By: Lori Poe, MS,
RD, LDN Licensure Chair PADA
*Act 99 is a title act protecting our title licensed
dietitian-nutritionist and is our legal protection. Act
99 does not
restrict practice therefore it is not mandatory.
*Act 99 is not Mandatory, but without licensure you can not call
yourself
an LDN.
*Hospitals and other facilities can make their own policies/procedures
requiring the licensure of their dietitians and nutrition professionals.
*Hospitals and other facilities can make it a policy to only hire
LDNs.
*If you want to be a Medicare provider you must be licensed in
the State
of PA.
*Hospitals need to be careful drafting new polices or job descriptions
requiring LDNs. If you have a new graduate or individual
who is not
licensed yet apply for a job, it will take a minimum of 8-10 weeks
for
them to become licensed. Don't write yourself into a corner
by saying
all individuals must be licensed. You may want to consider
allowing new
employees a 3 month probation period to allow time for an individual
to
become licensed.
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