Online certification in nutrition focuses on science and health-based concepts. Many schools offer distance learning for certification programs in the field of nutrition.
The best nutrition online certifications will help you learn how to help people with their food choices. The school you choose should give you the opportunity to find a wide range of jobs in the field. Earning a certification in nutrition is even worth it for the purpose of continuing education.
The 7 Best Nutrition Certifications Online:
- Stanford University Health Education
- ISSA Online
- The National Council on Strength & Fitness
- Health Coach Institute
- Sports Nutrition – The National Council on Strength and Fitness
- National Academy of Sports Medicine
- ACE Fitness + Precision Nutrition Level One Certifciation
It would be best to choose the school that best fits your goals. Peruse the information below and find out the seven best nutrition certifications online.
How Do You Get Certified in Nutrition?
You need to take specific steps if you want to become certified in nutrition. If you’re going to get into the field quickly, there are ways you can do that. The following includes what you must do to accomplish your goal.
Earn a Nutrition Related Certificate
You will only need your high school diploma or equivalent to register, and you can obtain a certificate in nutrition through online courses, which take about a year. You can get a certificate of completion in clinical nutrition.
The Clinical Nutrition Certification Board gives this certificate. You need to participate in a 56-hour distance learning program.
Acquire a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition or Connected Field
Nutritionists must have a bachelor’s degree in nutrition or a comparable field. The following are some of the related classes that you can take to become certified in nutrition:
- Anatomy
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- Clinical nutrition
- Chemistry
- Dietetics
- Community nutrition
- Food science
- Microbiology
- Nutrition
- Psychology
You may also consider participating in an internship program to gain extra knowledge and experience. Some colleges require that you take an internship.
Acquire the Required Licensing for Your State
You will need to successfully complete specific courses and pass exams. When you receive your undergraduate degree, you can pursue certification as a nutritionist. If you want to receive credentialing as a nutritionist, you must do the following:
- Complete a practice program for nutritionists
- Pass examination
- Secure continuing requirements
There are various certifications associated with nutrition. These include the following:
- Certified nutritional consultant
- Certified nutritionist
- Certified clinical nutritionist
A Bachelor of Science degree in one of these areas will help you move toward being certified.
Get a Graduate Degree
Some students decide to earn an advanced degree if they want to become teachers or researchers in this field. With 1,000 hours of experience, students can achieve the CNSC credential, which the Certification Board of Nutrition Specialists awards.
You can do a lot with a graduate degree. There are specific requirements you need to meet to earn certification. The following include the titles you can earn if you want to get into the field:
- certified nutrition specialist
- Licensed nutritionist
- Board certification in holistic nutrition
It takes some time to become a certified nutritionist. It usually takes around five years. It will take approximately four years to earn a bachelor’s degree and one more year to complete an internship. Advanced certifications, of course, will take more time.
Specific requirements for becoming a certified nutritionist are different in each state. Certain states do not have regulations concerning the practice of nutrition.
Is a Nutrition Certification Worth it?
Nutrition certification is worth it so that you can better help people make good choices about their food. You will know that the advice you are giving someone is correct and supported by a credible source.
Putting forth time and effort will help ensure that you get the correct information to pass on to clients. Working for the certification will help you to be more productive with clients. You will also have access to some of the best, most reputable information.
Getting your nutrition certification can make you feel more confident as a professional, and you will communicate with clients more effectively. You will learn the suitable approaches and strategies to help each client.
If you have a nutrition certification, you can have your own business focused on helping people with their food choices. It can open many doors and give you more opportunities.
What Can You Do with a Nutrition Certification?
When you have a nutrition certification, there are many different things you can do. Your career can be even more fulfilling within your chosen field with a certificate. Some of the types of jobs you can get with a nutrition certificate include the following:
Weight Management Consultant
When you have a nutrition certification, you can work in many places that need a weight management person. These include the following:
- Wellness spas
- Weight management programs
- Hospitals
- Gym franchises
You may also work with people who suffer from eating disorders. It is rewarding because you can help them adopt a healthy relationship with food.
Spa Consultant
You can work at a spa and do the following jobs:
- Consulting spa clients
- Giving meal planning advice
- Helping with food ordering
You can also develop healthy eating workshops. You can play an essential role in any spa environment.
Corporate Nutrition Coach
Some corporations value the importance of healthy eating in a work environment. When you are a corporate nutrition coach, you will help with meal planning in cafeterias. You may also lead workshops on creating better health initiatives or meet with employees individually.
Sports Nutritionist
When you have a certification as a sports nutritionist, you can help professional sports teams with the nutritional requirements they need to play. You can also work in an environment with a physical therapist or occupational therapist to help with proper nutrition for the patients.
You can sometimes get a job working for an individual pro or amateur athlete looking to boost their athletic performance.
Healthy Eating Instructor
It is becoming popular for community centers to offer classes on subjects like preparing healthy vegetarian meals for your family and cooking classes for kids. Some of the locations where a healthy eating instructor can work include the following:
- Schools
- Kitchenware stores that give classes
- Farmers markets
- House parties for personal clients
Healthy eating instructors can also work full-time at wellness spas or fitness centers. They may also work with corporate clients and produce workshops for employees.
