Certified Nutrition Coach

nutritious food on a table

Nutrition coaches help their clients use nutrition to achieve their healthiest lives. Certification by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) adds industry-wide recognition of your understanding of nutrition science and the behavior changes that lead to great health. In this 100% online course you will learn the foundations of nutrition and how to apply them to create health strategies for your coaching clients. Successful completion makes you a NASM Certified Nutrition Coach.

This program is offered in partnership with ed2go, one of the nation's top online education providers.

Course Objectives

  • Foundational principles of nutrition science, including metabolism, macronutrients, micronutrients, hydration, alcohol, and nutrient timing
  • How culture, age, geographic region, and socioeconomic status influence dietary eating patterns
  • To customize a communication and coaching approach to fit your client's profile
  • To conduct a comprehensive client assessment and body composition testing
  • To explain the mechanisms and science behind trending diets
  • As a NASM Certified Nutrition Coach, you will be able to coach clients in both fitness and nutrition
  • Be able to create customized, evidence-based nutrition programs for your fitness clients
  • Gain the skills and expertise needed to fill several health and fitness jobs, such as sports nutritionist, weight management consultant, and wellness coach
  • The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects job demand for Dietitians and Nutritionists to grow by 8% between now and 2029. This is much faster than the forecast growth for all jobs. The BLS cites the role of food in preventing and treating diseases as a leading driver of this strong growth.
  • According to PayScale.com, certified nutrition specialists earn $53,914 per year. Nutrition coaches earn $24.57 per hour, or around $50,000 per year, on average. Top nutrition coaches earn $124,000 per year.

In addition to their thorough knowledge of nutrition and its role in achieving health, nutrition coaches work directly with clients to develop and manage nutritional programs. For this, they need effective listening skills, support and empathy, organizational skills and skills in language and persuasion.

The NASM is considered a world leader in the quality of its trainers and coaches and in the scientific rigor of its programs. Earning NASM certification marks you as a serious professional who has undergone a challenging program of instruction to learn and validate your skills. It signals to your coaching clients that your advice is based on tested knowledge and science.

 

Nutrition coaches generally work with clients in a private home or office setting. Many also work in facilities such as weight management clinics, health clubs and gyms, spas or in corporate settings where they advise busy professionals on ways to manage their nutrition.

About Your Instructor

This fully online course is not instructor-facilitated; however, support will be provided through email, online forms, and phone.