The Dietitian Licensure Compact: What It Means for Video Visits From Georgia
October 16, 2026 · By the Nutrition Solutions for Me team
If you have ever tried to see a dietitian by video from another state, you may have run into a frustrating rule: in many states, a dietitian needs a license in the state where the patient is sitting, not just where the dietitian works. A new agreement between states, the Dietitian Licensure Compact, is set to change that, and Georgia is now part of it.
Here is what the compact is, which states have joined, and what it could mean for you.
What is the Dietitian Licensure Compact?
The compact is a legal agreement among states. Once it is up and running, a registered dietitian who holds a license in their home state (for us, Georgia) can apply for a compact privilege to see patients in other member states. That privilege counts like a license in that state, so the dietitian doesn’t need to apply for a full license in every state.
Nurses, physical therapists and counselors already have similar compacts. Dietitians now have their own.
Georgia joined in 2026
Georgia’s House Bill 185 updated the state’s Dietetics Practice Act and adopted the Dietitian Licensure Compact. It became law in May 2026. The same law also clarifies that medical nutrition therapy is provided by licensed dietitians, and it creates a separate license for nutritionists who give general wellness advice.
Which states are in the compact?
As of fall 2026, the Council of State Governments lists 19 states in the compact:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Washington
- Wisconsin
More states are considering it, so this list will likely grow.
When does it start?
The compact officially became active in March 2025, when Mississippi became the seventh state to join. That created the Dietitian Licensure Compact Commission, the group that writes the rules and builds the system for issuing privileges.
Compact privileges are not being issued yet. The commission was still finalizing its rules in late summer 2026, and the Commission on Dietetic Registration expects the first compact privileges to be issued sometime in 2027. Once privileges open, each dietitian still has to apply for them, so access will roll out over time.
We will update this post when there is an official start date.
What it could mean for our patients
Today, our registered dietitians see patients in person in Suwanee and Lawrenceville, Georgia, and by secure video in 25 states where the law already allows it. See the full list of states.
Many compact states are new for us. Once privileges are available, the compact could let our dietitians see patients by video in states such as:
- Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Missouri
- Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Tennessee
That would bring our video visits to as many as 39 states. Insurance coverage will still depend on your plan and on which plans we are in-network with in your state.
Live in one of these states?
If you live in a compact state we don’t cover yet, call or text us at 678-250-3438. We are happy to tell you where things stand and let you know as soon as we can see you.
If you are in Georgia or one of the states we already serve by video, you don’t have to wait: book a visit today. Many insurance plans cover nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian. Check your coverage.
Sources
- Council of State Governments, National Center for Interstate Compacts: Dietitian Licensure Compact
- Commission on Dietetic Registration: Dietitian Licensure Compact
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Dietitian Licensure Compact
- Georgia Governor’s Office: HB 185, 2026 signed legislation
- Missouri Revisor of Statutes: Section 324.1800, Dietitian Licensure Compact
This article is general information about licensing rules, which can change. It is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Dietitian Licensure Compact?
It is an agreement between states that lets a licensed dietitian in one member state get a 'compact privilege' to see patients in other member states, instead of getting a separate license in each one. It works much like the compacts that already exist for nurses and physical therapists.
Is Georgia in the Dietitian Licensure Compact?
Yes. Georgia joined in 2026 when House Bill 185, which updated the state's Dietetics Practice Act, became law in May 2026.
When will the compact start?
Not yet. The compact became active in 2025 once seven states joined, but compact privileges are not being issued yet. The Commission on Dietetic Registration expects the first privileges to be issued sometime in 2027, after the compact commission finishes its rules.
Can I see a Nutrition Solutions dietitian by video if I don't live in Georgia?
In many states, yes, today. We already offer video visits in 25 states where the law allows it. The compact could add more states once privileges start being issued. See our list of states for video visits.
Does insurance cover a video visit with an out-of-state dietitian?
It depends on your plan and on whether we are in-network where you live. We check your coverage before your first visit.