Compact
The purpose of the Dietitian Licensure Compact is to facilitate interstate practice of dietetics with the goal of improving public access to dietetics services. The compact preserves the regulatory authority of states to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensure, while also providing for licensure portability through a compact privilege granted to qualifying professionals.
Learn more about the Dietitian Licensure Compact, including what it means for the future of the profession.
In the 2025 legislative session, Missouri's House Bill 397 (HB 397), sponsored by Representative Tara Peters, and Senate Bill 412 (SB 412), sponsored by Senator Curtis Trent, were introduced to enact a compact licensure agreement for dietitians. This initiative, led by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, would allow dietitians to practice in other compact-participating states without having to obtain a separate license in each one. Ultimately, the bill was passed on the House side, but despite passing out of the Senate committee, it didn't receive a vote in the Senate due to a filibuster.
Although the bill wasn't passed in the 2025 session, the effort will continue in the 2026 legislative session, with a focus on also including temporary licensure for recent graduates. Fourteen states have already enacted the compact, meaning it is now "live". The team is confident they can build on the momentum from the previous year to get the bill passed in Missouri, which would grant dietitians the privilege to practice in any state where the compact is enacted.
Our sincere thanks to those who submitted written testimonials for and those who attended the hearing for HB 397 in the House Professional Registration and License Committee in Jefferson City, MO, on February 5, 2025. A total of 60 written testimonials were submitted to the HB 397 on-line testimony section by our members in 22 hours.
On February 5th, Jordan Mize, Public Policy Coordinator/COMPACT project leader of Springfield MO, Lori Adams of St. Louis, MO and Jennifer Bean, State Policy Representative of Columbia attended the hearing scheduled for 8 am in Hearing Room 7 in the Capitol Building, Jefferson City. Many thanks to Brenda Roling, MOAND Lobbyist, who kept watch of the progress, which allowed us to act promptly.
Click the link below to view the recorded webinar "What you should know: Dietitian Licensure Compact & Temporary Licensure."
View recording
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Stayed tuned into our social media, newsletter, and website for updates as the bill is introduced.