The National Board of Nutrition Support Certification (NBNSC) is an independent credentialing board established in 1984 by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN).

Eligibility Requirements and Policies                                                                                                                                                                                                

***You do not have to be an ASPEN member to become a CNSC®***

 

 Eligibility Requirements

NBNSC recommends that candidates have at least two years of experience in nutrition support practice after obtaining professional certification and/or licensure.

 

United States and Canada

1. Candidates must meet one of the following eligibility requirements

  • Dietitians
    Currently is a Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) or the Canadian equivalent.
  • Registered Nurses/Nurse Practitioners
    Currently is licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN), including Nurse Practitioners (NP) in the United States or Canada. A copy of current license must accompany application.
  • Pharmacists
    Currently is registered/licensed as a Pharmacist in the United States or Canada. A copy of current license must accompany application.
  • Physicians
    Currently is licensed as a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) in the United States or Canada. A copy of current license must accompany application.
  • Physician Assistants
    Currently is registered/licensed as a Physician Assistant in the United States or Canada. A copy of current license must accompany application.
  • Doctors of Dental Surgery/Doctors of Medicine in Dentistry
    Currently licensed as a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) in the United States or Canada. A copy of current license must accompany application

2. Completion and filing of an Application for the Certification Examination for Nutrition Support Clinicians.

3. Payment of required fee


International

Candidates outside of the US and Canada are able to apply and sit for the Certification Examination For Nutrition Support Clinicians. International candidates (except from Canada) must meet the following requirements. Please note: all documentation MUST be in English.

1. Candidates must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

  • Dietitians
    Currently registered/licensed or the equivalent in their country*. A copy of current license or dietetic registration must accompany your application.
  • Registered Nurses/Nurse Practitioners
    Currently is licensed or the equivalent in their country as a nurse or nurse practitioner. A copy of current license must accompany application*.
  • Pharmacists
    Currently is registered/licensed or the equivalent in their country as a Pharmacist. A copy of current license must accompany application*.
  • Physicians
    Currently is licensed or the equivalent in their country as a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO). A copy of current license must accompany application*.
  • Physician Assistants
    Currently is registered/licensed or the equivalent in their country as a Physician Assistant. A copy of current license must accompany application*.
  • Doctors of Dental Surgery/Doctors of Medicine in Dentistry
    Currently licensed in their country as a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD). A copy of current license must accompany application*.

  *If your country does not issue licenses, etc. a letter, in English and on letterhead, from your employer confirming your work history and current job description can be submitted.


2. All international candidates must have their credential evaluated by an outside agency. This evaluation must be in English and submitted with the application materials. Failure to submit the credential evaluation can result in not being eligible to sit for the exam¹.

 

¹ Credentials must be evaluated by an outside agency. The evaluation must be submitted with the application and must be an original document, not a photocopy. The cost of the evaluation is the responsibility of the individual and is separate from any other fee listed in the Fees section of this handbook. International applications will be reviewed by NBNSC Board members for approval of eligibility. Please see https://www.nutritioncare.org/NBNSC/Certification/Certification_Policy_For_International_Candidates/ for more information.

 

3. Completion and filing of an Application for the Certification Examination for Nutrition Support Clinicians.

4. Payment of required fee.

 

Please note: International individuals who have previously sat for and successfully passed the Nutrition Support Certification Examination will be eligible to retake the examination without providing the above- mentioned documentation as long as there is no lapse in certification. Should a lapse in certification occur for any reason, then that individual must adhere to the above requirements.

For more information regarding NBNSC’s International Candidate Policies please go to: http://www.nutritioncare.org/NBNSC/Certification/Certification_Policy_For_International_Candidates/


       Policies

    NBNSC publishes a complete list of policies in the Candidate Handbook, including report of results, confidentiality, scoring, etc. We've highlighted some important policies below for your reference.

