The HNCB offers two credentials, the BCHN® and the CNP

CNP (Certified Nutrition Professional) – Eligibility is extended to NANP Professional members with a bachelor’s degree or higher in nutrition or a nutrition-related field of study from a NANP approved holistic nutrition program, OR a college or university regionally or nationally accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (i.e. nursing degrees, registered dietitians, naturopathic doctors, etc.). NOTE: Must pass the BCHN® board exam to qualify.

BCHN® (Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition®) – NANP Professional members with an education in holistic nutrition are eligible (find Professional member qualifications here)

The following documentation must accompany the Board Exam Application:

• Professional membership $259/year
• Application fee $129 (non-refundable & expires after 12 months)
• Examination fee $300
• Signed and dated Professional Conduct Agreement (within the application)
• Photo or Headshot (electronic or paper submissions accepted)
• Copy of your driver’s license or state-issued identification
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Proof of existing liability insurance (if you are in clinical practice)
• Copy of holistic nutrition diploma(s) and/or certificate(s)
• Copy of any professional license(s) you may hold
• Documentation of 500 professional experience contact hours with completed “Contact Hour Documentation Form” (waived for New Graduates)
• Official transcripts from your graduating institution(s) (to be sent directly to the NANP/HNCB by the school(s))
• Letters of reference (one each: professional and personal, to be completed via the instructed online form after you’ve applied)

Please note, during the credentialing and re-credentialing processes, the NANP will query the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) for any adverse reports made against you as a practitioner. This includes medical malpractice payments, certain adverse licensure and clinical privileges actions, and other adjudicated actions or decisions.

There are two types of Contact Hours: Direct and Indirect.

Direct Contact Hours Definition: Working directly with customers, clients, or students providing nutrition education and/or consulting services.

Required Documentation:

• Internship or externship –  A completed and signed Internship/Externship Form.
• Independent (self) employment providing nutritional consulting services – (please provide all of the following):

1. business license
2. three (3) case studies (500-word summaries)
3. a log that includes a list of client initials, date range of services, the total number of sessions, and total time with the client

• Employment as a nutrition consultant or educator of holistic nutrition for an academic institution (school, college, or university) – A letter from your employer verifying employment, including the number of hours you worked and a copy of your job description.

Indirect Contact Hours Definition: Research, writing, or developing educational materials or programs (in holistic nutrition) in a community, business, academic or clinical environment.

Required Documentation:

• Acting as a research intern – A completed and signed Internship/Externship Form.
• Independent Researcher (e.g., time spent in interviews, reading, performing internet and literary research) for a publication or educational presentation – A copy of the article, report, or other formats (e.g., PowerPoint presentation, etc.) providing your research results.
• Non-research preparation for creating a publication or educational presentation, be it public, recorded, or both (e.g., actual writing and other material preparation), locating and creating a dialogue with key individuals, venues,  consultants, assistants, publishers, printers, and publication representatives. – A copy of the article, report, or other formats (e.g., PowerPoint presentation, flash drive, URL, etc.) providing the actual publication or educational presentation.

NOTE: Activities conducted as a required part of an educational program, with the explicit exception of internships and externships, do not qualify toward the 500-hour requirement. The Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board will determine the applicability of unusual experience on a case-by-case basis.

Download the Contact Hours Form here.

New graduates may apply to sit for the exam without providing documentation of 500 Contact Hours. The candidate will be allowed two (2) years from the date of his/her exam to provide this documentation. Upon passing the exam and until such time that the documentation requirement is satisfied, the candidate may use the title, “Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition^® (Candidate)” or “BCHN® (Candidate).”

A new graduate is an individual who graduated from a NANP-approved program within the twelve (12) month period in which they apply to sit for the exam.

Tips & Recommendations:

• Take the sample test questions for each domain in the study guide to identify your areas of potential weakness.
• The Advanced Human Nutrition and Hole’s Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology provide interactive options to mobile-ready course materials that include lessons, assessments, flashcards, and an e-book format, so these are a great place to start if you haven’t studied in a while, or if you are a visual learner

Don’t Under Estimate Reading The Entire Study Guide.

The Board Exam Study Guide provides a breakdown of the five domains to study starting on page 21. Each section identifies the task, knowledge, and key concepts to study to pass the exam successfully.

Join a Study Group

By joining a study group, you can split the workload with other group members, share notes, and quiz each other. A board exam should be challenging, and ours is, so we recommend setting aside 3-6 months to study. You must be logged into your myNANP member account to join the Board Exam Study Group Circle.

