NBPNS Certification
Why get certified?
Becoming a Diplomate of the National Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists signifies a physician as having achieved the highest level of competency and understanding in scientifically sound, evidenced-based medical nutrition. It establishes you as a true expert in the field of clinical nutrition clinical both among your colleagues and the general public. Increasing the pool of PNSs in academia, medical education, industry, and both hospital based and outpatient settings ensure that clinical nutrition is practiced and taught according to the highest standards, thereby elevating the field of medical nutrition.
Exam Eligibility
To be eligible for the NBPNS exam, a candidate must meet both of the requirements below:
1. Current licensure to practice medicine in the USA, or the equivalent licensure for other countries. All candidates for certification and maintenance of certification must be licensed to practice medicine in the country in which they reside.
2. Demonstrated expertise in nutrition defined by two (2) or more of the following*:
- Mentored training in clinical nutrition (requires letter of recommendation from mentor).
- Dedicated service on a hospital Multidisciplinary Nutrition Team (requires letter of recommendation from hospital chief of staff or physician head of department).
- Performance of research with publications in nutrition (provide documentation on curriculum vitae).
- Either of the following:
- Teaching position involving nutrition at an academic medical center (requires letter of recommendation from department chairman), or
- Personal statement describing the applicant’s current clinical practice and how the applicant integrates nutrition management in their practice, and letter of support by an NBPNS Diplomate attesting to the applicant’s expertise in nutrition.
- Committee membership and/or leadership role in a national or regional nutrition society (provide documentation on curriculum vitae).
- Completion of a minimum of 75 or more nutrition-related CME hours in last five (5) years of Continuing Medical Education (CME) devoted to clinical nutrition (provide CME documentation).
- Regional peer-recognized leadership role in nutrition (requires letter of recommendation from peer in community).
* Final acceptance of eligibility is subject to satisfactory review by the NBPNS Board of Directors.
We are currently making improvements to our testing process.
Click here to sign up online and receive updates on the next testing cycle.
NBPNS Exam Content Outline Summary
| General Aspects of Nutrition | 10% of Exam |
| Wellness Promotion | 5% of Exam |
| Nutrients and Integrative Nutrition | 20% of Exam |
| Nutritional Status Assessment | 7% of Exam |
| Obesity | 25% of Exam |
| Disease-Specific Nutrition | 25% of Exam |
| Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Support | 8% of Exam |