    International Candidates  

    It is the purpose of the NBNSC to provide an avenue for international candidates with credentials equivalent to those in the United States to be eligible to sit for the CNSC® examination. The Certification Policy For International Candidates contains detailed information about the certification information for international candidates. International candidates should note that the CNSC® exam is a US-based exam and may relate to practice in the US.

     

    Accommodations  

    NBNSC and PTC support the intent of and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). PTC will take steps reasonably necessary to make certification accessible to persons with disabilities covered under the ADA. Requests for special testing needs individuals must be received at least eight (8) weeks before the testing period begins. Please refer details and processes outlined in the Candidate Handbook.  


    Rescheduling Examination Appointments within a Testing Period and Transferring to a New Testing Period.

    Please refer details and processes outlined in the Candidate Handbook. 

     

    Refunds  

    There will be no refund of fees. Fees will not be transferred from one testing period to another.

     

    Confidentiality  

    The NBNSC will release individual test scores ONLY to the individual candidate via postal mail. It is unethical to recall or memorize and share test questions or to solicit questions on the certification exams from candidates who have taken the exam.

     

    Report of Results  

    Candidates will be notified by PTC via email when their score reports are available online. Score reports will be available approximately four weeks after the close of the testing period. Scores on the major areas of the examination and on the total examination will be reported. Examination scores cannot be provided verbally over the phone. Score Reports will be available online only for 30 days. Be sure to save a copy of your score report in your permanent files. Successful candidates will also receive certificates from the NBNSC.

    Successful candidates will also receive certificates from the NBNSC approximately six to eight weeks following notification of passing the examination.


    Certification Period and Recertification

    Eligible candidates who pass the Certification Examination for Nutrition Support Clinicians are entitled to use the registered designation CNSC® after their names and will receive certificates from the NBNSC. A registry of Certified Nutrition Support Clinicians will be maintained by the NBNSC and may be reported in publications.

    Nutrition support clinician certification is recognized for a period of five years at which time the candidate must retake and pass the Certification Examination for Nutrition Support Clinicians in order to retain certification.

    The purpose of requiring recertification renewal is to measure continued competent and knowledgeable nutrition support practice. Certification demonstrates to your patients, colleagues, and employers that you have the skills necessary to provide the best care possible.

    Should an individual with a current CNSC® credential opt to take the certification examination early, all maintenance of the CNSC® credential will be based upon when the individual took the certification examination.

          Scenario 1: Certifee A is currently certified as a CNSC® from October 2011 – October 2016. Certifee A wants to become recertified and opts to take the certification examination in April 2016 instead of October 2016. Certifee A    successfully passes the certification examination, then the certification period is April 2016 – April 2021.

          Scenario 2: Certifee A is currently credentialed as a CNSC® from October 2011 – October 2016. Certifee A wants to become recertified and opts to take the certification examination in April 2016 instead of October 2016. Certifee A is unsuccessful in passing the certification examination. Upon receiving the exam results Certifee A is no longer a CNSC® and cannot use the credential until the certification examination is again taken and successfully passed. In summary anytime the certification examination is taken and not passed, certification lapses.

    Reinstatement for Expired Certification  

    Individuals with an expired certification must retake and pass the examination during one of the testing periods.

     

    Re-examination  

    The certification examination may be taken as often as desired upon filing of a new application and fee. There is no limit to the number of times the examination may be repeated. Candidates may only take the exam once per testing window.

     

    Ultimate Authority

    If it appears that an answer to an exam question may vary depending on the reference used the following policy will be followed:

    1. The ASPEN Practice Guidelines and Standards and Practice papers will be considered the final authority when questions of answers are raised.  These papers are available at no charge on the ASPEN website: http://www.nutritioncare.org/guidelines_and_clinical_resources/  
    2. If the NBNSC determines that a guideline or standard from another organization differs from those published by ASPEN, it will only be considered authoritative if it is a peer reviewed document from a recognized organization and has been published after the publication date of the ASPEN document it disagrees with.
    3. In the event that a question's answer is challenged the question and answer will be reviewed by the exam chairperson, the chairperson of the Executive board and, if necessary by a third person with special knowledge of the field.