Lawyer Monthly - January 2022 Edition

examination administered by the Commission on Registration, and met the licensure requirements of his or her state. A Registered Licensed Dietitian has a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree and will be required to have a Master’s Degree in 2024. What distinguishes licensed dietitians from the unlicensed? Licensed dietitians must meet individual state licensure requirements. Facilities that receive state and federal funds require a dietitian to be licensed in that state to assure compliance with all regulatory guidelines. Licensure is renewed on a regular basis and dietitians must meet State licensure requirements to have their license renewed. This license is in addition to the RDN registration. Are there any common misconceptions about your practice that you would like to dispel? A recognised expert in this field is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). However, anyone can call themselves a nutritionist regardless of whether or not they are accredited. RDNs should provide science-based expertise and evidence. CMS and Joint Commission require an RDN in either a full-time or consultant role for accreditation of healthcare facilities. Nutritionists without the proper education, licensure, and certification cannot provide services. Bonnie Lynn Berube Registered Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist Berube Consulting PLLC 1425 Blalock Road, Suite 107, Houston, TX 77055 Tel: +1 713-999-1220 or cell +1 713-927-3476 Fax: +1 713-999-1221 E: bberube@berubeconsultingpllc.com www.berubeconsultingpllc.com About Bonnie Lynn Berube (MS RDN LD) Bonnie Lynn Berube (MS RDN LD) is the founder of Berube Consulting PLLC and has been supplying consultation services locally and nationally for over 26 years. Prior to forming the company, Bonnie was Administrative Director of Dietetics and Food Service for the Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, which is a teaching hospital for the University of Texas Medical School. Bonnie was employed by three major food service distributors to develop and manage healthcare divisions. Bonnie has had faculty appointments at the University of Houston, Houston Community College, and the University of Texas School of Allied Sciences. Bonnie is also a past president of the Texas Dietetic Association and a former site reviewer for the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. (ADEND). Bonnie is a member of several advisory committees for dietetic internships and accredited culinary programs. Berube Consulting PLLC Berube Consulting PLLC is a food service and nutrition professional firm that provides services to the healthcare and food service sectors among others. The firm offers nutrition analysis and labels for recipe items as well as menu development. The firm also provides the required experience and competencies for interns to successfully complete dietitian programs and become eligible to take national exams.