Becoming a C.N. or C.C.N.

Certified Nutritionist (C.N.): C.N.s must earn a Bachelor of Science or higher degree in nutrition science from an accredited college or formal training program that is recognized by state licensing agencies.

They must meet any state licensing or certification requirements in their state, and comply with all statutes related to the practice of nutrition counseling. C.N.s must also complete a series of examinations required by the National Institute of Nutritional Education.

Certified Clinical Nutritionist (C.C.N.): To earn the C.C.N. credentials, nutritionists must have received a graduate degree in a health-care field or, if they only hold a B.A. degree, they must also complete 900 hours of medical and clinical nutrition internship.

They are then qualified to take case histories and use various tests and observations to assess an individual’s nutritional needs. C.C.N.s may use the results of their assessments as the basis for referring clients to a licensed physician or other health-care professional.

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Identifying a Certified Nutritionist or a C.C.N.

How to recognize a properly certified nutritionist is something you must know.

The title certified nutritionist (C.N.) or certified clinical nutritionist (C.C.N.) indicates that a person has had extensive education and training in nutrition science, and has met national testing standards.

Both C.N.s, and C.C.N.s work with clients to assess and analyze individual nutritional needs and develop personalized nutrition plans. During this process, they educate, advise, counsel, monitor, and provide support. Both conventional doctors and alternative health practitioners often refer their patients to nutritionists for dietary counseling.

The dietary information you receive from a certified nutritionist is most likely to be reliable and based on current knowledge in the field if the nutritionist has been working in the profession for a minimum of one year and holds one of the following certifications: