{"id":1713,"date":"2022-11-22T14:32:43","date_gmt":"2022-11-22T19:32:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bridgeport.edu\/news\/?p=1713"},"modified":"2025-01-06T14:34:26","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T19:34:26","slug":"nutrition-certifications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bridgeport.edu\/news\/nutrition-certifications\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Types of Nutrition Certifications You Can Pursue"},"content":{"rendered":"

You might be surprised to learn that while the state of Connecticut certifies both dietitians and nutritionists<\/a>, it does not require specific certification for a person to offer services as a nutritionist.<\/p>\n

However, this does not mean that becoming a nutritionist<\/a> is easy. It is an extremely worthwhile career path if you are interested in helping people with their choices regarding nutrition and optimal wellness.<\/p>\n

Typically, a nutritionist has earned at least a bachelor\u2019s degree in Nutrition, Food Science, or another similar field. With this, nutritionists can work in a variety of jobs, including food management, nutrition education, research, and fitness. Nutritionists have strong critical thinking and reasoning skills and compassion for other people\u2019s feelings and struggles.<\/p>\n

Nutritionists who earn a master\u2019s degree have the potential for career advancement, professional certifications, and high salary potential within the field. For these reasons, most nutritionists go on to pursue graduate study, such as through a Master\u2019s in Nutrition program.<\/p>\n

What You Should Know About Nutrition Certification and Licensing<\/h2>\n

Licensing nutritionists is determined on a state-by-state basis. Some states require licensing and others do not. Therefore, candidates should always check with the appropriate regulatory body<\/a> in the state in which they plan to practice, in order to know what is needed for the legal practice of nutrition counseling.<\/p>\n

In Connecticut, there is no license required for providing general nutrition care. However, only state-certified individuals may use the titles \u201cConnecticut Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist,\u201d \u201cConnecticut Certified Dietitian,\u201d \u201cConnecticut Certified Nutritionist,\u201d or the letters \u201cC.D.N.,\u201d \u201cC.D.,\u201d \u201cC.N.\u201d or any other letters, words, or insignia indicating state certification as a certified dietitian-nutritionist.<\/p>\n

Common Nutrition Certification Paths, Explained<\/h2>\n

Today, we\u2019ll focus on three certifications that nutritionists may choose to earn: Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN), and the Diplomate, American Clinical Board of Nutrition (DACBN).<\/p>\n

1. Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)<\/h3>\n

A Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) is an advanced certification and signifies that you have earned a Master\u2019s in Nutrition (or related field) and practice nutrition therapy using a science-informed, personalized approach to help people optimize health and improve their quality of life. CNS certification is widely recognized nationally and provides a pathway toward state licensure in some states. Always check with the appropriate regulatory body<\/a> in your state to learn the specific legal requirements.<\/p>\n

越南直播\u2019s Master\u2019s in Human Nutrition online program<\/a> is a pathway to the CNS credential. While students do not complete the CNS requirements in the program, the program does make students eligible<\/a> to pursue it once graduated. Students who have graduated from the UB MS in Nutrition program can apply for 200-255 hours* of supervised practice experience based on passing the Virtual Clinic.<\/p>\n

* Variation is based on students\u2019 state of residence.<\/p>\n

2. Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN)<\/h3>\n

The Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN) is an alternative certification pathway for nutritionists. Certified Clinical Nutritionists assess a person\u2019s nutrition needs to achieve normal physiological function. They use a solid foundation in biochemical science to assess a client\u2019s history, physical health, and lifestyle and promote optimal health. The CCN certification has no supervised practice requirement and is therefore not a pathway to licensure in most states.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information, candidates interested in a CCN should contact the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board at 1-972-250-2829.<\/p>\n

3. Diplomate, American Clinical Board of Nutrition (DACBN)<\/h3>\n

The American Clinical Board of Nutrition (ACBN) is a national certifying agency in nutrition for professionals with a doctoral degree. ACBN is one of the few certifying agencies to offer diplomate status to all professionals in the healthcare field.<\/p>\n

The ACBN\u2019s certification offers advanced standing towards their diplomate program (DACBN), to those with professional doctoral degrees who have completed UB\u2019s MS in Nutrition degree. No additional hours of training are required as UB\u2019s MS program exceeds the ACBN\u2019s course hour requirements.<\/p>\n

Pursuing Nutrition Certification<\/h2>\n

While the above certifications are nationally recognized, they are not<\/strong> state or government certifications or licenses. Therefore, these certifications are not<\/strong> necessarily required to practice nutrition in all states. However, many of our graduates elect to sit for one or both exams in order to advance their careers. At UB, we generally recommend sitting for the Certified Nutrition Specialist exam, as CNS certification is more widely recognized throughout the country. This credential demonstrates advanced knowledge and experience in the field of personalized nutrition.<\/p>\n

We have mentioned that the qualification requirements for nutrition certification and licensing can vary greatly from state to state. As such, it is the practitioner\u2019s responsibility to check state\u2019s licensing requirements if looking to obtain a CNS, CCN, or ACBN and work as a certified clinical nutritionist. Please see https:\/\/theana.org\/advocate<\/a> or your state regulatory body to get more information about specific requirements in your state.<\/p>\n

For example, the requirements for Connecticut licensure (referred to as state certification in CT) typically fall into the following three categories<\/a>:<\/p>\n