Best Online Nutritionist Certifications

Although you can finish the program in four to five months, Precision Nutrition gives you access to their science-backed program for an entire year, so you can delve into the material at your own pace and find a rhythm that works best for you.

Precision Nutrition is a peer-reviewed program that was created in 2005 by co-founder Dr. John Berardi. 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 US colleges and is endorsed by NASM, ACSM, ACE, CrossFit, CIMSPA, and 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.

Health Coach Institute helps beginners in nutrition (or registered dietitians looking to advance their practice) find ways to take their education to the next level with a combination of skill labs, webinars, lessons, and private chats that will guide you toward mastery in a unique, fun way.

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 over 120 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 dually certified as a health and life coach. This course, called the "Become a Health 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 nutritionist.

Health Coach Institute's dual program isn't cheap, costing between $5,450 and $7,455, 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.

The International Sports Science Association’s nutrition course is an affordable way to teach you the science of food in a self-paced, accessible, jampacked program.

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, which 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 gain 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.

If you choose to enroll in Emory’s 20-week nutrition certification program, you get access to the university’s live live online curriculum with five mentored coaching sessions, theory and practice for both behavioral coaching psychology and nutrition basics, and in-depth feedback and evaluations from experienced instructors.

Emory’s Health and Wellness Coaching Certificate is an Approved Health and Wellness Coach Training & 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, you can become a National Board Certified Health & 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, who’ll 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.

eCornell’s nutrition program is one of the few online certifications available online which is exclusively for plant-based eating, with a science-backed curriculum that’s backed by a ton of research.

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 your health. In addition, you take three 2-week online courses that require five to seven hours of coursework per week, led by an instructor that’s able to 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. 

A recognized leader in CE courses, American Council on Exercise offers a fitness nutrition specialist program that anyone can follow in their own time, without any prerequisites. 

ACE is a recognized leader in CE courses, offering certifications that can be easily transferred for CEUs with other companies. ACE’s courses are pre-approved for CEU credits with several other fitness certification providers such as NASM and ACFM, and 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, one 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 in the year at your convenience.

This two-year online graduate degree course is entirely self-paced, providing culinary education, scientific expertise, and nutrition best practices in a series of eight-week courses.

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, during which one takes 10 to 12 classes depending on the previous coursework of the student. There are no minimum requirements required except an undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.85, and while the recommended time 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 track—instead, you would qualify as a nutritionist.

This Master of Science program in Applied Nutrition is the University of New England’s accredited program that allows an RDN track for those looking to get their Master’s Degree in Applied Nutrition.

The University of New England’s MS in Applied Nutrition is ideal for those looking to become registered dietitians entirely online. This option has three curriculum pathways available: An NECHE-accredited, 48-credit-hour MS, Dietetics focus option, which leads to a verification statement that allows you to write the exam for the RDN credential, another 36-credit-hour option that satisfies CNS (Certified Nutrition Specialist requirements), or a 27-credit-hour option for those already holding an RDN to also receive an MS in Applied Nutrition. The course, however, 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 new 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.

The Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN) offers a comprehensive health coaching program that spans over six or 12 months to complete, (depending on your preference)., It covers everything from nutrition science to holistic wellness concepts through a vast array of visiting and on-staff faculty.

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 pick. It has two tracks — 12 months regular or six months 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. This aims to provide you with every detail required to start a successful health coaching business from scratch. IIN also maintains a roster of reputable faculty members, both visiting and on staff, including functional doctors, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), hormone specialists, and more.

Upon completion of the course, you receive IIN certification, which allows you to practice health coaching (however, this does not qualify you as a Registered Dietician). 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 (NBWC), the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the Health Coach Alliance, and Health Coaches Australia and New Zealand Association (HCANZA).