Colorado
This state has no regulation specifically for dietetics and nutrition practice. In 2013, the Colorado Natural Health Consumer Protections Act was passed. While it is legal for all to use nutrition tools in practice, we highly encourage practicing only to the level of your training. Bills for new laws and to amend existing laws can be introduced at any time October-May; we encourage you to check back periodically and sign up to receive email updates.
CURRENT LAW
PROPOSED LAW
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Nutrition care in other Health Professions
According to the state licensure law the practice of acupuncture includes, "Traditional oriental adjunctive therapies within the scope of acupuncture," which includes the recommendation of herbs and dietary guidelines. It is important to note that this nutrition care can only be used as an adjunct to the primary acupuncture treatment plan. Additionally, the law states "dietary guidelines", which may be interpreted as the recommendation of existing national guidelines and not the use of therapeutic nutrition counseling. Seeking legal advice may help to determine whether laws governing nutrition care would be violated by the use of nutrition counseling or therapeutic nutrition ((beyond the perscription of existing dietary guidelines) in an acupuncture practice.
The law is vague and broad in the description of what modalities can be used by a chiropractor and the extent to which the modalities identified can be used in chiropractic care beyond the treatment of the nervous system. The law outlines that "Chiropractic includes the diagnosing and analyzing of human ailments and seeks the elimination of the abnormal functioning of the human nervous system… incorporating the use of sanitary, hygienic, nutritional, and physical remedial measures for the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health, the prevention of disease, and the treatment of human ailments." In the educational requirements for chiropractic training, nutrition as well as dietetics are identified as optional electives for state chiropractic licensure.
Currenlty health coaches are not licensed in any states in the United States. If there is an exclusive scope of practice nutrition licensing law (red or orange on the map) in a state, then it is illegal for health coaches to provide nutrition counseling unless they obtain a nutrition license, or fall under an explicit exemption, which is rare. Practicing health coaches MUST review the scope of the nutrition law in their state including all exceptions and exemptions to assess whether they are legally able to use nutrition tools in their practice. Seeking legal advice may help to determine whether laws governing nutrition care would be violated by the use of nutrition tools in a coaching practice.
Currenlty herbalists are not licensed in any states in the United States. If there is an exclusive scope of practice nutrition licensing law (red or orange on the map) in a state, then it is illegal for herbalists to provide nutrition counseling unless they obtain a nutrition license, or fall under an explicit exemption, which is rare. Practicing herbalists MUST review the scope of the nutrition law in their state including all exceptions and exemptions to assess whether they are legally able to use nutrition tools in their practice. Seeking legal advice may help to determine whether laws governing nutrition care would be violated by the use of nutrition tools in an herbalist practice.
There is currently no licensure law for naturopathic doctors in this state. If there is an exclusive scope of practice nutrition licensing law (red or orange on the map) in this state, then it is illegal for naturopathic doctors to provide nutrition counseling unless they obtain a nutrition license, or fall under an explicit exemption, which is rare. Practicing naturopathic doctors MUST review the scope of the nutrition law including all exceptions and exemptions to assess whether they are legally able to use nutrition tools in their practice. Seeking legal advice may help to determine whether laws governing nutrition care would be violated by the use of nutrition tools in a naturopathic practice.
Currenlty personal trainers are not licensed in any states in the United States. If there is an exclusive scope of practice nutrition licensing law (red or orange on the map) in a state, then it is illegal for personal trainers to provide nutrition counseling unless they obtain a nutrition license, or fall under an explicit exemption, which is rare. Practicing personal trainers MUST review the scope of the nutrition law in their state including all exceptions and exemptions to assess whether they are legally able to use nutrition tools in their practice. Seeking legal advice may help to determine whether laws governing nutrition care would be violated by the use of nutrition tools in a personal trainer practice.
Currenlty retailers are not licensed in any states in the United States. If there is an exclusive scope of practice nutrition licensing law (red or orange on the map) in a state, then it is illegal for retailers to provide nutrition counseling unless they obtain a nutrition license, or fall under an explicit exemption, which is rare. Retailers MUST review the scope of the nutrition law in their state including all exceptions and exemptions to assess whether they are legally able to use nutrition tools in their work. Seeking legal advice may help to determine whether laws governing nutrition care would be violated by the use of nutrition tools at a retail location.
Currenlty weight loss specialists are not licensed in any states in the United States. If there is an exclusive scope of practice nutrition licensing law (red or orange on the map) in a state, then it is illegal for weight loss specialists to provide nutrition counseling unless they obtain a nutrition license, or fall under an explicit exemption, which is rare. Practicing weight loss specialists MUST review the scope of the nutrition law in their state including all exceptions and exemptions to assess whether they are legally able to use nutrition tools in their practice. Seeking legal advice may help to determine whether laws governing nutrition care would be violated by the use of nutrition tools in a specialists practice.