What’s a Registered Dietitian?
A Registered Dietitian and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD or RDN) is a credentialed food and nutrition professional who has completed the academic requirements for a bachelors degree at an accredited college or university, completed an approved internship program, and has passed a certification exam administered by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Many states have regulatory laws for dietitians and nutrition practitioners. New Mexico requires one of the following licenses to practice as a Nutritionist or Dietitian:
Licensed Dietitian (LD) - Registered Dietitians must be licensed by the state of New Mexico to practice nutrition counseling. Dietitians may additionally hold a master’s or higher degree, or other credentials in their specialty area of expertise.
Licensed Nutritionist (LN) - A nutrition practitioner who has completed a master's or doctorate degree in nutrition at an accredited college or university and has passed a qualifying certification exam. The exam given to an LN is the same exam given to an RD. The LN is not required to complete an approved internship program.
In the State of New Mexico - only licensed individuals may call themselves Nutritionists or Dietitians and provide medical nutritional counseling.
For more information on licensing visit the New Mexico Nutrition and Dietetic Practice Board website.
Every Registered Dietitian Is a Nutritionist, but Not Every Nutritionist Is a Registered Dietitian!
Action Alert: Our licensure bill is up for renewal in 2023!
Learn about changes to the licensure bill and how you can protect our scope of practice in New Mexico:
What’s a NDTR?
Nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered (NDTRs) are educated and trained at the technical level of nutrition and dietetics practice for the delivery of safe, culturally competent, quality food and nutrition services. NDTRs are an integral part of healthcare and food service management teams.
NDTRs work under the supervision of a registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) when in direct patient/client nutrition care in practice areas as:
Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, retirement centers, hospices, home health-care programs and research facilities conducting patient/client screens, gathering data and performing assigned tasks to assist RDNs in providing medical nutrition therapy.
NDTRs are nationally credentialed food and nutrition technical practitioners who have met the criteria to earn and maintain the NDTR credential.
