New Jersey enacted a licensure requirement for nutritionists in 2019. Now, there are two categories of nutritionists in the state: licensed and non-licensed. New Jersey has set forth regulations for both categories of nutritionists, stating what you must do to become a licensed nutritionist, what you must do (or must not do) if you work as an unlicensed nutritionist, and clarifying the situation a bit for aspiring nutritionists and other interested professionals. If you would like to discover what education and training you need to work as a nutritionist in New Jersey, either as a licensed or unlicensed one, please read on.
In January 2020, the Governor of New Jersey sighed a bill into law that will create a licensure path for Certified Nutrition Specialists (CNS) and other nutritionists who have advanced degrees to become licensed nutritionists in the state.
Featured Programs: Sponsored School(s)As of September 2022, the State Board of Dietitians and Nutrition is not yet issuing licenses. The pathway for licensure of nutritionists has been defined, but the licensure requirement has not become part of the law yet. When it does, if you want to be a licensed New Jersey nutritionist, you must meet these criteria:
As a side note, meeting the registered dietitian mandates of the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the American Dietetic Association will fulfill New Jersey’s licensure requirement to be a licensed, registered dietician. You may read more about this process here (Becoming a Registered Dietician in New Jersey).
Even though the licensure requirement is not written into New Jersey law yet, it would be in your best interest, if you intend to become a licensed nutritionist in the state, to pursue a graduate degree in one of the above-mentioned areas, and study for one of the above-mentioned certification examinations. That way, you’ll be prepared when the licensure requirement does go into effect.
When the Governor of New Jersey signed the bill in January 2020 creating a licensure path for nutritionists, it also created exemptions that allow other nutrition practitioners to work as unlicensed nutritionists. Under the law, unlicensed nutritionists may:
Additionally, a person who is a nutritionist employed by the federal government, Armed Forces, or state institution or facility does not need a license to perform their official nutritional duties. A New Jersey unlicensed nutritionist may not hold themselves out as a licensed nutritionist or as a provider of medical nutrition therapy.
As of September 2022, of course, all New Jersey nutritionists are unlicensed, since the licensure procedures have not been set in stone yet. If you do intend to work as a non-licensed New Jersey nutritionist, you should still pursue some type of education in nutrition. Some educational options in the state are:
You might wonder, since the licensure requirement has not yet been fully enacted, what types of jobs are being posted for New Jersey nutritionists? The following jobs were advertised as available circa September 2022:
