Policy Advisory  Board Policies and Guidelines (Dietitians and Nutritionists)

Date:	12/12/2017
Referenced Sources:	Division of Occupational Licensure

Procedure for Renewal of Lapsed/Expired Licenses

The Board of Registration of Dieticians and Nutritionists ("the Board") voted at its meetings on November 30, 2007 and June 9, 2015 to adopt the following Policy Guideline. This policy guideline is intended as a recommended protocol for the profession and the Board to follow. The guideline set forth below does not have the full force and effect of law, as would a Massachusetts General Law or a Board rule or regulation. However, the Board uses policy guidelines as an internal management tool in formulating decisions that relate to issues in the practice of human dietetics and nutrition.

Policy No. 15-001

Purpose:
The purpose of this policy statement is to offer guidance to Licensees regarding the procedures for the renewal of lapsed/expired licenses as set forth in 268 Code Mass. Regs. § 3.02(2)(c) and to clarify the effect of G. L. c. 112, §65F.

Policy:
If a person seeks to reinstate their license within 2 years (one renewal cycle) of their expiration date, the applicant may, upon discretion of the Board, renew his/her license by completing a renewal application including attesting to completion of all appropriate continuing education activities, paying the current renewal fee, and paying a late fee.

If a person seeks to reinstate their license beyond  2 years but within 6 years of their expiration date (two to three renewal cycles), the applicant may, upon discretion of the Board, renew their license by completing all of the following procedures:

1. submit a completed license renewal application, together with documentation of completion of all appropriate continuing education activities,  thirty (30) CEU hours per renewal cycle (including the renewal cycle completed at the time of the license lapse) pursuant to G. L. C. 112, § 207 in the science of human nutrition  (see Policy Bulletin #06-01); and
2. pay two current renewal fees and any late fee as may be established by the Secretary of Administration and Finance pursuant to G. L. c. 7, § 3B to the Board.

If a person seeks to reinstate their license beyond six years of their expiration date, the applicant may, upon the discretion of the Board, renew of their license by completing all of the following procedures:

1. submit a completed license renewal application together with documentation of either:
   1. maintenance of licensure in another state during the entire expiration period and documentation of completion of all appropriate continuing education activities,  thirty (30) CEU hours per renewal cycle (including the renewal cycle completed at the time of the license lapse) pursuant to G. L. c. 112, § 207 in the science of human nutrition  (see Policy Bulletin #06-01);
   2. maintenance of the registered dietician or registered dietitian nutritionist credential during the entire expiration period and documentation of completion of all appropriate continuing education activities,  thirty (30) CEU hours per renewal cycle (including the renewal cycle completed at the time of the license lapse) pursuant to G. L. c. 112, § 207 in the science of human nutrition  (see Policy Bulletin #06-01);or
   3. successful completion of a written or electronic competency examination approved by the Board and designed to test the competency and knowledge needed to practice; and
2. pay two current renewal fees and any late fee as may be established by the Secretary of Administration and Finance pursuant to G. L. c. 7, § 3B to the Board.

Authority: G. L. c. 112, §§ 207, 65F

Clarification of Continuing Education Requirements regarding attendance at Posters Sessions/Exhibits

Policy No. 08-001

November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this bulletin is to clarify acceptance standards for granting continuing education credit for attendance at Poster Sessions/Exhibits in order to satisfy the continuing education requirement in CMR 268 4.00, et seq.

Policy

A maximum of one unit of continuing education will be awarded for attendance at a minimum of five Poster Sessions and/or Exhibits for no less than a period of 50 minutes of time.

In order to be accepted in satisfaction of the continuing education requirement, each Poster Session/Exhibit must "contribute to the licensee's professional competence in nutritional practice" and must address the science of human nutrition.

In order for a Poster Session/Exhibit to be accepted for continuing education, the licensee must be able to provide documentation to meet the requirements of CMR 268 4.00, et seq. and Policy #06-01 to the Board's satisfaction. Documentation must include at minimum:

1. The title of each poster/exhibit visited
2. The number of minutes spent at each poster/exhibit
3. The institution or sponsoring agent of the poster session/exhibit
4. The author(s) of the poster/exhibit
5. The date(s) and location(s) of the activity
6. The Poster Session's/Exhibit's relevance to human nutrition and how the learning activity contributes to the licensee's professional competence.

It is the licensee's responsibility to maintain documentation that each program meets the Board's continuing education requirements.

Discussion

The Board grants continuing education credits for a variety of educational programs sponsored by organizations. Each program must be, at minimum, an organized learning experience, at least fifty (50) minutes in length, address the science of human nutrition, and contribute to the licensee's professional competence in nutritional practice

Clarification of Continuing Education Requirements

Policy Bulletin #06-01

April 2006

Purpose:
The purpose of this policy bulletin is to offer guidance regarding what educational programs the Board of Dietitian and Nutritionists ("Board") will accept to satisfy the continuing education requirement in 268 CMR 4.00 et seq.

Policy:
In order to be accepted in satisfaction of the continuing education requirement, the program must "contribute to the growth of an applicant in professional competence in nutritional practice." See 268 CMR 4.03 (1).

Discussion:
The Board grants continuing education credits for a variety of educational programs sponsored by organizations. The program must be, at minimum, an organized learning experience, at least fifty (50) minutes in length, and contribute to the licensee's professional competence in nutritional practice. Professional competence in nutritional practice means that the program must address the science of human nutrition. The program must enhance the licensee's knowledge of human nutrition. Programs that address marketing, management or other business or technical skills will not be accepted. It is the licensee's responsibility to maintain documentation that demonstrates that the program meets the Board's continuing education requirements.

Board of Registration of Dietitians and Nutritionists: Policy on Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI)

To assist applicants in understanding when a crime may lead to a license denial, the Board has created this policy, which explains when a conviction rises to the level where it could lead to a license denial. Pursuant to Chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018 (An Act Relative to Criminal Justice Reform), the Board is required to provide "a list of the specific criminal convictions that are directly related to the duties and responsibilities for the licensed occupation that would disqualify an applicant from eligibility for a license."

The Board has determined that no single conviction, on its own, would result in rendering an applicant disqualified from being eligible for a license. However, other factors, such as a conviction being very recent, the applicant having a history of other criminal convictions, or the conviction involving aggravating factors (such as a crime being caused by substance abuse issues, the crime being part of a pattern of violence, the matter leading to a level 3 Sex Offender designation, etc.) might justify denying a license to an otherwise eligible candidate. As a result, any conviction could lead to a license denial.

Approved 12/7/2018