The purpose of certification is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public by encouraging high standards and professional competence of persons practicing in the profession of nutritional counseling. It provides a trademark designation (C.N.C.®), which serves to inform the practitioner’s clients and potential clients that the practitioner has met professional requirements in addition to, and beyond, normal academic studies and/or professional experience.


The Certification Program, including establishment of standards and eligibility requirements, is administered by the Commission on Certification of the A.A.N.C. The Certification Program and services of the Commission on Certification are supported entirely by examination fees and annual membership dues.


Candidates are required to complete a series of tests which will demonstrate proficiency in the areas of General and Applied Nutrition and in Practice Management.


Payment of a one-time examination fee of $250 is required at the time of application. There are no annual maintenance fees. Expenses of administering the examinations, maintaining permanent records, grading papers and preparation of the certification certificates are met entirely from the examination fee and annual membership dues.


Candidates should keep in mind that the A.A.N.C. is not a school. For that reason, and to keep the candidate's fees as low as possible, no textbooks are provided.

However, we realize that in preparation for the tests, the candidate may feel that he or she needs to review one or more of the subjects. Therefore, we include with the examination topics a list of recommended textbooks. The recommended textbooks are those which will assist the candidate in successfully completing these specific portions of the examination the candidate finds troubling.


The books may be found in libraries, purchased from bookstores and some health food stores, or purchased at Member Discount Prices from the Reagan's Bookstore (1-866-233-8398).