Some specific New York State laws on the practice of health and wellness services are outlined below.
New York State Licensed Professions
Only a person licensed by the State Education Department may use the title certified athletic trainer in New York
Only a person certified by the State Education Department may use the titles certified dietitian-nutritionist, certified dietitian, or certified nutritionist in New York.
Certification is not required to perform nutritional counseling in New York, but only individuals certified by the New York State Education Department may use the certified dietitian/nutritionist titles.
The initials used in connection with a licensed physical therapist’s name are “P.T.” Only the use of the abbreviation “P.T.” is protected in law, which means that only a licensed physical therapist can use these initials. Although an individual can include the academic degree in one’s signature, these designations are neither recognized nor protected by Education Law or the Rules of the Regents. You may find that there are other individuals using initials that may look like they are a physical therapist. CPT, for example, is used by certified personal trainers, but they are not licensed professionals and they are not physical therapists.