Nutritionists can work in hospital, fitness and personal practice settings, where they provide dietary advice to maintain and improve the health of their clients. This career field is expected to increase through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can go several routes to acquire a nutritionist certificate, depending on the amount of time and money you want to invest and the requirements of potential employers and your state licensing board.
Quick
Several nutritionist certification exams, including the Sports Nutritionist exam by the American Sports and Fitness Association and the Lifestyle and Weight Management exam by the American Council on Exercise, do not require a specific program of study. You can take the 100-question ASFA Sports Nutritionist test online and receive your certificate immediately. The ACE certificate can take less than a month to acquire if you have an ACE personal or group-exercise training certificate and nutrition knowledge and can pass the 150-question exam. ACE posts a document on its website outlining the content of the exam.
Short-term
ACE and other fitness associations offer home-study and face-to-face workshops to help certificate candidates prepare for their exams. If you do not have a background in nutrition, ACE recommends planning 12 to 20 weeks of study prior to sitting for the Lifestyle and Weight Management exam. The National Association of Sports Nutrition requires attendance at a weekend workshop, as well as additional home-study components, that can take up to six months to schedule and complete.
Long-term
Programs such as Bauman College's nutrition consultant certificate and Penn Foster Career School's Sports Nutrition certificate involve more classes and more time to complete. The Bauman program requires either 15 months of classroom work or up to 27 months of home-based study. Students in the online Penn Foster program can move quickly, completing it in several months, or can fit coursework around other commitments and take up to two years to finish it.
Considerations
Check with your state board of licenses to determine the educational background required to practice as a nutritionist in your area. Although a nutrition certificate will satisfy the nutrition statutes in 13 states, 33 other states require a license, which typically involves a bachelor of science degree in a health-related field, as well as a national registered dietitian exam. Some certification programs may not meet the requirements in your area, so check before committing your time and money. As of 2011, four states -- Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey and Wyoming -- do not regulate nutritionists.
References
- United States Department of Labor: Dietitians and Nutritionists
- American Sports and Fitness Association: Sports Nutritionist Certification
- American Council on Exercise: Lifestyle & Weight Management Coach Certification
- National Association of Sports Nutrition: Become a Licensed Sports Nutritionist or Certified Personal Trainer
- Bauman College: Nutrition Consultant
- Penn Foster Career School: Sports Nutrition Certificate
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