Best Nutrition Certification: Online Training by NASM, ISSA, NCSF, PN1, CNS, NESTA, & ACE

When you want to go into the field of nutrition, getting one or multiple of the best nutrition certifications will help. There are many to choose from, and you can gain plenty of benefits from each. However, before you decide, you should understand each online nutrition certification program and what they offer.

Whether you want to become a certified nutrition specialist, a nutrition counselor, or a health coach, there’s a certificate for you. Let’s look at some of the best nutrition certification options to make the right choice for yourself.

When looking for the best online nutrition certification, compare a few options before you decide. Each has a different price point and has something unique to offer. But, no matter which one you choose on this list, you’ll be ready to work with clients to help them reach their nutrition and fitness goals.

Top 7 Nutrition Certification Programs

1. NASM Certified Nutrition Coach

You can become a certified nutrition coach with one of the best online nutrition certification courses from NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine). It was added in 2021 as a replacement for the old fitness nutrition specialist certification.

Becoming a certified nutrition coach offers the ability to provide quality nutrition information for your clients. You can help them choose the right behavioral changes and strategies to make those changes. With the sports nutrition knowledge you gain, you can help clients make lifestyle changes to lose weight, become healthier, or even gain muscle.

The NASM-certified nutrition coach certificate will teach you:

• Nutritional Science – you will learn everything from evidence-based nutrition and practice, food preference and influence, energy balance, metabolism, and much more.
• Behavior Change Strategies – you will learn the psychology of weight control and behavior change, coaching and communication, motivation, and goal setting.
• Nutrition Coaching – you will learn dietary assessment and body composition testing, food and supplement labels and portion size, helping clients navigate the real world, navigating diets, nutrition hot topics and controversies, managing weight-loss plateaus, and maintaining weight loss.

Along with these skills, you will also get 1.9 NASM continuing education credits when you complete this nutrition certification.

NASM Nutrition Certification Cost

You can become a NASM-certified nutrition coach for a cost of $899. With this online nutrition program, you will receive 24 in-depth chapters, a downloadable textbook PDF, 40+ high-end lecture videos, 200+ downloadable handouts & infographics, a high-end easy-to-use digital portal, one year to complete the final exam, and 100% online, access on all devices.

They offer payment plans with 0% interest, no credit check, and no penalties or fees. It will take you around 12 weeks to complete this certification course. You can also take the nutrition certification and personal trainer certification combination from NASM. This program is more costly but does offer two different certifications to help your career.

The Exam

If you want to become a NASM-certified nutrition coach, you will have to pass the exam. The exam with this nutrition certification includes 100 multiple-choice questions. You get 90 minutes to answer the questions. A passing score of 70% or higher is necessary. If you don’t pass, you can retake the exam up to three times.

NASM Pros	NASM Cons
Self-Paced Program	Renew Every Two Years
Bundle Options	Expensive

Cancellation/Refund Policy

This policy is applicable to all products and services, including continuing education, purchased in the United States directly from NASM/AFAA, excluding the cancellation by the company of workshops or live events.

• All sales are final twenty-eight (28) days after the date of purchase (the “return period”). In other words, as of the 29th day following the date of purchase, the company will not provide refunds or accept returns. Therefore, you must contact the member services department within the return period to request a refund.
• The following standard fees are non-refundable: shipping and/or handling, application, administration, test extension, late cancellation, retest, workshop transfer, program extension, petition, recertification, and recertification late fees.

2. ISSA Nutritionist Certification

The ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association) Nutritionist Certification is one of the most comprehensive online nutrition certifications on the list. You will learn how to teach your clients what to eat to reach their fitness and nutrition goals. While exercise is important, you cannot exercise enough to compensate for a bad diet.

Clients need nutrition education to become successful. When you earn the ISSA Nutritionist Certification, you will be able to provide nutrition advice to your clients. It could complement your personal training career or become a career by itself.

The ISSA Nutritionist Course will teach you the following:

• Macronutrients and micronutrients to help your clients know what to eat and why
• How to use lifestyle-changing strategies to increase nutrition
• How to set proper goals with your clients
• What you need to know about claims and product labels
• Understanding the trending diets and myths
• The most up-to-date dietary guidelines
• How to properly use supplementation
• The business of nutrition coaching

You will have access to these great tools, such as the ISSA nutritionist textbook, practice exam & section quizzes, nutritionist education boot camp, a library of client forms, online and home study exams, an online student forum, a free professional website, and unlimited educational support.

ISSA Nutrition Certification Cost

As one of the best nutrition certifications, this offering from International Sports Science Association is $66.58 a month for 12 months, totaling $799 for the year. In addition, you can choose payment plans of six monthly payments or 12 monthly payments.

ISSA Pros	ISSA Cons
Client Focused Teaching	8 Months to Finish
Affordable	Small Refund Window

Cancellation/Refund Policy

All sales are final seven (7) days after the date of purchase (the “return period”). In other words, as of the 8th day following the date of purchase, the company will not provide refunds or accept returns. Therefore, you must contact your success coach within the return period to request a refund.

The following standard fees are non-refundable: shipping and/or handling, application, administration, test extension, late cancellation, retest, workshop transfer, program extension, petition, recertification, and recertification late fees.

All sales are final on Continuing Education Units, CPR certifications, and the CPT Study Expansion Pack. Refunds are not provided on these products.

3. NCSF Sports Nutrition Specialist

If you want to learn proven nutritional strategies you can use to help your clients, the NCSF Sports Nutrition Specialist certification is a great option. It’s one of the best online nutrition certification programs for those that are in the fitness industry or those looking to learn more about sport nutrition knowledge.

NCSF (National Council on Strength & Fitness) is known as a big-time advocate for health and wellness. They are on a mission to help spread better health and fitness through many programs. The NCSF Sports Nutrition program is one of the most popular they offer and provides a comprehensive curriculum.

With this nutrition program, you will learn about enhancing your clients’ performance, balancing their weight and activity levels, which supplements and performance enhancers they can utilize, and the perfect timing of nutrients and fluids for your client’s optimal results.

NCSF Nutrition Certification Cost

The NCSF offers two package options for its online nutrition certification program:

• Home Study – for $699, you get a digital textbook, instructional videos, lesson notes, Q&As, review quizzes, instructor support, a one-year membership, 8 NCSF continuing education credits, as well as a payment plan option.
• Home Study+ – for $799, you get everything that is offered in the Home Study plan, but you also get a hard copy of the textbook.

They also offer pro bundles in which you can get dual credentialing or become a master trainer:

• Sports Nutrition Specialist + Certified Personal Trainer – for $1,299, you get everything in the Home Study plan, and you have the option to receive a hard copy of the textbook.
• Sports Nutrition Specialist + Certified Strength Coach – for $1,299, you get the same options as the SNS + CPT plan.
• Master Trainer – for $2,197, you can earn the badge of excellence and get certifications as a sports nutrition specialist, personal trainer, and certified strength coach.

The Exam

Just like a few of the best nutrition certifications on this list, you will need to pass an exam to become certified through the NCSF. The exam will cost $349 and covers 150 multiple-choice questions; you get three hours to complete it. You will need to score a 70% to pass and become certified.

If you don’t pass the test, you will need to wait 30 days and pay a $99 fee to retake the exam in the US and Canada or $299 for International.

NCSF Pros	NCSF Cons
Instructor Support	Sports Focused
Dual Credentialing	No CE Refunds

Cancellation/Refund Policy

Refund for Exam registration – you may request a refund instead of rescheduling; to request a refund, you must contact the NCSF in writing within 30 days (electronically date-stamped or postmarked) of your original exam registration. If the request is received within 30 days of the original registration, refunds will be 50% of your exam registration fee. There are no refunds after 30 days of original exam registration.

All NCSF continued education course studies are non-refundable.

4. Precision Nutrition Certification Level 1 (PN1)

This nutrition certification program is a great choice if you’re already a fitness professional. The PN1 certification is designed for those already in the industry. Precision Nutrition has been named the #1 online nutrition certification by Business Insider; the PN nutrition certification is everything you need to become a certified nutritionist and master nutrition science and feel qualified to coach any client.

You will be able to help people eat better, improve their mental and physical health, and achieve long-lasting results for your clients, all while you succeed both now and in the future. In addition, you can join their free waitlist and receive up to $428 in savings off the general price, free coaching strategies and tips for attracting new clients, and get notified when registration opens up!

With this online nutrition certification program, you will learn all about mastering the art of behavior-change coaching, coaching online or in-person, either full-time or part-time and helping people improve their physical and mental health all while studying at home at your own pace. You will also earn college and continuing education credits, join a thriving coaching network, and get a guaranteed job interview so you can make a great living doing what you love!

The PN1 nutrition certification is a great choice for health and fitness professionals looking to advance.

