As a certified nutritional therapist, I am a little nervous about a recent bill that is being contemplated. The CA AB-575 bill would force nutritionists to become licensed as dietitians in order to practice, regardless if they already have a Masters degree or PHd. The problem that I see with this bill is that dietitians and nutritionist don't always share the same paradigm. I have researched degrees as a dietitian, but (sorry if I offend anyone) believe that they are a little out dated. Although, I am also not saying that I believe that every nutrition program out there is qualified to work in a practice. I, personally am still debating on going into a dietitian program, not exactly for the information, but more for the license aspect of it. After I finished my certification program, there would have been no way that I would have felt qualified to have my own practice. It has been due to the last 3 years of traveling to functional medicine seminars that I have built the confidence to know that I could help people.
We have medical doctors out there giving nutritional advice, people who never really even had to learn about nutrition. They tell people to eat more soy, fat-free foods, and margarine. Yet we want to ban nutritionist, people who went to school to learn nutrition, from giving nutritional advice.
If this bill passes then dietitians will have a monopoly on nutrition services. People with a PHd in nutrition will no longer have a say in nutritional advice. We will see a lot more focus on that darn food pyramid instead of individual needs.
Please, if you don't want this bill to pass, like me, contact the state legislators and express your strong opposition to this bill.
Click here to send a pre-written email that will be sent to the members of the Assembly Committee on Business, Professions and Consumer Protections, where the bill is being considered.
Pura Vida!
Alica Ryan, NTP
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