During the past 60 years, perhaps 50 individuals without valid credentials have pretended to be medical doctors and actually managed for a time to practice. So far as I know, no one has ever been exposed as a fake dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, or even chiropractor. But in nutrition, nonaccredited correspondence schools and other organizations have issued thousands of "degrees" and certificates which suggest that the recipient is a qualified expert in nutrition. These documents are promoted as though they are equivalent in meaning to established credentials -- which they are not.
The most prominent nonaccredited school was Donsbach University of Huntington Beach, California, whose president, Kurt Donsbach, D.C., has been involved in dozens of questionable health and nutrition ventures. Most "textbooks" required for the school's basic curriculum were books written for the general public by promoters of dubious nutrition practices. A typical "degree" program took less than a year to complete. "Graduates" typically refer to themselves as "nutrition consultants," a term also used by some reputable nutritionists. In 1987, Jacob Swilling assumed ownership of Donsbach University, which was renamed International University for Nutrition Education but soon went defunct. Some "graduates" of these schools are still in practice.
Bernadean University, of Van Nuys, California, offered "nutritionist" and "cancer researcher" certificates, "master's degrees," and "Ph.D. degrees" in acupuncture, reflexology, iridology, naturopathy, homeopathy, and nutrition. Dietitian Virginia Aronson took the "nutritionist" course and reported that she got high grades on all tests whether she put down correct answers or not. In 1982, Bernadean was ordered to cease operations because it was not authorized by the state. However, it continued to operate and was recently renamed Burney Universitatis and Burney University. Bernadean's most prominent alumnus is "Dr." Richard Passwater, author of Supernutrition and several other books.
Clayton College of Natural Health, of Birmingham, Alabama, offers home-study courses leading to "degrees" in "natural health," naturopathy, "holistic nutrition," and "holistic health sciences." Columbus University, of Metairie, Louisiana, offers doctoral degrees in naturopathy, hypnotherapy, holistic health, and nutrition counseling. Both schools state that they are accredited by the World Association of Universities and Colleges (WAUC). However, since the U.S. Secretary of Education has not recognized WAUC, its accreditation process has no academic significance.
Columbia Pacific University (CPU), founded in 1978, offered programs leading to bachelors, masters, and doctorate-level "degrees" in various subjects. It was never accredited but managed to operate in Novato, California until December 1999, when the Marin County Superior Court ordered it to cease operations within the State. In February 2001, when the appeals process ended, the proprietors were ordered to pay a civil penalty of $10,000 and provide refunds to recently enrolled studnts who requested them. By that time, however, the school had moved to Missoula, Montana and changed its name to Commonwealth Pacific University.
"Nutrition consultants" who wish to acquire additional "credentials" can join the American Association of Nutritional Consultants, which issues certificates suitable for framing. During the 1980s, its "professional membership" application asked only for the applicant's name and address plus $50. Several investigators, including me, have enrolled household pets as professional members. Other groups issuing similarly dubious credentials have included the American Nutrimedical Association and the National Academy of Research Biochemists.
In response to the flaunting of dubious credentials, dietitians have gained passage of laws to regulate nutritionists in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Some make it illegal for unqualified persons to call themselves dietitians or nutritionists, while others define nutrition practice and who is eligible to practice. The most basic requirement is completion of accredited training. Opponents claim that bills of this type are motivated by greed and an intention to create a monopoly for one school of thought. The real issue, however, is public protection.
It is unfair to expect people to check the credentials of every practitioner they encounter. Rather, it should be government's role to set licensing standards and to prevent individuals who don't meet the standards from representing themselves as equivalent to those who do. Licensing does not offer complete protection against all forms of nutrition practice conducted privately between consenting adults. (It does not, for example, protect people from the poor advice offered by many chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, and health-food retailers.) But it can deter untrained individuals from widely advertising that they are experts.