Who Is Eligible to Join the Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics?

Updated

You can join the Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MAND) if you are already a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and either live in Maryland or select Maryland as your affiliate. MAND is the Maryland affiliate of AND, and it represents Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTRs), and dietetic students across the state.

The two core eligibility conditions

MAND's membership is defined by two requirements that must both be met:

  1. You are a member of AND. MAND does not operate as a standalone membership separate from the national Academy. Membership is open to members of AND.
  2. You reside in Maryland or choose Maryland as your affiliate. If you live in Maryland, you qualify. If you live elsewhere but want Maryland to be your affiliate, that also works.

In other words, the deciding factor is not your credential type on its own — it is your AND membership plus your Maryland connection or affiliate choice.

Who this covers by role

MAND states it represents three groups, and these are the professional categories reflected in its membership:

Role What it means
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Credentialed nutrition professional
Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) Technically trained nutrition support role
Dietetic student Someone in a dietetics education pathway

If you fall into one of these categories and meet the two conditions above, you are within MAND's stated membership scope.

How joining actually works

MAND does not describe a separate application process on its own site. Because eligibility runs through AND, the practical step is the affiliate selection process — you join AND and designate Maryland as your affiliate. That is how your MAND membership is established.

A useful way to think about it: MAND is not a club you join directly; it is the Maryland branch you attach to through your national membership.

What MAND is, for context

MAND is a non-profit professional organization and a 501(C)(6). It is an affiliate of AND, described as the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Its stated mission is to empower members to be Maryland's food and nutrition leaders, and its vision is to optimize the health and well-being of Marylanders through food and nutrition.

Quick check before you proceed

  • Are you a current AND member? If not, that is the first step.
  • Do you live in Maryland, or are you willing to choose Maryland as your affiliate? If yes, you meet the second condition.
  • Are you an RDN, DTR, or dietetic student? These are the roles MAND represents.

If you answered yes across these, you are eligible under MAND's stated criteria. For current membership steps, events, and member resources, check MAND's site directly, since the affiliate selection process is handled through AND.