Certified clinical nutritionist
A certified clinical nutritionist (CCN) is qualified to assess people’s nutritional needs based on their lifestyle and health goals. The
Clinical Nutrition Certification Board offer this certification.
A CCN can provide personalized recommendations for diet, exercise, supplements, and
stress relief. To become a CCN, a person
must have one of the following nutrition degrees in order to begin training:
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Masters (M.S.)
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Doctor of Science (Sc.D.)
Alternatively, they might have an advanced professional degree in another licensed healthcare field.
The amount of training a person needs to become a certified CCN depends on their preexisting qualifications. For example, someone with a B.S. degree must spend a minimum of 3 course hours on a range of topics — such as human physiology, biochemistry, and microbiology — before they become certified.
Someone with a more advanced degree, such as an Sc.D. or nursing degree, may not need to complete as much training. However, all CCNs must pass an exam and need to maintain their certification with ongoing training every 2 years.
Certified nutrition specialist
The certified nutrition specialist (CNS) credential is a qualification that a nutritionist can earn in the U.S. The BCNS certify all CNSs.
People who apply for CNS training must have an M.S. or doctoral degree in nutrition or another related field. In addition to these degrees, all trainee CNSs must:
- complete coursework from a regionally accredited institution
- complete 1,000 hours of documented, supervised practice
- pass an exam
- recertify with continuing education credits every 5 years
The minimum number of hours a CNS must spend learning about the life sciences is
higher than that of CCNs. They may also study topics such as pharmacology, drug interactions, and nutritional disorders.