The 5 Best Schools for an Online Nutrition Certificate: Undergraduate & Graduate Programs 2024

If you’re pursuing a degree in health and wellness, then consider an online nutrition certificate! Nutritionist is a varied profession, and job outlook and pay will depend on credentials and amount of schooling. Factors such as cost, accreditation, and completion time all play a role in what the term “nutritionist” will mean for your career specifically. Not all online programs serve the same purpose.

One popular way to become a nutritionist is by earning a nutritionist certificate online. An undergrad certificate provides a solid foundation in nutrition science and its application. On the other hand, a graduate certificate in this field can open up advanced opportunities! Read on to learn more about the different types of nutritionist certificates online, specific schools and programs that offer them, and the pros and cons to each type.

Article Navigation: Types of Nutrition Certifications Online | 5 Best Schools for Nutrition Online Certificates | Admission Requirements | Certificates vs Certification | Accreditation and Licensing | Careers and Salary with Nutrition Certification Online | Begin an Online Nutrition Certificate Today!

Types of Nutrition Certifications Online

So, which online nutrition certificate is best for you? First thing’s first. It’s important to understand the differences between three different types of online nutrition certificate programs.

Holistic Nutrition Certification Online / Counseling Certificate

Are you interested in today’s modern coaching strategies and research? Then a holistic nutrition coach certification online may be perfect for you. This type of certificate in nutrition online is suitable for fitness specialists and personal trainers who wish to expand their skills to assist more clients. Others who benefit from this type of program include:

• Health and wellness coaches seeking to expand their nutrition expertise
• Nutrition professionals and RDNs who wish to support their clients in a holistic manner

Many of the schools that offer this program offer it 100% online! In this way, it’s ideal for working students seeking flexibility and convenience. Participants tend to complete this certificate in six months or under, and can often work at their own pace.

Online Fitness & Nutrition Certificate

Next is the certificate in sports nutrition online. This credential is ideal for those with a passion for athletics. Students will learn how to help clients reach their fitness goals, lose weight, and strength train. They’ll also learn about nutrition and exercise plans through flexible online courses. A pro of this type of nutrition and fitness certificate online is that it’s convenient. This would be beneficial for those seeking balance between competing commitments. Courses covered include but are not limited to:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Medical terminology
• Stress management
• Strength and conditioning
• Nutrition basics

Online Dietetics/Didactic Prep Certificate

In this type of nutritionist certificate online you’ll learn to translate nutrition science and practically apply it in clinical and community settings. Courses emphasizing the application of nutrition and dietetics help you build a sturdy foundation in biology and chemical sciences. You’ll also learn to contribute to the nutritional science and dietetics field through research, practice, and leadership.

Studies generally consist of support courses from the physical, social, and life sciences. Students can choose a dietetics focus and prepare to become practicing nutritionists or dietitians. Following completion, you will be able to apply for supervised practice programs accredited by ACEND.

5 Best Schools for Nutrition Online Certificates

GetEducated selects schools based on their prestige, education quality, and cost.

1. American College of Healthcare Sciences

   Degree: Undergraduate Certificate in Holistic Nutrition Consulting
   Registration Fee: $200.00
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $6,304

   If you’re a leader interested in research and application, consider this nutrition online certificate. It teaches holistic nutrition protocols for rebalancing of the body and restoration of wellness. Students will learn how to teach these protocols to their clients, in addition to the following:

   – How to set up a practice
   – How to access information from state regulatory bodies
   – Complying with requirements at the state and local level

   These nutrition certificate courses offer current topics in holistic nutrition, which provide up-to-date evidence-based support.

   Courses also emphasize effective listening skills that future specialists can apply in their coaching sessions. You’ll learn the ins and outs of running a holistic nutrition business ranging from record keeping and scope of practice to ethics and marketing. This program even studies legal considerations and required insurance. Among the topics of the nutrition certificate courses are:

   – Nutritional biochemistry
   – Acid-alkaline balance
   – Fasting
   – Food combining
   – Transitional daily diet
   – Wheatgrass therapy
   – Sprouting

   The certificate can lead to careers such as Wellness Educator, Nutrition Consultant, Holistic Nutrition Consultant, and Nutritional Therapy Consultant. It’s an undergrad certificate and accredited by Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).

