Best Online Nutritionist Certifications

Precision Nutrition is a peer-reviewed program that was co-created in 2005 by co-founder John Berardi, PhD. The course highlights science-backed behavior change coaching and nutrition, focusing on both the physiological and psychological aspects of nutrition coaching and effective ways to attract (and keep) clients. 

The self-taught program can usually be finished in about five months, but signing up guarantees you access for a year. While the government does not accredit the program, you can earn college and continuing education (CE) credits through Precision Nutrition.

It’s recognized by select U.S. colleges and is endorsed by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Council on Exercise (ACE), Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), and European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS). And the best part? For those who qualify, job interviews are available with select health and fitness companies in the United States, making following your future career path easier than ever.

Founded by Stacey Morgensten and Carey Peters, Health Coach Institute is a great place to pick up the fundamentals of good nutrition while learning a broader set of skills for effective health coaching. We love the program's accessibility and ability to appeal to nutritionists of all levels.

Excellent both for beginners and those looking to expand their practice, Health Coach Institute is a six-month online course that offers modules covering every aspect of nutrition, from how to coach to the basics of macros. You can also take the course at your own pace if you prefer. With your program tuition, you will gain access to an entire online community to chat with via an online portal, should you need additional support while taking the class. 

Through Health Coach Institute, you can become dual-certified as a health and life coach. This course, called the "Become a Health & Life Coach" program, is accredited as a Continuing Coach Education (CCE) curriculum by the International Coach Federation.

While the first pillar of the curriculum is a course on nutrition, it's important to remember that this certification will not qualify you as a registered dietitian.

Health Coach Institute's dual program isn't cheap, costing $5,950, but its goal is to set you up not only with the skills required to coach others, but an education in running a successful coaching business.

For less than $70 a month for 12 months, you’ll be able to learn from the experts at the International Sports Science Association, or ISSA. ISSA was founded in 1988 and launched its specialist fitness nutrition program in 2009; it covers the basics of nutrition and health coaching. The course can often be bundled with other certifications to give you a comprehensive knowledge base and prepare you to work with clients for the first time. 

There are no academic prerequisites to enroll in this ISSA course, but you should make sure that you’re able to finish the entire course in a year (although the company states that most people finish it much faster). You must also pass a final exam to become certified, and you can also earn continuing education units (CEUs) by taking this course, which is great for personal trainers or other professionals who want to reach their CEU requirements for the year. Once enrolled, you will receive textbooks and training materials with your course as well. However, this course alone is not accredited, though it does offer the ability to get credits such as CEUs and LLP Points.

Emory’s Health and Wellness Coaching Certificate is an Approved Health and Wellness Coach Training and Education Program by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC), which means that graduates of this program are eligible to apply for the HWC certifying examination. By completing the program and passing the exam, you can become a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach.

This accreditation alone is worth the high price point of the program, but those who want to go at their own pace should know that given the interactive nature of the program (think weekly coaching sessions and one-on-one time with mentors), this isn’t possible. Still, the certification boasts experienced instructors with significant health and wellness coaching backgrounds, and they provide thorough, development-focused evaluations and individual feedback. This program is excellent for people who want to become board-certified and need that extra push to get them on track.

Cornell University’s online plant-based certification option was created in partnership with the Center for Nutrition Studies, with the participation of over 25 experts (MDs, PhDs, RDs, and RNs). The courses are very research-heavy, emphasizing why following a plant-based diet is good for health. You take three two-week online courses that require six to eight hours of coursework per week, led by an instructor that helps you troubleshoot as you go. 

The course is accredited and you can also receive CE credits. However, if you want a course that encompasses other aspects of nutrition, such as coaching, an omnivore lifestyle, or sports medicine, this isn't the option for you. Since classes are live, you need to make sure they won't conflict with your schedule. 

ACE is a recognized leader in CE courses, and its courses are pre-approved for CEU credits with several other fitness certification providers such as NASM. This program in particular offers two major categories in the curriculum: nutrition foundations and behavior change coaching.

If you are already an ACE-certified professional, this is a great choice to increase your sports nutrition knowledge while gaining CEUs. However, although anyone can take the program, if you’re not already a certified personal trainer, health coach, healthcare professional, or in another similar profession, you can’t become certified as an ACE fitness nutrition specialist. To be recognized as an ACE Specialist, you must already hold a current license as a healthcare professional, or a current professional certification accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the International Organization for Standardization. 

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 program uses many different teaching methods to accommodate learning styles, such as audio, video, and textbook learning options. It’s offered in a self-paced format and led by an RD/MD, and you can start it any time of the year at your convenience.

Those looking to get a nutrition degree entirely online should definitely check out the Master of Science degree from Johnson & Wales. It offers a series of eight-week courses, and you'll need to take 10 of them, depending on your previous coursework. There are no specialized prerequisites, just an undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.85, and while the recommended time to complete the degree is two years, you can go at your own pace should you need it. 

Courses include everything from culinary nutrition topics to ways to incorporate nutrition in clinical settings. While the program is accredited, it’s important to note, however, that it doesn’t meet the requirements for an RD set forth by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)—instead, you would qualify as a nutritionist.

The University of New England’s MS in Applied Nutrition is ideal for those who want to become a registered dietitian via an entirely online program. This option has three curriculum pathways available:

• Dietetics focus (48 credit hours), which leads to a verification statement that allows you to write the exam for the RDN credential
• Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) focus (36 credit hours), which satisfies CNS requirements)
• MS in applied nutrition (27 credit hours), for those already certified as registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs)

The course is only offered at certain times during the year, and while it’s entirely online (no campus visits required, ever), the combination of teacher meetings and live courses means it’s not self-paced. 

You can finish your degree in two years with the RD option, and there are four optional specializations available: Non-Diet Approaches to Health Promotion, Nutrition and Disease Prevention, Sustainable Nutrition, or Individualized (build a curriculum designed to best serve your future goals through a combination of four courses across any focus areas). 

It’s important to note, however, that there are quite a few prerequisites to apply: A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution (or international equivalent) is essential, while the RDN to Master of Science in Applied Nutrition Pathway requires an RDN credential first. You also need an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, and previous coursework in nutrition and/or biology and statistics is recommended.

If you’re a beginner in the health and wellness space and looking for a comprehensive program that will teach you the ins and outs of creating a successful health coaching business, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition is your best bet.

IIN has two tracks—regular or accelerated—as well as a carefully planned syllabus that includes everything from scientific studies and holistic wellness practices to coaching behavioral patterns and business marketing. The institute aims to provide you with every detail required to start a successful health coaching business from scratch. The program maintains a roster of reputable faculty members, both visiting and on staff, including functional doctors, RDNs, hormone specialists, and more.

Upon completion of the course, you receive IIN certification, which allows you to practice health coaching (however, it does not qualify you as a registered dietitian). The IIN classes are broken up into seven categories—physical health, nutrition, mental and emotional health, primary food, spirituality, and coaching and business—and you’re required to take all of the courses.

This is a great certification for people who want an overview of how to start a coaching business, but it doesn’t provide the opportunity to go deep into a particular topic or specialty. And while the course can be expensive at almost $7,000, payment plans and financial aid are available. IIN is accredited through partnerships with specific organizations for approved transferrable credits, such as the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC), the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the Health Coach Alliance, and Health Coaches Australia and New Zealand Association (HCANZA).