Scope of Practice Guideline

Scope of practice refers to the areas of practice in which you are educated, skilled, and competent to perform. It is influenced by your experience, the setting and context in which you work, and the consumer’s physical and mental health needs. It is relevant to all areas of professional practice, and within eating disorders, it directly relates to the provision of safe and effective care for the consumer.  
There are a range of professions involved in the provision of eating disorder treatment. Scope of practice standards are articulated by all professional and regulatory bodies, and Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinicians are required to only practice within the scope of their profession and discipline. They must also be familiar with their professions’ practice standards and code of ethics. 
Your scope of practice will change as you grow and develop in your professional career. That is, when starting out in your career as an eating disorder clinician, you will have the knowledge, skill, and experience to provide care for particular diagnostic presentations, in perhaps one type of health setting. Focused supervision and planned professional development will help you consolidate your knowledge and skill in the provision of care according to the training you have completed and the setting in which you work. 
As you gain more experience, complete further professional development and training, and continue to engage in supervision, you may be able to broaden your scope of work to provide care for other diagnostic presentations, with greater levels of complexity. Similarly, your professional development and supervision needs will likely change. Self-reflection will continue to be essential to guide your learning needs throughout your career development. Consulting with your supervisor, colleagues, and/or mentors can also help you design learning activities that suit your scope of practice, according to your current skills and expertise.