What are the dietitian licensure, title and telehealth rules in Georgia, and how should dietitians market there?
Georgia requires a license to provide medical nutrition therapy, and since May 11, 2026 it issues two: licensed dietitian and licensed nutritionist. HB 185 rewrote the Dietetics Practice Act, protected "dietitian" and "nutritionist" titles, allowed limited out-of-state telehealth for existing clients and enacted the Dietitian Licensure Compact. Marketing should update titles, match services to license type and route telehealth by client location.
- New law: HB 185 (Act 436), effective May 11, 2026, reenacted O.C.G.A. Chapter 43-11A as the Dietetics and Nutrition Practices Act.
- Two licenses: licensed dietitians handle complex and noncomplex MNT; licensed nutritionists handle noncomplex MNT in low-acuity outpatient settings.
- Titles: "dietitian", "LD", "LDN", "licensed nutritionist", "LN" and, unless exempt, "nutritionist" are protected; misuse is a misdemeanor.
- Telehealth and compact: out-of-state licensees may serve existing clients in limited cases; Georgia enacted the compact, with privileges expected in 2027.
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What changed in Georgia dietitian law in 2026?
Georgia rewrote its dietetics law in 2026. House Bill 185 (Act 436, effective May 11, 2026) repealed and reenacted O.C.G.A. Chapter 43-11A as the "Dietetics and Nutrition Practices Act". It created two licenses, licensed dietitian and licensed nutritionist, renamed the board, and entered Georgia into the Dietitian Licensure Compact.
The effective date and Act number come from the General Assembly's 2026 summary of general statutes enacted. The final bill text is posted with the Governor's 2026 signed legislation. The key changes for practice owners:
- Two license types. A licensed dietitian may provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for complex and noncomplex medical conditions. A licensed nutritionist may provide MNT for noncomplex conditions in low-acuity outpatient settings.
- MNT is licensed. Only licensees, or people the chapter otherwise authorizes, may practice dietetics or nutrition to the extent the services are medical nutrition therapy (O.C.G.A. § 43-11A-16(a)).
- A renamed board. The Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians and Licensed Nutritionists now oversees both licenses, administered through the Secretary of State.
- Telehealth in the definitions. Both practice definitions cover services delivered in person or via telehealth.
- The compact. Article 2 of the chapter (O.C.G.A. §§ 43-11A-30 and 43-11A-31) enacts the Dietitian Licensure Compact.
| Topic | Licensed dietitian | Licensed nutritionist |
|---|---|---|
| Medical nutrition therapy | Complex and noncomplex conditions, all settings | Noncomplex conditions, low-acuity outpatient settings |
| Degree (new applicants) | Master's or doctoral degree plus an accredited program | Master's or doctoral degree in a nutrition or clinical health field, with required coursework |
| Supervised practice | At least 1,000 hours, accredited | At least 1,000 hours across assessment, intervention and monitoring |
| Exam | CDR registered dietitian exam | Certified nutrition specialist exam or a board-approved equivalent |
| Protected titles | "Dietitian", "licensed dietitian", "dietitian nutritionist", "dietician", "LD", "LDN" | "Licensed nutritionist", "LN" and, unless exempt, "nutritionist" |
Licensed dietitians who applied before July 1, 2026 remain licensed while in good standing (§ 43-11A-10(c)). This summary reflects the law as of October 2026; confirm details with Georgia counsel.
Which titles are protected in Georgia now?
Georgia now protects titles for both professions, and misuse is a misdemeanor. Only a licensed dietitian may use "dietitian", "licensed dietitian", "dietitian nutritionist", "dietician", "LD" or "LDN". Only a licensed nutritionist may use "licensed nutritionist" or "LN". No one may hold out as a "nutritionist" unless licensed or exempt under the chapter.
Two more provisions shape how you present people:
- Earned credentials are allowed. Under § 43-11A-16(d), using an earned, federally trademarked nutrition credential is not prohibited. An RDN or CNS may display that credential.
- Licenses must be displayed. Under § 43-11A-14(b), licensees must display the license certificate "in an appropriate and public manner".
The law also defines "advertising" broadly. It covers signs, directories and print, plus radio, television, computer networks and electronic or telephonic media. Websites, social profiles and ads all count. The board may discipline licensees who knowingly make misleading, deceptive, untrue or fraudulent representations, with fines of up to $500 per violation among the options in § 43-11A-15.
