What Do the Abbreviations Mean?
Making Sense of the Abbreviations for Dietitians and Nutritionists
Have you ever looked at a dietitian’s credentials and wondered exactly what they mean? How can you make sense of all of the abbreviations that come after a dietitian or nutritionist’s name? We are going to try to simplify that for you here, by listing, in alphabetical order, the most commonly seen abbreviations for credentials that you may see after a dietitian or nutritionist’s name, and explaining the meaning of each.
The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) has some rules about credential placement. IF you are a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), your credentials should read as follows:
Jane Doe, MS, RD, CSP, LD, CDE, FADA
(Name, graduate academic degree, RD or RDN, Specialty Certifications of the CDR, licensure designation, other certifications, Fellow of American Dietetic Association)
If you are not a RD or RDN, you should still follow the general format as closely as possible (degree first, then licensure, then other certifications).
The following are definitions of the credentials and abbreviations you may encounter in dietetics and nutrition (this is by no means all of the credentials available, but the most popular ones are covered here):
ACSM-CPT: American College of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer- attainable to anyone 18 or older with a high school diploma and CPR/AED certification, by passing an exam
ACSM-EP: American College of Sports Medicine Exercise Physiologist – attainable to anyone with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, exercise physiology or kinesiology and CPR/AED certification, by passing an exam
AFPA Autoimmune Holistic Nutrition Specialist– American Fitness Professional Association, attainable to anyone through completing online courses and passing exam
AFPA Health & Wellness Coach– American Fitness Professional Association, attainable to anyone through completing online courses and passing exam
AFPA Holistic Nutritionist– American Fitness Professional Association, attainable to anyone through completing online courses and passing exam
AFPA Master Level Nutrition Consultant– American Fitness Professional Association, attainable to anyone through completing online courses and passing exam
AFPA Nutrition & Wellness Consultant– American Fitness Professional Association, attainable to anyone through completing online courses and passing exam
AFPA Senior Nutrition Specialist – American Fitness Professional Association, attainable to anyone through completing online courses and passing exam
AFPA Sports Nutrition Specialist – American Fitness Professional Association, attainable to anyone through completing online courses and passing exam
AFPA Weight Management Specialist– American Fitness Professional Association, attainable to anyone through completing online courses and passing exam
AFPA Youth Nutrition Specialist– American Fitness Professional Association, attainable to anyone through completing online courses and passing exam
BC-ADM: Board Certified- Advanced Diabetes Management of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES), attainable if you have a master’s degree, 500 hours of clinical experience in diabetes management, and are an eligible professional (RD, RDN, RN, NP, CNS, PA, physician, pharmacist), and pass exam
BCHN: Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition from the National Association of Nutrition Professionals- must be a professional member of NANP, complete 500 hours of experience in holistic nutrition, and pass exam
CCN: Certified Clinical Nutritionist of the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board (CNCB). Must have a bachelor’s degree, complete post-graduate studies in clinical nutrition, pass exam.
CD: Certified Dietitian– signifies that you are certified to practice as a dietitian in your state
CDCES: Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES), attainable if you have 15 hours of diabetes-related continuing education in past two years, 200 hours of diabetes experience in the past year, if you are a health care professional (RD, RDN, RN, PA, MD, DO, pharmacist), and pass exam
CDE: Certified Diabetes Educator of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) -this credential is no longer used, now is CDCES
CDM, CFPP: Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional of the Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals (ANFP) -attainable if you have an associate or bachelor’s degree in foodservice management, nutrition, culinary arts, or hotel-restaurant management, or have completed an ANFP-approved foodservice manager training program, have related work experience, and pass an exam
CEDS: Certified Eating Disorder Specialist of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals- must be an RD/RDN with 2500 hours of supervised eating disorders experience, complete core courses and pass exam
CHES: Certified Health Education Specialist of theNational Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC)- must have completed a bachelor’s degree with courses in process, content and general education in order to qualify to take exam
CHSE: Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare- attainable if you have two years of participation experience in healthcare simulation in an educational role, have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent combo of education and experience, and pass exam
CHSOS: Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare- attainable if you two years of participation experience in healthcare simulation in an operations specialist role, have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent combo of education and experience, and pass exam
CHWC: Certified Health and Wellness Coach of the National Board of Medical Education -must complete a training program approved by the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching and pass an exam
CLC: Certified Lactation Counselor of the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice (ALPP)- must complete comprehensive course and pass exam
CLE: Certified Lactation Educator of the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA)- must complete online or in-person course and pass exam
CN: Certified Nutritionist-signifies that you are certified to practice as a nutritionist in your state
CNP: Certified Nutrition Professional of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals – must be a NANP member with a bachelor’s degree, complete 1200 hours of experience in clinical nutrition, and pass BCHN exam
CNS: Certified Nutrition Specialist of the Board of Certification for Nutrition Specialists (BCNS) of the American Nutrition Association (ANA)- must hold a master’s degree or higher in nutrition, complete 1000 supervised practice hours, pass exam
CNSC: Certified Nutrition Support Clinician of the National Board of Nutrition Support Certification (NBNSC). Must be a RD or RDN with two years of experience and pass examination.
