Best Online Nutrition Certification Programs

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Why We Chose It: As the top-recommended program online, Precision Nutrition’s Level 1 Certification offers the latest in nutrition science and behavior change coaching.

Founded in 2005 by Dr. John Berardi and Phil Caravaggio, Precision Nutrition (PN) incorporates a focus on both nutrition and behavior change coaching. The learning materials are easy to follow and well-organized on the online coaching platform and physical textbooks, and the program is heavily science-based leading to a better understanding of nutrition coaching and the science behind it. 

The Precision Nutrition Level 1 certification costs $999 on pre-sale or $119 a month for 12 months when the course is open. All classes are offered online and are self-paced. There are no requirements or level of experience needed to take the program, but with its science-based material, having some background in nutrition would be beneficial. 

Precision Nutrition only opens enrollment two times a year, but this course can also be purchased through International Sports Science Association (ISSA) where it can be started at any time. PN is endorsed by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and has many positive reviews and testimonials online.

Note that while PN has a certification program, it still offers nutritional coaching to clients (which is how it began). This means that while you can obtain your certification from them, they will also be a competitor once you begin seeing clients independently. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but something to consider when researching different programs.

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Why We Chose It: The NASM Nutrition Coach certification focuses on the basics of nutrition education while keeping information current to address current fad diets and hot topics.

Founded in 1987, NASM offers science-based personal training certification programs. Its nutritionist certification program covers all the basics of nutrition and will increase your knowledge so you can help your clients reach their goals. It can be taken as a continuing education course for personal trainers or as a stand-alone program. 

The NASM nutrition coach certification costs $899 which is more expensive than other comparable programs, but there are no prerequisites for this program and you can enroll online at any time. It is self-paced and you have one year to complete it, although most students find they can complete it in about 10 weeks and some complete it in as few as four. All courses and tests are offered through NASM's student portal. 

You do have to retake the exam every two years if you want to stay certified, and all the add-ons and additional specialties can add up quickly and get expensive. However, the NASM nutrition coaching course is great for those who are already NASM-certified personal trainers and want to add another specialty to their resume while gaining their continuing education units (CEUs) for the year.

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Why We Chose It: The NCSF Sport Nutrition Specialist certification program is offered at a lower cost than many of its competitors.

The National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) Sport Nutrition Specialist certification is geared towards those who work with athletes or want to learn more about how to improve performance and body composition. It’s also a cost-effective choice if you are a personal trainer and looking for an inexpensive option to expand your sports nutrition knowledge for yourself or your clients.  

This program covers topics related to diet and health but puts less of an emphasis on coaching and behavior change than other programs. It's designed for coaches who want to work with athletes, therefore it is assumed that the clients already have a solid foundation when it comes to sticking to a routine and implementing new habits. 

The NCSF Sport Nutrition Specialist certification costs between $349 and $399, making it a lower cost option than other online courses. There is no work experience required for entry to this program, but they do require high school or equivalent education to become certified. The course will take 2-4 months to complete, and you can progress at your own pace. 

Upon completion of the program, you must take an online exam to receive your certification. If you don't pass your exam the first time you can retake it for $99. There are no limits to how many times you can take it until you pass.  

NCSF is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

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Why We Chose It: ISSA is a self-paced program with the benefit of a guided and structured study plan to help students stay on track with their learning.

ISSA was founded in 1988 and launched the specialist in fitness nutrition program in 2009, which has since become a popular option. The ISSA Nutritionist Specialization course covers the basics of nutrition and health coaching and can often be bundled with other certifications to give you a comprehensive knowledge base and prepare you to work with clients. 

The ISSA Nutrition Specialization requires no work or academic experience to enroll. This course must be completed within eight months, but many finish it much faster. You must pass a final exam to become certified, but note that online reviews online state this exam is much longer than others. 

You can also gain CEUs by taking this course, which is great for personal trainers or other professionals who want to reach their CEU requirement for the year while learning about something that will help them and their business. 

This course usually costs $799, but will often go on sale for up to 50% off. Check the website for the most current discount. Although this can be completed as a stand-alone certification, you can purchase one of the bundles that include other specializations that ISSA offers such as personal training or group exercise instructor. If you are just starting out, this is a great deal.

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Why We Chose It: ACE is a recognized leader in continuing education courses, offering certifications that can be easily transferred for CEUs with other companies.

ACE is a leader in continuing education courses, with their courses preapproved for CEU credits with several other fitness certification providers such as NASM and NCSF. The fitness nutrition program has three major categories in the curriculum: nutrition foundations, behavior change coaching, and business development. If you are already an ACE certified professional, this is a great choice to increase your sports nutrition knowledge while gaining CEUs.

Although anyone can take the program, this program is designed to be taken after you already have an NCCA-accredited certification or professional credential. If you are not already a certified personal trainer, health coach, healthcare professional, or in another similar profession you cannot become certified as an ACE fitness nutrition specialist. The ACE Fitness Nutrition Specialist credential is designed to be a specialty you get after already working with clients, not a stand-alone certification. 

The website emphasizes they use different teaching methods to accommodate learning styles such as audio, video, and textbook learning options. The program is offered in a self-paced format and costs $599 to $699, which is a bit less expensive compared to other programs on our list. It can also be caught on sale.