Best Online Nutritionist Certifications

Precision Nutrition is one of the top-rated nutrition coach certifications in the industry, covering everything from nutritional science to the art of coaching. PN’s Level 1 Nutrition Certification is hands down one of the best choices for people interested in becoming a nutrition coach due to the fully online, self-led, well-respected curriculum that can.

Precision Nutrition has been a leader in the nutrition certification industry since 2005. By offering an in-depth curriculum that covers both nutrition and coaching, they have grown to certify over 150,000 professionals in the industry with their Level 1 Nutrition Certification.

The Precision Nutrition Level 1 Nutrition Certification is a self-paced course that consists of three separate units. Unit 1 covers the basics of the PN approach, unit 2 covers nutritional science, and unit 3 covers the coaching process. All course materials can be accessed online through your browser, tablet, or phone. According to the FAQ, if you spend three to five hours completing one chapter a week, you can reach certification in four and a half months.

Anyone can become certified through the Precision Nutrition program, but it’s especially valuable for people in the health and fitness industry, such as fitness instructors and health coaches. And while the course itself is not accredited, it is eligible for continuing education credits (CEUs) for a number of organizations–including the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and many more.

What makes the Precision Nutrition certification so attractive is the fully online curriculum and extensive set of coaching tools. Plus, they offer a 45-day money-back guarantee and have an astounding 94% satisfaction rating among customers, making them one of the top choices in the industry.

Arizona State University (ASU) has a wide selection of online nutrition-related degrees, including a Master of Science in Nutritional Science (Dietetics). Since ASU’s graduate program fulfills the upcoming requirement changes for the registered dietitian (RD) track, it’s one of the best choices for future registered dietitians.

Arizona State University has been providing education to students in Arizona and across the country since 1885, with more than 170-degree programs available. Although the university offers eight different online nutrition degrees, the Master of Science in Nutritional Science (Dietetics) is the only graduate degree that will fulfill the education requirement for future RDs.

ASU’s Dietetics program curriculum has a total of 10 different courses, each running for seven and a half weeks and 30 credit hours. Courses include subjects like research methods, evidence-based nutrition, pediatric and geriatric nutrition, and much more. Because the program is taught through Canvas, you’ll need to have access to a desktop or laptop computer, as well as a webcam and headset.

Potential program candidates must have already completed a Bachelor’s program–with at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA during the last 60 hours of coursework. Another requirement to keep in mind is that this program is tuition-based, with costs ranging from $543–$1,343 per credit hour. However, ASU states that almost 80% of their students are able to get some kind of financial aid, which can definitely help with costs.

As a fully accredited graduate program, ASU’s dietetics program will fulfill the future education requirements for RDs, which is changing from a bachelor’s degree to a graduate degree by 2024. For that reason, ASU’s program is more than just a nutritionist certification: it’s one of the best options for nutrition professionals who want to obtain RD certification.

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Sports Nutrition Coach (NASM-CSNC) Program is one of the best certifications for fitness professionals who want to expand into nutrition coaching.

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) has been providing industry certifications since 1987 and has produced over 1.4 million NASM-certified professionals in the industry. NASM’s Certified Sports Nutrition Coach (NASM-CSNC) Program is a fully online program that covers the basics of both nutrition and coaching, offering trainers a chance to help their clients fuel their bodies better.

The program curriculum includes five sections. You can access all of the course materials online through any device, including your phone. And, as a self-paced program, you can complete the coursework in as little as four to 6 weeks, depending on your schedule.

While NASM’s CSNC program doesn’t have any prerequisites, it’s best suited for professionals who are already in the fitness industry. For example, if you’re a personal trainer, you can offer your nutrition coaching services alongside your personal training services. Plus, because the course offers CEUs for a variety of organizations, it’s a great way to meet CEU requirements for your other certifications, too.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE)’s Fitness Nutrition Specialist Program allows fitness professionals to educate their clients on how to make more sustainable nutrition choices.

Since 1986, The American Council on Exercise (ACE) has offered a wide variety of professional certification courses and has certified over 90,000 professionals worldwide. As another leader in the health and wellness industry, their Fitness Nutrition Specialist Program is one of the most trusted certification choices for fitness professionals who are looking to expand into nutrition coaching, too. What’s more, it’s on par with many of the other nutrition certification programs out there–at about half the cost.

ACE’s curriculum is similar to other fitness certifications in that it covers both nutritional science and coaching to help professionals better educate their clients on nutrition. It also includes a small course on sports nutrition that allows health professionals to integrate sports nutrition coaching into their practice. Like other certifications, ACE’s program is self-paced so that you can work on the program in your own time.

One thing to know about this certification is that completing the Fitness Nutrition Specialist Program does not qualify you to use the title “ACE Specialist”, like some of their other certifications do. If you’re interested in becoming an ACE Specialist, you must also hold an NCCA-accredited certification or be licensed as a current healthcare professional.

