How does licensure differ from certification?
A license protects your scope of practice. You have heard the phrase ” You can’t practice medicine (or law) without a license”. That is to say you cannot do what a lawyer or physician, or nurse, for that matter, does – without a current license. In NYS, licenses are issued by the Office of Professions, Division Of Professional Licensing Services, part of the NYS Education Dept. By licensing Dietitian-Nutritionists in NYS we would protect the title and scope of practice. No one could do what we do unless they are licensed as a Dietitian-Nutritionist. For example; a chiropractor or podiatrist.