Precision Nutrition Certification Cost

The general public price for the PN1 certification is $1,428, but if you sign up for the waitlist, you can get the expert-guided version for $999. You can also purchase the self-paced version for about $799. They do offer payment plans as well. It can also be bundled through ISSA with the personal training certification, offering even more value.

The curriculum you will receive with this certification includes the following:

• A three-unit textbook
• A workbook and study guide
• 20 animated instructional video seminars
• Real-world case studies
• Online study forum access
• Over 40 premium coaching tools
• Assessment forms and questionnaires you can use for your clients

It’s one of the better curriculums on the list and offers many tools you can use once you complete the certification.

The Exam

Once you complete the PN1 nutrition course, you need to pass the certification quizzes with a 75% or higher.

If you are looking to receive college credit, you will need to take a proctored closed book final exam and receive a 75% or higher.

PN1 Pros	PN1 Cons
Money-Back Guarantee	Higher Pricing
Science-Based	Registration a Few Times a Year

Cancelation/Refund Policy

PN1 offers a 30-day back guarantee; you have up to 30 days from the program’s start date to claim their money-back guarantee. Note that if you access their services through one of their ProCoach Clients, Precision is not responsible for and disclaims all warranties and liabilities with respect to your payment arrangements with the ProCoach Client.

If you have purchased the PN Level 1 Nutrition Certification Program or have purchased any of the PN guides and you are not satisfied with the materials they provide, and you have not yet completed the program, you have up to 45 days from the date of registering for their services to return any textbook(s) you receive and get your money back. You are required to pay for return shipping, though.

5. Fitness Mentors Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)

Known as one of the best online nutrition certificate options in the fitness world, Fitness Mentors has become a great choice for professionals in the industry. The FM online nutrition certifications option gives you everything you need to start nutrition and health coaching.

With this nutritionist certification program, you will learn the following:

• Scope of Practice
• The Digestive System
• Metabolism
• Carbohydrates
• Lipids
• Protein
• Micronutrients and Water
• Nutrition Assessment
• Nutrition Coaching
• Exercise and Sports Nutrition

You will receive a digital textbook, a mentor to help you, audiobook lectures, quizzes at the end of every chapter, and video presentations. This certification package also includes pre-made nutrition and meal templates to make it easier to coach your clients.

Fitness Mentors Nutrition Certification Cost

This is one of the more affordable options on the list at $499 for this certification. It comes in a single package option with no combination option. Of course, you can get other certifications from Fitness Mentors.

The Exam

You will need to pass a final exam to earn this online nutrition certification. The exam is 60 questions long, and you will need to score a 70% or higher. You only get two attempts to pass.

Fitness Mentors Pros	Fitness Mentors Cons
Very Affordable	No Combo Options
Mentor Help	Very Small Refund Window

Cancellation/Refund Policy

Fitness Mentors does have a refund policy, but the sale of all PDF study guides are final.

For the CEU Courses, the Online Course, Audio Lectures, and Practice Tests, Fitness Mentors does have a 48-hour return policy. As long as 5 or more quizzes have been taken or a Final Exam attempt has been made on any course, the entire course is non-refundable. Or if more than 30% of the lessons have been accessed and/or any materials have been downloaded, the course is non-refundable. You must contact Fitness Mentors within 48 hours of purchase to approve all returns. The 48-hour return policy is calculated from the date and hour of purchase.

All shipping, handling, finance, and installment fees are non-refundable for purposes of this refund policy.

A 10% restocking fee will be charged on all returns (the restocking fee also includes online products and courses).

All sales are final after 48 hours.

6. NESTA Certified Nutrition Coach

A great choice for fitness professionals, the NESTA nutrition coach certification has three different online nutrition programs to choose from. You can start with the fitness nutrition coaching certification, which is best if you want to help the general public with nutrition and training. However, if you plan to work with athletes, you will want NESTA sports nutrition specialist certification. This certification focuses on boosting athletic performance through nutrition. They also offer a lifestyle & weight management specialist certification, where you will learn proven strategies to reduce and manage stress and promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

These online nutrition certifications offer a great place to start with plenty of basic fitness and sports information. Then, you will learn all about building your personal training business and how to use nutrition advice to increase your earnings. Anybody can take these online nutrition certification courses without any pre-requisites.