The National Council on Strength & Fitness (NCSF) Certified Personal Trainer and Sports Nutrition Specialist Dual Credentialing Program is a discounted combination of their PT and SNS courses. By offering two separate certification programs at a discounted price, this option is aimed at people who are interested in both personal training and sports nutrition coaching.

With over 25 years of experience and 300,000+ credential professionals, The National Council on Strength & Fitness (NCSF) is another industry leader when it comes to fitness and nutrition certifications. Although they do offer a standalone nutrition certification course, their Certified Personal Trainer and Sports Nutrition Specialist Dual Credentialing Program offers dual certification at an incredibly affordable cost.

Because this is a dual credentialing program, there are two curriculums: personal training and sports nutrition. The personal training course focuses on the science of fitness training and exercise programming, while the sports nutrition course covers nutrients, supplements, and dietary analysis. Both courses are entirely virtual and self-paced, however, the CPT course does require that you attend a live two-day online workshop to complete the course.

Unlike some of the other credentialing programs, there are prerequisites for both programs: the CPT program requires the equivalent of a high school diploma, while the SNS program requires that you’re certified in another NCSF or NCCA-approved course. However, being enrolled in the dual CPT/SNS course does fulfill the eligibility requirement for the SNS course, so you’re covered as long as you take them together.

NCSF’s programs boast an impressively high rating across the web, with plenty of good reviews from people who have taken their various courses. And at a cost that is almost half the price of these two certifications separately, the dual credentialing program is one of the most cost-effective ways to get certified in both personal training and sports nutrition coaching.

The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Certificate (INHC) is one of the more in-depth program options for professional nutrition coaches. With several health and wellness industry leaders teaching the course, this certification program is the top choice for people who want to learn a holistic approach to nutrition coaching.

The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) was founded in New York City in 2009 and has since grown to be one of the largest international health coaching schools in the industry. IIN’s Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Certificate program has certified over 155,000 graduates in 175 different countries and offers an in-depth curriculum taught by over 95 recognized industry leaders.

IIN’s curriculum offers a detailed and integrative approach to nutrition coaching, and it covers everything from physical and mental health to nutrition and primary food. The program is split into 41 different modules, with modules being released either once or twice per week, depending on whether you’re enrolled in the six-month or 12-month track. And as with other online programs, IIN’s program can be accessed from any device, including their mobile app.

One of the things that sets the INHC program apart from others in the industry is that the program itself features lectures from industry leaders like Deepak Chopra and Mark Hyman. And the curriculum is extremely in-depth, offering more than 40 different modules on nutrition, coaching, and more. This is one of the reasons for the lengthy time commitment – not to mention the almost $7,000 price tag.

eCornell’s Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate is one of the only industry certificates that exclusively focuses on plant-based nutrition. With a fully virtual model, short program length, and affordable cost, this certificate is perfect for professionals who are interested in a plant-based approach to nutrition coaching.

eCornell is Cornell University’s online education platform that offers over 100 professional certifications in a variety of industries. Their Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate program, which was developed in collaboration with the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, teaches students about the science, history, and benefits of plant-based nutrition.

The Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate program includes three separate courses: Nutrition and Society, Nutrition and Chronic Disease, and Plant-Based in Practice. Each course runs for two weeks, which means that you can complete the entire certification in six weeks. And while the courses are not necessarily self-paced, they are self-led, so you can work on each course in your own time during the two-week course period.

Although eCornell is affiliated with Cornell University, there is no admissions process and no prerequisites for the online Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate program. That also means that the program is not eligible for any federal financial aid, so you will owe the full amount out-of-pocket.

Health Coach Institute (HCI) offers multiple programs for coaches, including health coaching, life coaching, and nutrition coaching. HCI’s Become a Nutrition Coach Program (BNC) is a six-month, self-guided certification course that allows health coaches to learn the skills needed to educate their clients on good nutrition.

Health Coach Institute (HCI) may be a newer contender in the online certification space, but since its creation in 2015, they have helped train over 20,000 students around the world. HCI’s Become a Nutrition Coach Program is a six-month, AADP-accredited program that covers everything from nutritional science to business development.

When you sign up for the BNC program, you’ll have access to two different levels of curriculum. Level One covers Nutritious Life Studio philosophies and basic coaching information while Level Two dives into nutritional science and business coaching. You can access the lessons from any device (as long as you have wi-fi), and you can expect to complete the full program in roughly six months.

Like many other online nutrition certificates, there are no prerequisites required to join the program. After completing the BNC program, you’ll be able to use the official title of Nutritious Life Master Certified Nutrition Coach. If you’re interested in using the course for continuing education credits, the BNC program qualifies for credits from seven different nationally-recognized organizations.