The gold standard in foundational
sports nutrition education.

Do you want a fulfilling and high paying income stream? By becoming an accredited sports nutritionist you can make a great living by making a difference.

Based on member data, on average our students make $135,000 a year full-time and $56,000 a year part time.

Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re fitness professional that wants to diversify your income, this is a great option.

No need to spend 3+ years and tens of thousands of dollars at university — with our online course you complete your education in under 6 months and start accepting paying clients right away, allowing you to make back your investment in less than a year.

Increase Your Income And Coach Clients From Anywhere In The World By Becoming An Accredited & Fully Insured Sports Nutritionist

In under 6 months you can learn how to help people achieve their health goals by completing an online Certificate In Applied Sports Nutrition, and start earning right away.

Who The Certification Is For

Fitness Professional

Fitness Professionals

Personal trainers and coaches who want to increase their income, get better results for their clients and be able to coach clients from anywhere.

Recent Graguates

Recent Graduates

People who’ve graduated in a sports science, nutrition or exercise degree that want to complete their edution and become legally insured.

University Graduates

University Students

People currently studying who want to graduate with paying clients, and find out if they like the industry before committing to 4+ years of study.

Newcomers

Newcomers

People who want a fulfilling and high-paying career that love the idea of helping people achieve their health goes through nutrition.

Sports Nutrition is the merger of Applied Exercise Physiology and Applied Nutrition Sciences, along with its ongoing development.

Overlap of Exercercise Cycology, Sports Nutrition and Health Science Nutrition
The Certificate has been designed to meet the minimum requirements for practising in Sports Nutrition. Students that complete this program become eligible to register, insure, and practise as Accredited Sports Nutritionists provisionally while they ascertain through practise and experi­ence in the field if this is the career path for them.

The majority of graduates and professionals will be working in some form of private practise, which is heavily dependent on your skills as a service provider to get clients on board and generate buy-in from clients to adhere to plans.
Rather than more traditional models, we recognise that spending 4-5 years, and $50,000+ to become qualified and practise, only to find out that private practise isn’t for them (which is the majority of work in applied sciences and dietetics).

We appreciate that not everyone wants to make a profession with private practise and don’t intend to sell you on a one size fits all pipe dream. However if do feel like this is the career for you, you will need further study after 3-years.

About The Certificate

Our Certificate is the only non university undergraduate program that provides the minimum standard for subjects that relate to effective competence as a Sports Nutritionist. 

If you are looking at practising in this profession, then you should only be considering university programs or the Sports Nutrition Association Certificate (or one of the recognised affiliates).

The course is entirely online, runs for 17-22 weeks, and is self paced with set due dates. The program is regularly assessed for national and international education and qualification framework auditors/compliance officers as well as regular review from post graduate subject matter experts.

13 pillar subjects

45 scored exams

80 lectures + 20 additional learning videos

2 text books (required for non university students)

8 practical real world case study assignments

1 practical video submission assignment

The Sports Nutrition Association is not accredited with any national qualification frameworks. Prior to our inception, no standardised framework existed. We have an advisory board of the top researchers and practitioners in the field, who in conjunction with our global underwriting firms, and third party compliance auditors/regulators review and update the content annually based on the latest research and insurance feedback. 

National frameworks and framework accreditation typically conflict, especially in the Applied Sports & Nutrition Sciences. As countries and regions primarily recognise qualifications and programs from their own national frameworks. A country will rarely recognise qualifications from another country’s national framework.

By establishing a global minimum education standard, the Association has solved this problem and allows for recognition of members in every region they are operating in.

13 Core Subjects

Accordion Content

Nutrition 1 provides the student with some basic nutrition information around Macro and Micronutrients, food tracking methods and the feasibility of food planning options. This module also includes how to assess, coach and develop nutritional literacy with clients. We also provide information around how to read nutrition labels and the basics of hydration.

Nutrition 2 outlines the nutritional programming models used and principles and models for weight management and body composition changes. Learn how to make a meal plan, utilise diet breaks and re feeds with an evidence based approach. Considerations are made around intentional eating, carbohydrate utilisation, diet flexibility and mental health considerations of diet culture.

Nutrition Physiology explores the areas of digestive physiology and metabolism of nutrients, as well as nutrition and gut health. This module will also look at female specific nutrition periodisation, health biomarkers and Nutrition to help with immunity

Exercise Physiology covers thermodynamics and components of TDEE, the basics of bioenergetics including fuel sources and energy systems, methods of body composition assessment and when they appropriate to implement and applying these bioenergetic principles to exercise in different contexts of fed vs fasted states

Accordion Content

Applied Exercise Physiology provides a practical component to assess the BioEnergetics principles and repetitions in reserve method of RPE. In this module, the student will also learn about how the endocrine system (our hormones) functions & how it interacts within our nutritional and exercise environment, and how to account for the impact of exercise on daily energy expenditure.

The Biochemistry unit covers the concepts of biochemistry, from: the structure of a cell, the function of cellular metabolism and how is dynamically interacts with exercise and nutrition metabolism.

