What are the dietitian licensure, title and telehealth rules in Florida, and how should dietitians market there?

Yes. Section 468.504 says no one may engage for remuneration in dietetics and nutrition practice or nutrition counseling, or hold themselves out as a practitioner, without a license under Part X of Chapter 468. The definitions section names the Board of Medicine as the licensing board, supported by the Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Council.

New Florida licenses go to dietitian/nutritionists who qualify under § 468.509. A small legacy group of nutrition counselors, first licensed between 1988 and 1997, may keep renewing under § 468.51, so you will rarely see that title on new hires. The statute defines dietetics and nutrition practice broadly: assessing nutrition needs, recommending dietary regimens, ordering therapeutic diets, counseling and education, and managing nutrition care systems.

That breadth is what makes Florida different from title-only states such as Texas or California. In Florida, the license covers the paid work itself, not only the name on the door. For marketing, that means every paid nutrition service you advertise, whether in person, by video or through an app, needs a licensed clinician behind it, unless an exemption clearly applies. Map each service to the person who delivers it before you write the page.

Penalties

Under § 468.517, it is a first-degree misdemeanor to knowingly practice for pay without a license, use dietitian or nutritionist titles without one, use a suspended or inactive license, or employ unlicensed people to do licensed work. That last item matters for group practices and wellness brands that hire nutrition staff.

When the patient is under a physician's active care for the condition. Section 468.516 says a licensee may not carry out a dietary plan for such a patient without the referring physician's oral or written dietary order. If authorization cannot be obtained after a good-faith effort, the licensee may use professional judgment until it is.

• Referral duty: if a licensee recognizes a condition within a physician's scope, they must refer, unless the patient is already being treated by a physician.
• Chiropractic care: the same rules apply to patients under a chiropractic physician's active care.
• Independent orders: nothing in the section stops a licensee from ordering a therapeutic diet where other state law allows it.

Marketing should mirror these rules. Intake forms should ask whether the client is under a physician's care for the condition, and condition pages should explain that the practice coordinates with the client's doctor. That reassures referring physicians, who are a major source of new clients. For Medicare patients, MNT for diabetes, kidney disease and recent kidney transplant also requires a physician referral, according to Medicare.gov. Our guide on physician referral marketing covers outreach.

Show the Florida license, keep unlicensed staff away from licensed titles, publish a clear telehealth state list and build physician-coordination messaging into every condition page. Florida's large retiree, diabetes and weight-management markets reward practices that explain coverage and referrals plainly.

Credentials and staff

• Show each clinician's Florida license and RD or RDN where it applies. Section 468.512 also requires the license to be conspicuously displayed at the office or place of work.
• Do not call health coaches "nutritionists" in Florida. That title is protected.
• Check vendor and influencer content too. A brand ambassador who calls themselves a nutritionist while giving paid advice can create a problem for the brand that hired them.

Google Business Profile and local search

Each Florida office needs its own profile and location page. Seasonal residents search from out of state before they arrive, so location pages should mention the areas you serve and whether telehealth is available for clients located in Florida. Read our guide to Google Business Profile for virtual practices if you are telehealth-only.

Common Florida mistakes

1. Copy reused from a title-only state that tells readers "anyone can call themselves a nutritionist". In Florida that is wrong.
2. Telehealth pages that accept Florida clients without a Florida license or registration behind the clinician.
3. A missing registrant hyperlink on the website of an out-of-state clinician registered under § 456.47.
4. Weight-program landing pages that name a medical team but no dietitian review.
5. Coverage promises such as "fully covered by Medicare" without the referral and diagnosis conditions.

Watch for law changes

In 2026, SB 1154 and its House companion HB 823 proposed a rewrite of the practice act. Both died in committee on March 13, 2026. Similar bills may return, so review titles and scope language each year.

More on the full approach is on our dietitian marketing agency page, and the dietitian licensure by state overview compares Florida with other states.