How Long Does It Take to Become a Certified Nutrition Coach?
Reading Time: 5 minutes 20 seconds
BY: ISSA
DATE: 2023-08-02
A nutrition coach helps clients improve their health and well-being through dietary measures. One way they do this is by creating a meal plan based on the client’s goals (weight loss, building muscle, etc.). They can also provide nutrition advice, healthy eating strategies, and more. If you want to become a certified nutrition coach, you may be wondering how long this will take.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Certified Nutrition Coach?
In some cases, the time it takes to become a certified nutrition coach is largely up to you. If a certification program is offered online and self-paced, you can complete it as quickly or as slowly as you’d like. Though, there may be some limitations to this.
For example, some nutrition coaching programs have expiration dates. This requires you to complete your studies by a certain date. Certainly, you can complete them sooner. But you’ll want to keep the deadline in mind if your certification program has one.
An online nutrition certification course may also have a guided study option. This provides a weekly framework for your studies, keeping you on track with the certification process. As a matter of reference, International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) offers guided study with its Certified Nutritionist program. Follow this outline and you can be a certified nutrition coach in just 10 weeks.
Other certification options require you to have a degree first. One example is the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) designation offered through the American Nutrition Association (1). To qualify, you must hold a master's or doctoral degree in nutrition or a clinical healthcare field. This can take substantially longer to earn your certification.
Who Could Benefit from Becoming a Certified Nutritionist
Investing the time needed to earn your certification is a big decision. Taking this step can be beneficial for a variety of health professionals interested in becoming a nutrition specialist.
One to consider is a personal trainer. A personal trainer provides clients with customized exercise plans, but providing a nutrition program is outside their scope of practice. Obtaining a certification in nutrition would allow them to do both. They can then expand their fitness business by offering more services. If they charge extra for nutrition guidance, it can also increase their income.
Or maybe the professional wants to transition from personal trainer to nutrition specialist. They can do this too. This would make it possible to stay in the health and fitness field, just in a different role. It may even provide benefits financially.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median pay for a fitness trainer is $40,000 per year (2). Yet, the median wage for a nutritionist is $61,650 annually (3). That’s a $21,650 yearly difference. Of course, these wages are medians and not guarantees. But it does suggest that there might be financial advantages to providing nutrition services as a fitness professional, even if offered as a supplement to physical training programs.
If you offer health coaching, being able to provide nutrition coaching too can be beneficial. Healthy eating can help prevent disease and improve physical and mental wellness. That makes this certification also a good option for a wellness coach, for the same reasons.
Really, anyone who wants to help people improve their well-being through diet can benefit from becoming a nutrition coach. Completing a certification program shows a potential nutrition client that you have the education needed to create a customized meal plan. This can increase their confidence in you as a nutrition specialist.
6 Steps to Earning a Nutrition Certification
If you choose to pursue a nutrition certification that does not require a health science or similar degree, plan to take these steps:
Step 1 – Research program options. Several agencies offer certification programs designed to prepare you to become a nutrition coach. Check them out and select the right program for you. (We share tips for picking a certification program below.)
Step 2 – Schedule your study sessions. This is especially important if the certification program is self-paced. If you don’t set aside to time to study regularly, it’s easy to miss the course’s deadline. If the program has guided study, this can help you recognize how much time you’ll need to set aside each week.
Step 3 – Start learning the materials. Go through the curriculum. Read the required materials, watch the provided videos, and look at any other resources included in the course. Take notes along the way as research on notetaking reveals that this one simple act improves the learning process (4).
Step 4 – Take the quizzes and exams. You may not like quizzes and exams, but these tests offer a lot of value. Namely, they help measure the extent to which you’ve learned the required information. They can also bring to light any areas you need to focus on more. Addressing these areas now can make it easier to pass the certification exam. It can also make you a better nutrition coach.
Step 5 – Study for the final exam. Once the course is complete, the final step is to take the certification exam. Prepare beforehand by going through your course notes. You may also want to re-watch some of the videos, improving your grasp on different areas of nutrition science.
Step 6 – Take the certification exam. When you feel ready, take the certification exam. Double-check your answers before submitting it so you don’t make simple mistakes. If the exam is open book, review the materials to confirm that you’ve provided the correct answers to the questions.
Taking these six steps can help you become not just a nutrition coach but a certified nutrition coach. But there is still a little more you can do if you want to increase your success as a nutrition professional.
Qualities Helpful for a Certified Nutrition Specialist
The BLS indicates that there are several qualities that are important for a nutrition coach to have (5). They are:
being analytical
having compassion
exhibiting good listening and speaking skills
being organized
ability to problem-solve
Working on these qualities, also commonly referred to as soft skills, can help improve your success in nutrition coaching.
What to Look for in a Nutrition Certification Program
Choosing the best nutrition coaching program for you requires that you do a little research. Look over each certification course carefully to make sure it has everything you want and need. Here are a few things to watch for:
How it’s offered. Can you obtain your certification online or do you need to appear in person? Online might be better if you want convenience and like to go at your own pace. In-person may be preferred if you learn best with face-to-face contact.
Included study materials. Does the certification program come with a textbook? Is it print or digital? What about videos or other training resources? Are all of these included in the cost or is there an extra charge?
Easy access to help. If you run into issues or have questions while getting your certification, do you have someone to go to? Some coaching courses come with a mentor. This person is as committed to your success as you, helping support you every step of the way.
Continuing education (CE) opportunities. To keep your nutrition certification active, you must regularly take educational courses. These courses update you on the latest in human nutrition. They also increase your knowledge in certain areas. You might take a CE course to learn more about sports nutrition, for instance. Or you could earn CE credits learning about integrative nutrition or holistic nutrition. If you want to grow your business, you might take a CE course to help you become a nutrition consultant.
Want help comparing courses? Check out BarBend for a thorough review of the top nutrition certifications.
How to Become a Nutrition Coach
If you’re ready to get started, check out ISSA's Nutritionist Certification program today. This course teaches nutrition specialists how to create personalized meal plans based on the client’s situation and needs. You’ll also learn about trending diets and myths, supplementation, and more.
Featured Course
ISSA | Nutritionist
By becoming an ISSA Nutritionist, you'll learn the foundations of how food fuels the body, plus step by step methods for implementing a healthy eating plan into clients' lifestyles.
References
CNS Pathways Quick Check. American Nutrition Association. (n.d.-b). https://theana.org/certify/CNScandidate/pathways
Fitness trainers and instructors : Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022b, September 8). https://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/fitness-trainers-and-instructors.htm
Dietitians and nutritionists : Occupational outlook handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022a, September 30). https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm#tab-1
Research on Student Notetaking: Implications for Faculty and Graduate Student Instructors. University of Michigan. (2001). https://crlt.umich.edu/sites/default/files/resource_files/CRLT_no16.pdf
Dietitians and nutritionists : Occupational outlook handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022a, September 30). https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm#tab-4