CSCS: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)- must have a bachelor’s degree or be a senior in a bachelor’s degree program, have current CPR/AED certification, and pass exam
CSG: Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition– a specialty credential of the CDR signifying that you have held an RD or RDN for two years, have 2000 hours of supervised practice experience as an RD in the gerontological specialty area, and pass exam
CSO: Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition– a specialty credential of the CDR signifying that you have held an RD or RDN for two years, have 2000 hours of supervised practice experience as an RD in the oncology nutrition specialty area, and pass exam
CSOWM: Board Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management– a specialty credential of the CDR signifying that you have held an RD or RDN for two years, have 2000 hours of supervised practice experience as an RD in the obesity and weight management nutrition specialty area, and pass exam(certification also available to other health care professionals)
CSP: Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition – a specialty credential of the CDR signifying that you have held an RD or RDN for two years, have 2000 hours of supervised practice experience as an RD in the pediatric nutrition specialty area, and pass exam
CSPCC: Board Certified in Pediatric Critical Care Nutrition– a specialty credential of the CDR signifying that you have held an RD or RDN for two years, have 2000 hours of supervised practice experience as an RD in the pediatric critical care nutrition specialty area, and pass exam
CSR: Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition – a specialty credential of the CDR signifying that you have held an RD or RDN for two years, have 2000 hours of supervised practice experience as an RD in the renal nutrition specialty area, and pass exam
CSSD: Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics – a specialty credential of the CDR signifying that you have held an RD or RDN for two years, have 2000 hours of supervised practice experience as an RD in the sports dietetics specialty area, and pass exam
DCN: Doctor of Clinical Nutrition – a graduate degree in clinical nutrition
DHSc: Doctor of Health Sciences– a graduate degree in health sciences
Lifestyle Medicine Professional of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM)- must be a RD/RDN, have a master’s degree or higher, complete 40 hours of education and pass exam
EdD: Doctor of Education– a graduate degree
FADA: Fellow of American Dietetic Association-(they are no longer accepting fellows so this credential is no longer bestowed, but many have these credentials from before)
FADCES: Fellow of the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists – must have a bachelor’s degree, have been an ADCES member for five years, have 10 years of experience in diabetes care/education, be a leader, be recommended for fellowship.
FAND: Fellow of Association of Nutrition and Dietetics -(they are no longer accepting fellows so this credential is no longer bestowed, but many have these credentials from before)
FASCM: Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine – must be a member of ACSM and have provided significant service to the organization
FM-CNS: Fitness Mentors Certified Nutrition Specialist– must complete online classes and pass certification exam
IBCLC: International Board Certified Lactation Consultant of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners – must complete academic courses in lactation consulting, and pass exam
ISSA-Certified Nutritionist of the International Sports Sciences Association – attainable through completing online coursework and passing exam
LD: Licensed Dietitian – signifies that you are licensed to practice as a dietitian in your state
LDN: Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist – signifies that you are licensed to practice as a dietitian nutritionist in your state
LN: Licensed Nutritionist– signifies that you are licensed to practice as a nutritionist in your state
MA: Master of Arts – a graduate degree
MBA: Master of Business Administration – a graduate degree in business administration
MCHES: Master Certified Health Education Specialist of theNational Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). Must be a nutritionist with five years of experience, must pass examination
MEd: Master of Education– a graduate degree in education
MHSA: Master of Health Sciences Administration– a graduate degree in health sciences administration
MPA: Master of Public Administration– a graduate degree in public administration
MPH: Master of Public Health– a graduate degree in public health
MS: Master of Science – a graduate degree
NASM-CNC: Certified Nutrition Coach of the National Academy of Sports Medicine– attainable through completing online courses and passing examination
NCSF-SNS: National Council on Strength & Fitness Sport Nutrition Specialist -complete online classes and pass exam
NESTA CSNS: National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association Certified Sports Nutrition Specialist– attainable through completing online courses and passing exam
Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy – a graduate degree
PN1: Precision Nutrition Certification Level 1– for nutritionists, study online and pass exam
RD: Registered Dietitian. This credential is bestowed by the CDR. As of January 1, 2024, a master’s degree, 1000 hours of supervised experience, and passing an exam is necessary in order to earn the RD credential
RD-AP: Advanced Practice Certification in Clinical Nutrition – a specialty credential of the CDR signifying that you have been an RD or RDN for at least four years, have 2000 hours of clinical nutrition experience, and have one of the following: graduate degree, evidence of presenting practice topics at a meeting, published a clinical research article, or have specialist certification in clinical nutrition related topics
RDN: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist– This credential is the same as RD, just a different way to say it. Either credential is acceptable once you have met the requirements of the CDR.
RDN-AP: Advanced Practice Certification in Clinical Nutrition-a specialty credential of the CDR signifying that you have been an RD or RDN for at least four years, have 2000 hours of clinical nutrition experience, and have one of the following: graduate degree, evidence of presenting practice topics at a meeting, published a clinical research article, or have specialist certification in clinical nutrition related topics
SNS: School Nutrition Specialist through the School Nutrition Association – attainable with an associate degree and 30 credits on nutrition and one year of work experience in child nutrition programs, and passing exam