Dietary Supplement Educational Curriculum Requirements

Graduates of NANP-approved programs are eligible to take the Certified Dietary Supplement Professional™ and become an Associate Member of the NANP.

Dietary Supplement Educational Curriculum Requirements – 8 credits (1 semester credit=45 educational hours)

1. Anatomy/Physiology/Biochemistry – 1 semester credit
   1. Macronutrients
   2. Micronutrients
2. Nutritional Support of the Body – 2 semester credits
   1. Lifecycle Nutrition:
      • Men’s health (pediatric & geriatric)
      • Women’s health (pediatric & geriatric)
   2. Sports Nutrition
   3. Body Systems:
      • Blood sugar
      • Cardiovascular system
      • Detoxification
      • Digestion
      • Healthy diet
      • Immune system
      • Liver
      • Mental health/stress
      • Skin
3. Nutraceuticals – 2 semester credits –
   1. Vitamins & minerals
   2. Herbs
   3. Homeopathy
   4. Glandulars
   5. Mushrooms
4. Legal Responsibilities* & Supplement Quality* – 3 semester credits:
   1. DSEA (Dietary Supplement Education Act)
   2. FALCPA (Food Allergy Labeling and Consumer Protection Act)
   3. FDA (Food & Drug Administration)
   4. GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)
   5. Delivery form
   6. Disease treatment language
   7. Amounts/servings
   8. Excipients/other ingredients
   9. Health claims
   10. Health supportive language
   11. Marketing claims
   12. Proprietary blends
   13. Structure-function claims
   14. Supplement facts
   15. 3rd party literature
   16. Qualified Health Claims
   17. Ethics – Scope of Practice
   18. Supplement quality

Independent Educational Review

A person wishing to take the CDSP™ exam who has not graduated from an approved dietary supplement program may request an independent review to determine eligibility.

Requirements for the independent review include:

1. a cover letter stating the desire to take the CDSP™ exam
2. a fifty dollar ($50.00) review fee
3. official transcripts from all relevant educational institutions
4. course description materials (i.e., catalog, etc.)
5. may also include a telephone interview with the NANP Educational Programs Specialist

Persons who do not meet the above-mentioned requirements may be asked to complete one or more study courses before being approved to take the CDSP™ exam. To inquire about an Independent Educational Review (IER), contact Andrea Grandson at andrea@nanp.org.

* Those who do not possess proof of education for the Legal Responsibilities and Supplement Quality standard may still apply for an IER with the understanding that the NANP provides links to study materials for these items in the CDSP™ Exam Study Guide. Those who do not study these documents may be at a disadvantage when taking the exam.