   Find Out More:
   Undergraduate Certificate in Holistic Nutrition Consulting

    

2. Penn Foster

   Degree: Fitness and Nutrition Certificate
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $599

   The next online nutrition certificate program offers knowledge and skills related to health and nutrition. Some of the best courses throughout this program cover topics such as:

   – Medical terminology
   – Stress management
   – Anatomy and physiology
   – Strength and conditioning
   – Nutrition

   Specifically, students will learn to identify upper and lower body structures. They’ll better understand exercises and programs that enhance the fitness of these two areas. Outcomes of the program include knowing how to create customized nutrition and fitness plans with clients, in addition to strategies for keeping them motivated to achieve their goals.

   Those interested in learning more about fitness and nutrition for personal use or for their careers would be a good fit for these accredited online nutrition courses. Their flexibility allows you to work at their own pace. If you dedicate several hours each week to coursework you can complete this nutrition and fitness certificate online in about a year.

   Find Out More:
   Fitness and Nutrition Certificate

    

3. Linfield University

   Degree: Certificate in Nutrition & Wellness
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $9,405

   Next on our list of the best online nutrition certificate programs is Linfield University. This particular program teaches how to shape healthy lifestyles and promote longevity. Some of the topics explored include but aren’t limited to:

   – Nutrition-related policies and practices
   – Human nutrition
   – Food science
   – Cultural factors
   – Environment and research on balanced diets
   – Weight management
   – Disease prevention
   – Exercise and sports

   Linfield’s nutrition certificate online will teach you to apply food and nutrition knowledge while critiquing evidence-based nutrition interventions for wellness, disease, physical activity, and sport. Further, these studies reveal the effect of diets, menu plans, caloric intake, nutritional supplements on exercise performance and recovery.

   If you want to become a more effective communicator, this is also a great program for that! You’ll learn to analyze and critique nutrition information, as well as apply cultural principles to influence healthy behaviors.

   Since 1928, Linfield University has held accreditation from NWCCU. The US Department of Education and CHEA recognize NWCCU as an institutional accrediting agency.

   Find Out More:
   Certificate in Nutrition & Wellness

    

4. Indiana University Online

   Degree: Certificate in Nutrition
   Tuition (in-state): $3,696
   Tuition (out-of-state): $4,805

   With this nutrition certificate online, you’ll better understand the connections between origins and impact. Studies cover a more complex nutritional knowledge base to shape healthier decision-making. Students will become more conscious of their food choice origins and impact, as well as their reasons for consuming them. Also included in this program, Students will learn how to apply nutrition principles while preparing healthy meals. The online courses in health promotion and disease prevention help them to achieve this.

   One of the best online nutrition certificate programs, this certificate prepares students for careers in:

   – Clinics
   – Hospitals
   – Nursing homes
   – Physical therapy offices
   – Occupational therapy facilities
   – Dentist offices, physician offices
   – Other health-related fields

   Find Out More:
   Certificate in Nutrition

    

5. University of Arizona

   Degree: Certificate in Didactic Program in Dietetics
   Tuition (in state & out of state): $11,500

   Our last nutritionist certificate online translates nutrition science for clinical and community settings. Courses emphasizing the application of nutrition and dietetics practice will help students build a sturdy foundation in biology and chemical sciences. Also, you will learn to contribute to the nutritional science and dietetics field through research, practice, and leadership. There is no RDN credential from this food and nutrition certificate online alone.

   A bachelor’s degree is necessary to complete this online. Those interested in completing a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) who do not hold a bachelor’s degree may visit the school’s online BS in Nutritional Sciences Dietetics Emphasis. This will also permit them to earn a DPD Verification Statement.

   Find Out More:
   Certificate in Didactic Program in Dietetics

    

Admission Requirements

Most graduate nutrition certificates require at least a bachelor’s degree. They are typically in food, nutrition, or a related field of study. For some programs, applicants who don’t hold a bachelor’s degree can earn a DPD Verification Statement.

An undergraduate certificate is more flexible and may only require a high school diploma. Otherwise, check with your school’s admissions counselor to find out more.

Certificates vs Certification

It’s important to understand the difference between a college certificate in nutrition online and industry certification.

