Nutritionists Health Professionals

There are three eligibility requirements to earn the CNS: Education, Supervised Practice Experience, and Examination.

Education

All candidates must be graduates of an ACNPE-accredited program, OR meet the following degree and coursework requirements:

Degree Requirement

Master of Science or Doctoral degree in a field of nutrition or a related field (including, but not limited to Public Health, Health Science, Biochemistry, Nursing, Physician’s Assistant, Dietetics) from a United States regionally/institutionally accredited college or university, or its foreign equivalent; OR
Doctoral degree in a field of clinical healthcare (including, but not limited to, DC, DDS, OD, Doctor of Nursing, ND, PharmD) from a United States regionally accredited college or university, or its foreign equivalent.

Coursework Requirement

Coursework must be from a United States regionally/institutionally accredited institution recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation or its foreign equivalent; credits are semester credit hours.
Thirty-six semester credit hours of relevant coursework to provide the foundational knowledge for the development of core competencies required for the practice of effective personalized nutrition** as indicated by the CNS Examination Content Outline.

*The BCNS cannot accept courses taken directly from StraighterLine. Courses are only eligible if they appear on an official transcript from an accredited university through an articulation agreement.

**If you are applying with a degree and/or coursework completed outside the U.S., please read this page.

_{***Personalized nutrition is an interdisciplinary field that draws upon a broad range of sciences to advance human health. It considers the unique makeup of individuals and specifically identified sub-groupings of people with similar characteristics, and encompasses a person-centered approach to nutrition science evidence, education, and clinical care.}

1. Graduate Nutrition Science Courses- Twelve (12) semester credit hours

Examples should include but are not limited to:

Developmental Nutrition
Metabolism of Vitamins & Minerals
Micro/Macro Nutrients
Nutrition Assessment
Therapeutic Nutrition
Endocrine System Therapeutics
Botanical Medicine

2. Graduate or undergraduate Biochemistry Courses – Six (6) semester credit hours

Examples may include but are not limited to:

Biochemistry of Nutrition
Clinical Biochemistry
Medical Biochemistry

3. Graduate or undergraduate Physiology or Anatomy/Physiology – Three (3) semester credit hours

Examples may include but are not limited to:

Anatomy and Physiology I, II
Anatomy
Medical Physiology
Physiology
Health and Wellness Physiology I

4. Graduate or undergraduate Clinical or Life Sciences – Twelve (12) semester credit hours

May be prerequisites for the above courses and include, but are not limited to:

Biology
Botany
Micro-Biology
Nutrition Science
Organic/Inorganic Chemistry

5. Graduate or undergraduate Behavioral Science – Three (3) semester credit hours

Examples include but are not limited to:

Motivational Interviewing
Psychology
Motivational Counseling
Principles and Practices of Health Behavior and Self-Care
Foundations of Health Behavior and Health Education

Curriculum Overview

Regionally Accredited Graduate Programs & Courses

Supervised Practice Experience

The CNS candidate must demonstrate evidence of experience in nutrition by undergoing a self-directed supervised program which is tailored to each individual candidate’s career goals.

The Practice Experience may commence once the candidate is matriculated in the qualifying degree program. Although the Supervised Practice Experience program may be completed before or after passing the Certification Examination for Nutrition Specialists, it is important to note that historically those who have completed the practice experience perform better on the examination than those who have not.

Effective April 1, 2026: Any candidate who is beginning to earn Supervised Practice Experience (SPE) hours must complete the BCNS SPE Candidate Training and provide their supervisor with a certificate of completion before accruing hours. This requirement applies only to new SPE candidates who have not started earning supervised practice experience hours prior to April 1, 2026. Candidates who have already begun accruing SPE hours are not required to complete the training, though it is strongly recommended as a supportive resource. The training can be found in the Candidate Portal.

Each candidate must complete 1,000 hours of supervised practice experience with hours distributed as follows:

Personalized Nutrition Assessment and Interpretation (minimum 200 hours)
Personalized Nutrition Intervention, Education, Counseling, and Ongoing Care (min 200 hours)
Personalized Nutrition Monitoring and Evaluation (minimum 200 hours)
Remaining hours may be in any of the above categories

All hours must be supervised by a BCNS-approved supervisor who meets the following qualifications:

1. Credential / Degree Requirements

Supervisors must hold at least one of the following credentials for a minimum of three years prior to applying:

Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), or
Registered Dietitian with a Master’s or Doctoral degree in a nutrition-related field from a regionally accredited institution, or
Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition from a regionally accredited institution

2. Practice Experience

A minimum of 1,500 client-facing hours

3. Licensure

Must hold an LDN/LN license (or equivalent) in any U.S. state

Supervisors may not be married to, related to, or domestic partners of supervisee(s).

NOTE: Candidates are encouraged to have their supervisor(s) approved by BCNS prior to beginning each segment of their practice experience.

Supervised practice experience setting may be any that facilitates the above requirements, including but not limited to:

Internship, residency, or clinical rotation
Clinical practice
Institutional setting
Community setting

The Supervised Practice Experience may not be obtained from retail stores.

A variety of experiences with multiple supervisors and settings is encouraged to meet all required competencies.

Certification Examination

Applicants are required to pass the Certification Examination for Nutrition Specialists℠ to demonstrate that their education, experience, and training have resulted in a mastery of the knowledge and skills required of the Certified Nutrition Specialist.

The examination is offered two times per year, typically in June and December. Unsuccessful candidates may re-take the examination if they do not pass.

The examination contains 200 multiple-choice, single answer questions, and covers the broad spectrum of basic and applied nutritional science, based on an explicit set of competencies outlined in the Examination Content Outline. Competencies are determined by a job analysis study conducted on practitioners.

*As of May 1, 2025, the CNS Exam Application Fee will increase to $150

Nutritionists & Health Professionals