This unit covers Nutritional Health Risk Assessment & Screening, the importance of using, understanding of the scope of practice as a sports nutritionist, and how to refer to allied health specialists. It also delves into why clients with PCOS or Endometriosis are out of scope and require further clinical training, and explore considerations around claims of poor gut health vs actual contraindicated diagnosed gut health pathologies

In this unit, we look at both performance and general health supplements and other ergogenic aids, and explore well ranking position statements around these from well ranking journals. This module will also look at Energy Availability and the symptoms associated with RED-S

The research unit covers the hierarchy of evidence, how to apply critical thinking to evidence, an understanding of the limitations of nutrition science and the implications this may have when communicated on social media. This module will cover how to interpret and apply scientific research into practice as a Sports Nutritionist

Accordion Content

Applied Body Composition covers sustainable coaching application, an understanding of obesity and why weight loss may stall for some clients. This unit focuses on ensuring that the student can effectively apply an evidence informed manner with nutritional program for; weight management, weight loss, weight gain, and long term body recomposition case study scenarios.

The Applied Performance Nutrition Unit covers principles and models for performance nutrition methods, considerations which may be made for strength and physique clients, considerations for weight making and post season nutrition strategies, considerations & models for team sport athletes, and considerations for strength, endurance and CrossFit athletes. This unit covers the application of these concepts, ensuring a sound foundational competence in applying the theory.

This unit covers the Sports Nutrition Service provision model. Where to start, depending on career goals, and what phase of service provision experience they are in. Learn about financial and taxation literacy, fundamental Sports Nutrition business and service provision operations. We also cover transitioning from face to face with the sports nutrition model, provide real world lessons around social media and real world marketing to get started with success. 

This unit covers the elements of effective coaching behaviour and understanding client actions from a motivation perspective. Specific tools and frameworks such as COM-B, SDT, ACT, and Motivational Interviewing are covered to help you improve your coaching techniques and provide the best service to your clients.

Featuring Lectures By

  • Dr Gary Mendoza
    Phd, BSc, (Hons), RNutr

     

  • Dr Joe Klemczweski
    PhD

     

  • Dr Shawn Arent
    PhD, CSCS’D, FISSN, FACSM, FNAK

     

  • Laurin Conlin
    B.S, MSc

     

  • Dr Zoya Huschtscha
    APD, AdvSD

     

  • Dr Eric Trexler
    PhD
  • Dr Cliff Harvey
    PhD, DipFit, DipNat

  • Danny Lennon
    MSc

  • Dr Eric Helms
    PhD, CSCS

  • Dr Gabrielle Fundaro
    PhD, CISSN, CHC

  • Dr Cameron McDonald
    Phd, RD

  • Jono Steedman
    B.Sc. ExSci, MSc, RD
  • Matthew White
    BSc & Lead Assessor

  • Alex Thomas
    Founder & President, PGd. Perform. Nutrition

  • Tyarra Nelso
    B.Sc. ExSci, MSc, RD

  • Dr Reid Reale
    Phd, APD/RD

  • Chris Teasdale
    B.Sc. ExSci

Interesting in becoming a Certified Sports Nutritionist? Enquire about enrolling today.

The Roadmap To A Certificate In Applied Sports Nutrition

The Roadmap To A Certificate In Applied Sports Nutrition

What Being Registered & Insured Looks Like

Casual Member Annual Revenue

Range: $10-45k
Median: $12,500
(Under 5 Hours)

Part Time Member
Annual Revenue

Range: $25k to $130k
Median: $60,500
(7 to 15 Hours)

Full Time Member Annual Revenue

Range: $70-$250k
Median: $149,000
(Over 16 Hours)

One of the best things about our program is it can suit all types of involvement. As a full-time member you can earn an impressive income, but as a casual or part-time member you can create a rewarding side career with a great work/life balance. By simply working another 5 to 8 hours a week, you can earn an additional $15,000 – $60,000 per year. Note — This data is pulled from 75% of our member database.

Choose From Flexible Payment Options

Starting At $4350 (Prices In AUD)

Monthly
$729/month STANDARD PRICE
  • 7 x Monthly Payments
  • $5103 total (AU)
  • ~$5600 (NZ)
  • ~$3500 (US)
Upfront
$4350 -17% Discount
  • 1 x Upfront Payment
  • $4350 total (AU)
  • ~$4750 (NZ)
  • ~$2995 (US)
$599 Deposit + Monthly
$329/month Cheapest monthly rate
  • 18 x Monthly Payments
  • $6192 total (AU)
  • ~$6700 (NZ)
  • ~$4200 (US)

Enquire About Enrolling In The Certificate

Certificate FAQs

Accordion Content

The course is self-paced in that there are no set lecture times or workshops to attend. All lectures are on-demand in our learning platform to go through at a convenient time for you to study. 

 

We recommend 4 – 12+ hours of study per week depending on prior experience. 

The course is delivered entirely online with optional zoom workshops delivered by the assessment team when getting close to assessment submission dates. 

Personally Assigned Assessor Support – You will have your own personally assigned assessor

Support from Industry Experts – All assessors are degree qualified, Openly Accredited professional members who have completed the program 

Real World Support – to start practicing with clients. All of our assessors are Permanent Part-Time employees who are currently practicing successfully with clients. They do to give back and believe in the Association’s vision & mission. They aren’t people who need a job and couldn’t cut it in private practice

No, but if you have not attended a sports science university program then additional texts and units are required so that you understand the basic applied sciences.

 

If you are a non-native English speaking person we recommend an IELTS score of 5.5 as a minimum to ensure that you will be able to comprehend and effectively learn the scientific language used to deliver the certificate. 

Upon completion you will be eligible to register as an Accredited Sports Nutritionist (see registration and insurance page for further information). As a registered Accredited Sports Nutritionist you are now eligible to take out sports nutritionist specific insurance coverage which our members receive a substantial discount.

 

These services includes calorie targets and adjustments, macronutrient targets, meal plans, supplementation, weight management and sports performance protocols, and online check-ins and services.