Continuing Education Policy for Certified Nutrition Specialists

Continuing Education Policy for Certified Nutrition Specialists 

Goal: To assure the proficiency of Certified Nutrition Specialists (CNS) by requiring that each CNS participate periodically in continuing nutrition education (CNE) to refresh existing knowledge and skills, and to acquire knowledge and skills pertaining to new advances as well as state of the art information over the full spectrum of nutrition science and nutrition care.

During each 5-year period of certification, every CNS is required to –

  • Document 75 CNE credits by completing the Recertification Application found on the website
  • Pay a re-certification fee of $200

Please note that failure to recertify will lead to loss of your CNS credential.

CNE Activities

CNE includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:

1. Participation as a learner in a professional and structured educational activity that is related to nutrition and nutrition care.  Such activities include, but are not limited to:

      • Attendance at teaching activities offering continuing medical education (CME) or other continuing professional education (CPE) that are recognized by professional organizations, e.g., medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dietetics or other health professions organizations and societies.  The nutrition content of the activity must be equal to or greater than 50%. The number of CNE credits is equal to that offered by the sponsor of the activity.
      • Attendance at classes and teaching activities offered in association with nutrition educational opportunities hosted by provider organizations. The number of CNE credits will generally be equal to 1 credit per hour of instruction.
      • Nutrition courses at a US regionally accredited college or university.  Each semester hour of a course taken for credit is eligible for 15 CE credits (e.g. a 3 credit course is 45 hours of classroom instruction, thus 45 CNE credits.)  Audited courses are eligible at 8 CE credits for each semester hour.
      • Other learning activities approved by the CBNS Credentials Council.  The activity must be primarily educational in nature, the presentations of scientific quality, evidence-based, representative of a balanced discussion of the topic, with nutrition content equal to or greater than 50%.

Please note the following:

      • Courses may be taken in person or online.
      • Training classes and activities with the primary purpose of the promotion of the sale of medical, nutritional or other products, or that promote certain aspects of nutrition but lack scientific quality (e.g., sound methodology and statistical analysis, lack of objectivity or balance) are not eligible for CNE credits.
      • Examples of organizations which offer accepted continuing education activities include but are not limited to the following: Institute of Functional Medicine, the American College of Nutrition, American College for the Advancement of Medicine, Scripps Health, Functional Medicine University, American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, National Association of Nutrition Practitioners, Integrative Healthcare Symposium, www.NutritionCME.org and www.NutritionandHealthConf.org.
      • Documentation of CNE will consist of the Record of Earned Continuing Education Credits form found on the website.  Certificates of attendance, transcripts, or other evidence of participation may be requested if you are audited or upon request of the Credentials Council.

2.  Teaching nutrition courses at a US regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent institution.

      • Such courses are eligible for 1 CNE credit per lecture hour.
      • Documentation of eligible teaching will consist of a letter describing the course and the number of lecture hours taught by the submitting CNS.
      • A maximum of 50 CNE credits can be awarded in this category.

3. Authoring or co-authoring books and articles in the field of nutrition. 

These are eligible for CNE credits at the following equivalencies:

      • Advanced level professional book or textbook: 40 CNE credits.
      • Professional review article or book chapter that is published in a peer-reviewed journal or in an advanced professional book: 15 CNE credits.
      • Full original research article published in a peer-reviewed journal –
        • Primary author: 10 CNE credits
        • Contributing author:  5 CNE credits
      • Abstract of a scientific work or case history published in a peer-reviewed journal –
        • Primary author:  2 CNE credits
        • Contributing author: 1 CNE credit
      • Non-professional publication that is peer reviewed or reviewed by CBNS credentials council and based on rigorous scientific research—
        • Primary author:  10 CNE credits.
        • Contributing author:  5 CNE credits
        • A maximum of 50 CNE credits can be awarded in this category

Please note the following:

      • Books and papers must be published within the 5-year re-certification period to which they are applied.
      • Documentation of authorship will consist of the name and title of the publication.  The Credentials Council may request a copy of the work in certain cases.

4. Editorship.

    • Editor-in-chief of a professional nutrition journal:  25 CNE credits per annum.
    • Associate editor of a professional nutrition journal:  10 CNE credits per annum.
    • Member of editorial board of a nutrition-related journal:  2 CNE credits per annum.
    • Editor or co-editor of an advanced professional book or graduate level textbook in the field of nutrition:  15 CNE credits.
    • Documentation of CNE will consist of a letter describing the editorial activity by the submitting CNS.
    • A maximum of 50 CNE credits can be awarded in this category.

5. Organizing and Chairing or Co-chairing a scientific session at a professional meeting will be eligible for 2 CNE credits, if the nutrition content of the activities is equal to or greater than 50%.

    • Documentation of Organizing and Chairing or Co-Chairing a scientific session will consist of a letter describing the  activity, including the sponsor of the activity, subject content and number of CEs offered.
    • A maximum of 50 CNE credits can be awarded in this category.