What to change on your materials
- Audit every use of "nutritionist" on your site and profiles. Under the new law it is a restricted title unless the person is licensed or exempt.
- Use the new designations correctly: "LD" or "LDN" for licensed dietitians, "LN" for licensed nutritionists.
- For trainees, use a title that clearly shows supervisee status, as § 43-11A-18 requires.
Interns, trainees and virtual supervision
Many group practices grow by training new clinicians. Georgia's new law spells out how that works. A supervisee must use a title that shows supervisee status and may not engage in the unrestricted practice of MNT. Under § 43-11A-19, the qualified supervisor must be physically on site or immediately and continuously available by two-way, real-time audiovisual technology. For marketing, that means intern-led visits should be labeled as supervised, intern bios should not carry "LD" or "LN", and any promise of virtual sessions with trainees should reflect the supervision your practice actually provides.
What can Georgia practitioners do without a license?
Georgia's new exemptions in § 43-11A-18 are broader for wellness work than the old law. Individualized nutrition recommendations for general health and wellness, prevention of chronic disease, health coaching, behavior change and nonmedical weight control are allowed without a license, as long as the services are not medical nutrition therapy and protected titles are not used.
Exemptions that matter for practices and brands:
- Wellness and coaching (§ 43-11A-18(9)): individualized wellness and prevention advice, health coaching and nonmedical weight control, when not MNT.
- Supplement and food marketing (§ 43-11A-18(7)): nonindividualized, written, general nutrition information distributed with the marketing of supplements, foods or herbs, including explanations of federally regulated label claims, as long as it is not MNT.
- Retail staff (§ 43-11A-18(10)): health food store staff giving verbal general nonmedical nutrition information.
- Medical weight control for obesity (§ 43-11A-18(6)): programs approved in writing by a licensee or overseen by a Georgia-licensed provider, where the services are not discretionary.
- Other licensed professionals (§ 43-11A-18(3)): physicians, nurses, pharmacists and others, when MNT is incidental to their own practice.
Why this matters for marketing
The legal line in Georgia is MNT: treating or managing a disease or medical condition. A coaching program can talk about energy, habits and healthy weight. It should not advertise managing diabetes, PCOS or kidney disease unless a licensee delivers that care. Supplement brands should keep Georgia content general and label-based, and route individualized advice to licensed staff.
Can out-of-state dietitians see Georgia clients by telehealth?
Only in limited cases without a Georgia license. Section 43-11A-18(11) lets an out-of-state dietitian or nutritionist, licensed or certified in good standing elsewhere with MNT in their scope, provide MNT by telehealth to a client in Georgia in three situations. Ongoing new-client work still needs a Georgia license.
- Temporary presence. An existing client who is temporarily in Georgia, meaning no more than 90 days in any 12-month period.
- Continuity of care. Temporary or short-term follow-up MNT for an existing client located in Georgia.
- Consultation. Working in consultation with a Georgia-licensed healthcare practitioner who has a relationship with the client.
This is more flexible than many states, and it gives national telehealth practices a clear path for clients who travel or relocate. It is not a route to market new-client services to Georgia residents without a Georgia license.
Georgia and the Dietitian Licensure Compact
HB 185 enacts the Dietitian Licensure Compact into Georgia law, so Georgia joins the states that have adopted it. The compact reached its seven-state activation threshold and formed its commission, and CDR says the first compact privileges are expected in 2027. Until privileges are issued, the compact does not authorize anyone to practice in Georgia. The compact is written for dietitians; as we read it, the new licensed nutritionist credential is a Georgia-only license that the compact does not cover.
How should dietitians and nutritionists market in Georgia?
Update titles first, then align services with license type. Georgia's 2026 law changed which words people may use and split MNT between two licenses. A practice that employs both licensed dietitians and licensed nutritionists should make clear, on every service page, who delivers which care.
1. Credentials and service pages
- Show each clinician's Georgia license ("LD", "LDN" or "LN") and national credential on bios, booking pages and profiles.
- Route complex-condition services, such as kidney disease requiring dialysis, post-bariatric surgery care or enteral and parenteral nutrition, to licensed dietitians only. The statute names these among complex medical conditions.
- Present licensed nutritionists on noncomplex outpatient services, that is, stable conditions that do not need intensive monitoring or advanced interventions.
2. Telehealth service area
- Ask for the client's location at booking. Use Georgia's 90-day temporary rule only for existing clients, and document it.
- List each clinician's licensed states. "Georgia and Florida" is clearer and safer than "nationwide".
