Dietitian Licensure in Virginia: Title Protection, Not a License
Compiled and verified against primary state-board, CDR, and ACEND sources by DietitianLicense — cite-or-deny, with no invented figures. How we source & verify →
Virginia does not license or certify dietitians or nutritionists — there is no dedicated board, no application, and no renewal process. Instead, Va. Code §54.1-2731 (Chapter 27.1, Title 54.1) makes it a Class 3 misdemeanor for anyone to use the titles "dietitian" or "nutritionist" (alone or combined with "licensed," "certified," or "registered") unless they meet one of several qualifying pathways — most commonly a qualifying nutrition/dietetics degree plus CDR-approved supervised clinical experience, or active CDR registration, BCNS certification, or ACBN Diplomate status. The Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP), which administers 13 health regulatory boards, has no Board of Dietetics or Board of Nutrition among them; DHP sets qualifying criteria for the statute but does not issue, register, or renew anything for dietitians or nutritionists. Virginia is, along with California, one of the two states commonly cited as lacking traditional dietitian licensure.
No Dietitian License Required in Virginia
Virginia has no dietitian licensing board, application process, or renewal cycle. Narrow title-protection law applies to: Dietitian, Nutritionist.
Is “Nutritionist” a Protected Title in Virginia?
Virginia protects "dietitian" and "nutritionist" together under the same statute (Va. Code §54.1-2731) with the same set of qualifying pathways — there is no separate license or distinct qualification track for "nutritionist" apart from "dietitian." Both bare terms, and both combined with "licensed," "certified," or "registered," are restricted identically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Virginia require a dietitian license?
No. Virginia does not operate a dietitian licensing board, application, or renewal process.
Is the title "nutritionist" protected in Virginia?
Virginia protects "dietitian" and "nutritionist" together under the same statute (Va. Code §54.1-2731) with the same set of qualifying pathways — there is no separate license or distinct qualification track for "nutritionist" apart from "dietitian." Both bare terms, and both combined with "licensed," "certified," or "registered," are restricted identically.
Sources
Data last verified: 2026-07-22 | Source: Code of Virginia §54.1-2731 — Prohibited terms; penalty