The exam is taken on an individual basis, online, and proctored by ProctorU. The exam fee of $300 includes the proctoring fee.

ProctorU is a live online proctoring service available 24/7 that allows test-takers to take exams from anywhere using a webcam and Internet connection. This service uses live proctors who monitor exams by observing the test-taker (via webcam) and his/her computer screen in real-time.

Click here to Watch How it Works.

You may take the exam at any time after your exam application has been processed and approved.  Please allow a minimum of four (4) weeks to process your application. All documents must be received at least four (4) weeks before the date of your exam. Exam applicants who do not allow the requested four (4) weeks may be required to reschedule the exam for a later date.

You will have three (3) hours to complete the exam. There will be one five (5) minute bathroom break. If you have a medical need for a longer break, please provide advanced notice in the designated area on your exam application, and one will be scheduled for you.

To evaluate requests for exam accommodations, the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board (HNCB) requires documentation from a licensed healthcare provider qualified to diagnose the reported condition. The letter, on official letterhead and signed by the provider, must verify the diagnosed condition with the relevant ICD-10 code, state the date of onset or approximate timeframe, describe the functional limitations related to exam-taking, and recommend specific accommodations with medical rationale. All documentation will be kept confidential and used solely to determine appropriate exam accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Letters from licensed practitioners must be mailed to the HNCB directly and via U.S. Mail to:

Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board

P.O. Box 348028

Sacramento, CA 95834

Letters received from the test-taker will not be considered..

No, the exam is closed book; you will not be able to use books or notes while taking the exam.

An overall exam grade of 70% correct is required to pass the exam.

Overall Pass/Fail exam results and percentages scored per domain will display immediately upon completing your online exam. Also, you will be notified by U.S. mail within two (2) to four (4) weeks of exam completion.

If you fail the board exam and wish to take it again, you must retake the entire exam within six (6) months. If you fail two (2) times, you may retake the exam a third and final time. While it is no longer required to provide proof of additional education in order to take the exam a third and final time, it is strongly recommended. You will not be allowed to sit for the exam again after failing a third time. A retest fee of $250 will apply for each retest.

Please continue to use the title you earned from your school of study. Once you pass the exam, you may add “Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition®” or “BCHN®.”  New graduates who have not yet provided evidence of earning 500 Contact Hours will use the title “Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition® (Candidate)” or “BCHN® (Candidate).”

Always check your state laws to ensure you are practicing legally. To prevent misusing the title, please check your state laws governing the practice of nutrition.

WHY IS IT CRUCIAL THAT YOU ACTIVELY USE THE BCHN® TITLE (and use it correctly)?

Competing nutrition organizations have efforts underway in many states to make it illegal to use specific titles associated with the word “nutrition.” The bill language in those states allows only for trademarked titles to be used. The NANP took steps years ago to get the title “Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition®,” trademarked by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. So, as long as you’re Board Certified, you’ll be covered. Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition® is a Credential; it has been trademarked and can be used by Holistic Nutrition Professionals who have passed the exam. While it does not provide you with a pathway to licensure, the credential does set you apart from other practitioners, it shows you are well versed in holistic nutrition, understand your scope of practice, continue your education, and have been vetted through a background check through the National Practitioner Data Bank.

USE THE TITLE CORRECTLY:

“Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition®” or “BCHN®.”
New graduates who have not yet provided evidence of earning 500 Contact Hours will use the title “Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition® (Candidate)” or “BCHN® (Candidate).”

You will NOT need to sit for the exam again. However, you will be required to remain a Professional member in good standing with the NANP and fulfill Continuing Education Credits (CECs) requirements to renew and maintain your Board Certification and (if applicable) your CNP status. As a reminder, NANP Professional Members must earn ten (10) CECs annually for membership renewal. Board Certified members must earn an additional five (5) CECs each year. CECs are due at the time of Professional Membership renewal. No additional CECs are required to maintain CNP status.

Additionally, you will be required to do the following every two (2) years to renew and maintain your board certification:

If you are a BCHN^® (Candidate), you must submit evidence of your 500 Contact Hours (see Contact Hours Form for the required materials)

Provide a copy of your current resume or Curriculum Vitae

Provide proof of current liability insurance (if you are in clinical practice, NOT required if you work in an educational or research setting and do not provide nutrition consulting services).

Complete the Board Re-Certification Form (provided via email when your re-credentialing time nears)