3. Local search
Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta and Columbus are separate search markets. Each real office needs its own Google Business Profile and location page. Telehealth-only practices should read our guide to Google Business Profile for virtual dietitian practices.
4. Insurance and claims
Medicare Part B covers medical nutrition therapy by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional for diabetes and kidney disease with a physician referral; commercial coverage varies by plan. Publish a benefits-check process, never coverage promises, and avoid guaranteed outcomes. Our guide to dietitian advertising rules covers FTC claim standards.
What should Georgia practices watch next?
Board rules and the first licensed nutritionist approvals. The statute is in force, but the board still has to set many operating details, such as application forms, fees and continuing education under the new license types. Check the board page on the Secretary of State site before you plan hiring or marketing around the new license.
- Nutritionist licensing rollout. When the board begins issuing LN licenses, practices with CNS-credentialed staff can market MNT for noncomplex conditions under their own license.
- Compact privileges. Expected from 2027, according to CDR. Georgia-licensed dietitians may then reach clients in other member states.
- Title clean-up. Profiles, directory listings and old blog bylines that say "nutritionist" for non-licensed staff should be fixed now, not when someone complains.
Compare Georgia with other states in our dietitian licensure by state overview.
How Ichelon Consulting US helps
We audit titles and credentials across your website, ads and profiles, map services to license types, and build telehealth booking that routes by client location. We sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with every US client. Retainers start from $499/month, custom-scoped. See our dietitian marketing agency page or book a call with the US team.
Related pages from the US team
Dietitian Marketing Agency USA
How Ichelon Consulting US markets dietitian practices across the country.
Dietitian licensure by state
How licensure, titles and telehealth rules differ across US states.
Florida dietitian licensure and marketing
The rules in Georgia's southern neighbor.
Dietitian advertising rules
Federal rules on health claims, testimonials and reviews.
Every practice welcome — Goals-Driven engagements from $499/mo
We benchmark your last 90 days, agree monthly goals with you, and track them live on Ichelon Agency OS with a report every Monday. Performance-Linked Payout Models are available. Our US leadership is based in Dallas, and strategy calls run in US business hours.
Common questions
Do you need a license to be a dietitian in Georgia?
Yes. Under Georgia's Dietetics and Nutrition Practices Act (O.C.G.A. Chapter 43-11A, as rewritten by HB 185 in 2026), only a licensed dietitian or licensed nutritionist may provide medical nutrition therapy, and only a licensed dietitian may use titles such as "dietitian", "LD" or "LDN". Misusing a protected title is a misdemeanor.
What is a licensed nutritionist in Georgia?
A licensed nutritionist is a new Georgia license created by HB 185, effective May 11, 2026. Licensees need a master's or doctoral degree in a nutrition or clinical health field, required coursework, at least 1,000 supervised hours and a certified nutrition specialist exam or approved equivalent. They may provide medical nutrition therapy for noncomplex conditions in low-acuity outpatient settings.
Can I call myself a nutritionist in Georgia without a license?
Generally no. Since HB 185 took effect in May 2026, Georgia law says no one may hold out as a nutritionist unless licensed under the chapter or exempt. The titles "licensed nutritionist" and "LN" are reserved for licensees. Earned, federally trademarked nutrition credentials may still be displayed. Check exemptions with Georgia counsel.
Can an out-of-state dietitian see Georgia clients by telehealth?
Only in limited cases without a Georgia license. Georgia's statute allows telehealth medical nutrition therapy by out-of-state licensees for existing clients temporarily in Georgia (up to 90 days in 12 months), for short-term follow-up care, or in consultation with a Georgia-licensed practitioner. New Georgia clients generally require a Georgia license.
Is Georgia in the Dietitian Licensure Compact?
Yes. HB 185 (2026) enacted the Dietitian Licensure Compact into Georgia law at O.C.G.A. §§ 43-11A-30 and 43-11A-31. As of October 2026 the compact commission is formed, but CDR says the first compact privileges are expected in 2027. Until then, practicing with Georgia clients requires a Georgia license or an exemption.
A note on this guide: it explains marketing practice, not legal advice. Rules on privacy, advertising and insurance change and vary by state, so confirm anything compliance-related with your own counsel.
Marketing a Georgia dietitian or nutrition practice?
A 30-minute call with the US team. We'll check your titles, service pages and telehealth booking against Georgia's 2026 law and tell you what to fix first.