Holistic Nutritionist
Holistic nutritionists help heal patients with natural food rather than conventional medicine methods. Their goal is to heal the whole person instead of temporarily alleviating symptoms of illness. They introduce healthy eating habits and customize healthy eating plans.
Holistic nutritionists may also help the patient with their stress symptoms. They examine the patient’s lifestyle and help them accommodate a healthy eating plan.
The 7 Best Nutrition Certifications Online
Nutrition is a popular and necessary field to help people learn the right food choices. There are many nutrition certification programs you can earn online. The following includes the seven best nutrition certifications online.
1. Stanford University
This short-term program is offered to many health professionals to help their patients or clients better. It teaches about the importance of preventive care and how to understand research concerning nutrition. The course is tailored for the following:
- Healthcare professionals
- Medical doctors
- Occupational therapists
- Dieticians
- Pharmacists
- Nurses
- Nutritionist
- Fitness instructors
- Coaches
- Health educators
- Food writers
The program helps these professionals become more informed so that they may help their patients or clients. It investigates the relationship between macro and micronutrients in the body.
Online learning expert, GetSmarter has over ten years of experience creating worthwhile and informative courses for students. It develops courses from the world’s most renowned universities.
GetSmarter equips professionals with the tools to perform their job duties better and learn how to help their patients or clients better. It is a program to give professionals a more productive and brighter future.
2. ISSA Online
This online certification program helps you become a Certified Corrective Exercise Specialist. You can help people with the following preventable issues:
- Shoulder pain
- Back pain
- Knee pain
You can also help people with muscle pain and difficulty with movement. With this program, you will receive an online exercise lab. It has over 250 exercises. It comes in 3D animation and three different angles to help you improve form and technique.
Some of the material you will learn in this course include the following:
- What a personal trainer can legally do to correct the body
- The structure and function of the skeletal system
- The structure and function of the nervous system
- The necessary steps to help your client
- How to create structural alignment
- Know the right corrective exercises for each person
- How movement works
- How to manipulate soft tissue
All students will receive access to unlimited educational support at this online school. The support does not end when you receive your personal training accreditation.
3. The National Council on Strength & Fitness
This package offers a Certified Personal Trainer Credential, which has accreditation from the NCCA. It is the accrediting board for the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
The accreditation is unique because it safeguards public health. The NCCA employs a peer review method to do the following:
- Determine accreditation standards
- Review compliance with the standards
- Identify organizations that show compliance
- Act as a resource on a valuable certification
Working with other schools, The NCSF presents degrees and certifications programs. The following include some of the certifications:
- Personal Trainer
- Strength Coach
- Sports Nutrition Specialist
Employers are explicitly looking for NCCA accredited certification. Job growth in the health and fitness industry is exponential.
4. Health Coach Institute
The major certifications from this school include Health Coach and Nutrition Coach. The Health Coach certification is a six-month online program for a dual health coach and life coach certificate, and it is a CCE accredited program by the International Coaching Federation.
The nutrition coach certification is another six-month online program. The American Association of Drugless Practitioners accredits the Nutritious Life Studio. There is also a coach mastery course for those looking to start a business as a health coach.
5. Sports Nutrition - The National Council on Strength and Fitness
This certification program is cost-effective and is acknowledged by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. It is well known and reputable. This school offers a Sports Nutrition Specialist certification for students who aspire to work with athletes who want to improve their performance.
It is an excellent option if you work in the fitness or nutrition field and are looking to expand your knowledge for your clients. The program can teach and serve to increase your already existing knowledge concerning nutrition and health.
However, work experience is not required, but you need a high school diploma.
The course takes about two to four months to complete, but you can work at your own pace. If you do not successfully pass the certification exam, you can retake it for a fee. You can repeat the examination until you pass.
6. National Academy of Sports Medicine
This school offers a Nutrition Coach certification. The school keeps you informed of the latest trends in dieting and nutrition. It teaches students the basics of nutrition science. It also explains in-depth how to coach, as well as coaching techniques.
The program is science-based. It is suitable for continuing education and learning more so you may be able to help your clients better.
The course is self-paced, but you need to complete it in one year. The only downside is that it is an expensive program, and you need to retake the exam every two years to maintain certification.
7. ACE Fitness + Precision Nutrition Level One Certification
This program is one of the best options you can choose, as it offers the most current information concerning nutrition and behavior change coaching. It has peer-reviewed publications on the Precision coaching method.
This school allows you to learn at your own pace. Having experience is not required to participate in this program. However, it is helpful to understand the more scientific-based concepts.
While the school is only open for applicants twice a year, you may also purchase this course through the International Sports Science Association.
Final thoughts
While many online schools offer nutrition-based certificates, you need to find the one that suits your learning needs. You also need to determine how much money you want to spend on continuing education.
Earning a certificate in nutrition takes dedication and hard work. Once you earn your certification, it will all be worth it.