NESTA Nutrition Certification Cost

The NESTA-certified fitness nutrition coach certification is $297, while the sports nutrition specialist certification is $347, and the lifestyle weight & management specialist certification is $127. You can purchase both the fitness nutrition coach and the lifestyle weight & management specialist certifications together for $339. You can also get the sports/fitness nutrition coaching bundle for $449. They even offer a holistic nutritionist certification that can be bundled with the fitness coaching program for $473.

These curriculums will include an online textbook, many different training videos, and access to the exam. You won’t get a massive package to study for these nutrition certifications, but you will get everything you need to prepare.

The Exam

You will need to pass a 100 multiple-choice question exam to become certified with NESTA. A 70% or higher score will be necessary to pass the exam. You will get three attempts to pass the exam, and the results will be given immediately. A $95 retest fee will be charged if you have failed the exam after the third attempt. You will have one year to complete the course and exam from the time of purchase.

NESTA Pros	NESTA Cons
Very Affordable	Short Refund Window
Holistic Nutrition Option

Cancellation/Refund Policy

NESTA does have a refund policy; after placing an order, you have three business days to request a refund or exchange. They must receive an email or verbal notification within the first three business days of placing your order. If the exam has been taken, no refund will be issued. After three business days of ordering, no refunds, cancellations, or exchanges will be granted. No refunds or exchanges will be granted upon creating an account and completing the registration process or upon accessing or completing an exam. A $25 administrative fee applies to students who have not attempted a course exam upon receiving a refund or store credit.

Non-proctored exam attempts are non-refundable.

Exam fees, shipping, and administrative fees are non-refundable.

7. ACE Fitness Nutrition Specialist

Another of the best online nutrition certificate programs is the ACE Fitness Nutrition Specialist Certification. This certification program will provide you with the information you will need to become a more well-rounded health and fitness professional with the tools to impact lasting change in your clients’ nutrition.

When you complete the ACE fitness nutrition specialist certification, you will be able to help clients get healthier and make better food choices. You will learn everything you need to teach nutrition and behavior changes to your clients.

While anyone can take the ACE fitness nutrition specialist program, pre-requisite credentials are needed to be recognized as an ACE specialist. These pre-requisites are:

• Hold a current professional certification in health education, fitness, wellness, or allied health that is accredited by the NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies) or the ISO 17024 (International Organization for Standardization)
• Hold a current license as a healthcare professional

With this top online nutrition certification program, they will teach you the wealth of knowledge and skills you need to maximize your expertise in nutrition while staying within the scope of your practice for your clients.

With this online nutritionist certification, you will get access to:

• ACE Fitness Nutrition Manual – A registered dietician shares how to effectively obtain and use a diet history for goal setting, teaching clients how to read and compare nutrition labels and tips for preparing simple and healthy meals.
• ACE Fitness Nutrition Lecture Series – Learn what nutritional guidance falls within your scope of practice, a grocery store tour to choose healthy foods, develop nutrition programs for your clients, and grow your business.
• ACE Presents Fitness Nutrition – Learn how to set goals for your clients based on their stage of behavior change, and learn how to understand nutrition labels and cooking demonstrations.
• Coaching Behavior Change Part 1: Stages of Change Reading – You will learn the stages of behavior change, managing any client relapse, and identifying your client’s stage of change.
• Coaching Behavior Change Part 2: Stages of Change Podcast – this podcast will guide you through the details of each stage of the behavior change process with an engaging discussion.

ACE Nutrition Certification Cost

There are two options when it comes to the ACE fitness nutrition specialist program. You can get just the eBook for $699 or the eBook and the Hard Copy for $799.

You can choose to pay in four interest-free payments, too.

ACE Pros	ACE Cons
eBook OPtion	Pre-Requisites Required
Transferrable for CEU

Cancellation/Refund Policy

ACE does have a refund policy; materials/products returned within 30 days of purchase are eligible for a refund. No restocking fee will apply if materials are returned in good condition within 30 days. Good condition is defined as being undamaged, unused, and able to be re-sold without issue. ACE will ultimately determine the determination of any returned items’ condition. If the item(s) are not returned in good condition, a 20% restocking fee will apply.

Shipping charges related to returns are non-refundable. ACE is not responsible for shipping charges related to returns or refunds. The costs of shipping a product back to ACE from refusing a delivery shall be deducted from any refund.

If the study program includes a voucher or live education product that has been used, the study program is not refundable.

---

There are many nutrition certification options to choose from. However, if you want to choose the best online nutrition options, these are some of the top choices. Whether you’re already a trainer or looking to break into the industry, these seven top nutrition certifications offer excellent options.