practice of dietetics/nutrition.

     

  17. How do I change my license from "Inactive" to "Active" so I can practice again?

     

    In order to resume the practice of dietetics/nutrition, licensees on inactive status shall demonstrate completion of 5 clock hours of continuing education in the area of licensure for each year that inactive status was maintained.  In addition, a letter requesting a change to active status and the appropriate fee must be submitted to the board office prior to resuming the practice of dietetics/nutrition.  Inactive licensees who wish to return to active status at the time of renewal may do so by renewing as active and paying the active renewal fee.  

     

     

    Telehealth Frequently Asked Questions

    1. I am a Louisiana licensed dietitian/nutritionist. Can I provide tele-health services to clients who live in Louisiana?

    Yes. A Louisiana license covers the delivery of dietetic/nutrition ser-vices, no matter what method of delivery is chosen.

     

    1. I am a Louisiana licensed dietitian/nutritionist. What if my clientwho lives in Louisiana travels or moves to another state? Can Icontinue to provide services via telehealth?

    In most cases, you need to be licensed in the state that you are in andin the state the client is in. This depends on the laws and rules thatregulate dietitians/nutritionists in that state.

    1. I am a Louisiana licensed dietitian/nutritionist. Can I provide tele-health services to clients who do not live in Louisiana?

    A license is required to provide dietetic/nutrition services in most states.Prior to providing services outside of Louisiana, please check the lawsand rules that regulate dietitians/nutritionists in the state where the clientis located.

    1. I am a Louisiana licensed dietitian/nutritionist. Am I required tohave an in-person initial intake session before providing dieteticservices by telehealth?

    There is no provision of Louisiana law or rule that requires an in-personinitial intake session. If the client is located in another state, you wouldneed to contact the appropriate state licensing board or agency to findout if a telehealth license/registration is required as well. 

    1. Can a dietitian/nutritionist from another state provide telehealthservices to a client who is located in Louisiana without holding a Louisiana license?

    No. Individuals providing services in Louisiana, regardless of the cho-sen method of service delivery, must be licensed in Louisiana. Dietetic/Nutrition services are considered originated at the patient’s location asdefined in R.S. 40:1223.3. Louisiana law prohibits the practice of dietet-ics/nutrition in Louisiana without a license. Louisiana law also prohibits adietitian/nutritionist who provides services to Louisiana clients from us-ing the titles and terms “Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist” or “LDN”“Registered Dietitian”, “Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist”, “RD”, or “RDN”,if the individual is not licensed in Louisiana, regardless if the individual iscurrently registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)