A new New York law will require anyone using the title 'nutritionist' to hold a state license—and it affects more businesses than you might think.
Most health service owners in New York don't realize that a provision buried in S00607 is about to reshape how they can market and staff nutrition-related services. The bill, which provides for the licensure of dietitians and nutritionists, contains a requirement that will force real decisions for wellness studios, health coaching firms, supplement retailers, corporate wellness vendors, and similar businesses.
Starting eighteen months after the bill is enacted, New York will require that anyone using the title "nutritionist" or offering "nutritionist" services must hold either a Licensed Nutritionist (LN) or Licensed Dietitian (LD) credential issued by the state. This applies whether the person is an employee or a contractor.
The rule is defined in Section 3 of S00607, which amends Education Law § 8002, subdivision 3 (page 3 of the bill). The eighteen-month window—outlined in § 15, page 11—gives businesses time to prepare, but not indefinitely.
If your business currently employs or contracts with someone who uses the word "nutritionist" in their title or job description, you are affected. This includes:
The law does not require existing dietitians to relicense—it sets a floor for anyone using the "nutritionist" title going forward.
You have three basic options:
Option 1: Hire or contract licensed professionals. Ensure anyone you employ or contract with who uses the "nutritionist" title holds a state-issued Licensed Nutritionist or Licensed Dietitian credential.
Option 2: Change titles and service descriptions. Restructure how you describe roles and services to fall within statutory exemptions. The law allows certain titles and service descriptions to operate without the license requirement—but you'll need to understand which ones apply to your business model.
Option 3: Discontinue nutrition services. Some businesses may decide nutrition services are not core to their model and choose to exit that line of work.
The state can begin promulgating regulations immediately upon enactment. The eighteen-month compliance window begins after enactment—meaning you'll have roughly a year and a half from the bill's passage to restructure your workforce, update contracts, or adjust your service offerings.
Regulations will clarify the exact scope of the license requirement and which roles or service descriptions qualify for exemptions. Those details matter enormously for your compliance strategy.
Next steps: Review your current staff and contractors, identify anyone using the "nutritionist" title, and determine which compliance path makes sense for your business. A free, business-specific resource on S00607 compliance is available through your industry association.
Source: New York State Bill S00607, §§ 3 and 15; Education Law § 8002, subd. 3.