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 to take the Certification Examination for Physician Nutrition Specialists®, candidates must meet all of the following requirements:

Medical Licensure
- Hold a current license to practice medicine in the United States, or equivalent licensure in another country. Candidates must be licensed to practice medicine in the country in which they reside.
Demonstrated Expertise in Nutrition
- Meet two or more of the following criteria:
  - Mentored training in clinical Nutrition (Letter of recommendation from mentor required)
  - Service on a dedicated hospital support nutrition team (Letter from hospital chief of staff or physician department head required)
  - Nutrition research with peer-reviewed publications (Documented on curriculum vitae)
  - Teaching or clinical practive integration in nutrition, demonstrated by one of the following:
    - Teaching position involving nutrition at an academic medical center (Letter from department chair required) or
    - Personal statement describing integration of nutrition into clinical practice and a letter of support from an NBPNS Diplomate
  - Committee membership and/or leadership role in a national nutrition society (Documented on curriculum vitae)
  - Completion of at least 75 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) in clinical nutrition (CME documentation required)
  - Peer-recognized regional leadership role in nutrition (Letter of recommendation from a professional peer required)
Application Submission
- Submit a completed Application for the Certification Examination for Physician Nutrition Specialists®, including copies of a current medical license and board certification.
Examination Fee
- Submit payment of the required examination fee.

Final eligibility is subject to review and approval by the NBPNS Board.

Eligibility requirements have been adapted due to the limited availability of formal clinical nutrition training positions. Requirements are reviewed annually and may be updated as training opportunities expand.

APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION OR RECERTIFICATION

Visit our application portal, hosted by Prolydian, to begin.

Consult the Candidate Handbook for further details, including information about the remote proctoring experience and examination fees.

NBPNS Exam Content Outline Summary

General Aspects of Nutrition	35% of Exam
Nutritional Status Assessment	10% of Exam
Obesity and Related Metabolic Conditions	20% of Exam
Disease-Specific Nutrition	25% of Exam
Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Support	10% of Exam