A college certificate is a credential that confirms completion of a specific course or study program. In general, higher education institutions provide them. Job applicants may use certificates specifically to show aptitude and knowledge in a particular subject area. The benefit to online certificate programs for nutrition is that aspiring specialists can gain knowledge expertise in a relatively quick amount of time. Graduate certificates offer specialized skills and knowledge in a shorter time frame than master’s degrees do. They also focus on a specific area within a larger field.

Industry certifications, by comparison, demonstrate competence in the necessary skills, ability, and knowledge to perform a specific job. They involve education, training, passing an exam, and satisfying continuing education requirements. Certifications differ from certificates in that professional associations, as opposed to a higher education institution, grant them.

Related Article: How to Become a Nutritionist: RD vs. CNS Pathway

Accreditation and Licensing

Completing a nutrition certificate online accredited program will improve your job prospects. The accrediting agency for nutrition education programs is the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®). They are an autonomous accrediting agency for education programs. Their mission is equipping students to work as registered dietitians or dietetic technicians. In addition, ACEND seeks to enhance education quality of nutrition and dietetics around the world.

ACEND overlooks and modifies its plan of strategy yearly. This means that accredited online nutrition certificate programs undergo continual review.

Accreditation protects both students and the public interest! It provides value to academic programs and institutions. It also assures quality of the education required for a specific profession, thereby complementing institutional accreditation. Overall, it benefits both the profession and the public by bringing together regulators, educators, and practitioners to strengthen preparation and practice.

Some states require you to be licensed to practice as a nutritionist. Or, at the very least, to be able to use that title. States that require licensing to practice as a nutritionist include:

• Montana
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Wyoming
• Alabama
• Mississippi
• Georgia
• Ohio
• Tennessee
• Iowa
• DC
• Rhode Island

Licenses allow those working in this career to promote themselves to the public as nutritionists. They permit them to offer services that their state board defines as within the scope of practice. Having a license also guarantees compliance to established standards of the nutrition profession.

Not all states offer licenses. Some only offer certificates. In these states, those without certification can still offer services. However, they cannot use the protected title to promote themselves.

Careers and Salary with Nutrition Certification Online

Is earning an online nutrition certificate worth the time and effort?

It’s true that not all states require nutritionists to hold a degree. But having one can make you a more qualified, competitive job candidate. It can also expand the number of jobs available to you. In addition, some states do require nutritionists to hold a license. But even if your current state doesn’t, it could be a good idea to get one in case you were to ever move. Clients might hesitate to seek service from nutritionists who lack credentials or licensing, as they are not held to board established standards.

The degree requirement to become a dietitian is a master’s degree (in any field) and a verification statement from an ACEND accredited dietetics program.

Related Article: 43 Most Affordable Master’s in Nutrition Online Programs

Salary and Career Outlook

The state with the highest salary for nutritionists in 2023 was DC, with a mean hourly wage of $40.17 and an annual mean wage of $83,550. Maine, California, New York, and New Jersey also boast high salaries, with the hourly mean wage reported as:

• Maine – $39.66, or $82,480 annually
• California – $38.54, or $80,160 annually
• New York – $38.42, or $79,910 annually
• New Jersey – $38.29, or $79,630 annually

The median pay in 2022 was $66,450 per year or $31.95 per hour. In 2022 there were 78,600 jobs.

The projected growth for employment of nutritionists and dietitians is 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, according to the BLS. This is faster than the average for all occupations. Each year over the next decade an average of 5,600 job openings are anticipated, with the typical entry level education being a Bachelor’s degree. Careers for health and fitness professionals, exercise instructors, nutrition coaches, and personal trainers are expected to grow much faster than average through the year 2032 at a rate of 9% or higher with projected job openings of 69,000 in the U.S.

States with the highest concentrations of jobs include West Virginia, DC, Delaware, Hawaii, and Massachusetts, with employment per thousands of jobs at 0.87, 0.80, .075, 0.71, and 0.68, respectively.

Begin an Online Nutrition Certificate Today!

Earning an online nutrition certificate can help you embark on a meaningful career. Nutrition is a treatment for certain medical conditions, and a nutritionist can guide their clients in this. By applying what you’ve learned in a nutrition science certificate, you can help many people lead healthier lives.

GetEducated is your best resource for finding and comparing degrees in nutrition. We can help you locate the nutrition certificate programs online that best fit your needs with our wide range of programs and pertinent information on accreditation, tuition costs, and program details. Let us help you take the first steps to beginning your career!