SECTION 06 · ACCREDITATION
A defined practice pathway.
Recognized accreditation. A clear credential. And an honest account of what that credential does — and doesn't — let you do. RSN is accredited with AANWP, ANWPB, AANWC, and GEHA — and our Tier II students can sit for the ANWPB board exam to earn an internationally recognized title, including the "Doctor of Functional Nutrition" designation, with a listing on the International Registry. Here is exactly how an RSN graduate becomes board certified in functional nutrition, and how the pieces fit together.
— RECOGNIZED ACCREDITATION —
Who accredits the Institute.
RSN is accredited across a family of independent, non-governmental natural-wellness bodies — covering both the practitioner and coaching sides of the profession — and is an approved program with GEHA.
AANWP
PRACTITIONER ACCREDITATION
Accredits the program on the practitioner side. Tier II graduates are pre-qualified for practitioner board certification.
ANWPB
PRACTITIONER ACCREDITATION · EXAMINING BOARD
Accredits the program on the practitioner side and serves as the examining board. Tier II graduates are pre-qualified for practitioner board certification and may sit the internationally recognized nutrition exam to earn one of the six nutrition titles — including the "Doctor of Functional Nutrition" designation — with a listing on the International Registry.
AANWC
COACH ACCREDITATION
Accredits the program on the coaching side. Tier I and Tier II graduates are pre-qualified for coach board certification.
GEHA
APPROVED PROGRAM
RSN is a GEHA Approved Program. U.S. graduates are approved for GEHA licensing — a defined legal scope of practice across all 50 states.
LAB & SUPPLEMENT PARTNERS - AVAILABLE TO CREDENTIALED GRADUATES
LAB & SUPPLEMENT PARTNERS
―― THE CREDENTIAL ――
What you earn — by tier.
Graduates of both tiers earn the Functional Nutrition Practitioner designation upon completing their program and passing the final certification examination. What you qualify for next depends on your tier.
TIER I
Functional Nutrition Practitioner
The coaching pathway
- Earn the Functional Nutrition Practitioner designation
- Qualify to sit for board certification with AANWC (coach side)
- Approved for GEHA licensing (U.S. graduates)
- Earns 50 CEUs toward your credential
TIER II
Functional Nutrition Practitioner
The full practitioner pathway
- Earn the Functional Nutrition Practitioner designation
- Qualify to sit for board certification with AANWC and AANWP
- Eligible to take the ANWPB Nutrition Board Exam — for an internationally recognized title, a "Doctor of" title option, and an International Registry listing
- Approved for GEHA licensing (U.S. graduates)
- Earns 80 CEUs toward your credential
THE PATH
From graduate to board certified.
Five clear steps. The same story we tell every student, with no gray areas.
1
Complete your RSN Functional Nutrition Certification
Finish the program and pass the RSN final exam (70% to pass, two attempts). You'll receive a PDF certificate you can print and frame.
2
Get board certified - no exam required
Apply with your RSN certificate and become board certified without testing. You choose the body that matches how you practice and your tier:
AANWC if you position as a wellness/health coach (Tier I and Tier II). AANWP if you practice as a nutrition/wellness practitioner (Tier II).
3
TIER II ONLY
Take the ANWPB Nutrition Board Exam
For graduates who want the internationally recognized credential, a "Doctor of" title option, and an International Registry listing. Offered fully online - no travel, no proctor. A $75 prep course is available.
4
Get your GEHA license
As a U.S. graduate, you're approved for GEHA licensing - a private ecclesiastical license that gives you a defined, legal scope of practice as a wellness professional across all 50 states. It is not a state medical license; it's the framework that lets non-licensed practitioners work confidently and within bounds.
5
Set up your tools and start practicing!
Open your supplement and lab accounts and begin working within your scope!
— BOARD CERTIFICATION TITLES —
The titles you can earn.
Available through the ANWPB exam (Tier II). Most functional-nutrition graduates earn one of the first three.
| Title | Designation | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Board Certified Functional Nutrition Professional | BCFNP | Open to RSN Tier II graduates |
| Board Certified Nutrition Professional | BCNP | Open to RSN Tier II graduates |
| Board Certified Doctor of Functional Nutrition | BCDFN | "Doctor as teacher" — see note below |
| Board Certified Registered Dietitian | BCRD | RD license required |
| Board Certified Clinical Nutrition Professional | BCCNP | Master's, doctorate, and/or state license (RD, LNC, LD/N, MD) required for U.S. residents |
| Board Certified Doctor of Clinical Nutrition | BCDCN | Doctorate and/or state license required for U.S. residents |
A note on the "Doctor" titles: without a medical or state license, the ANWPB "Doctor" title means "Doctor as Teacher" (from the Latin docere, "to teach"). It confirms the holder passed the board exam. It is not a degree, is not a medical license, and is not equivalent to an M.D.
SCOPE OF PRACTICE
What the credential establishes.
The Functional Nutrition Practitioner credential establishes a defined practice pathway within the recognized scope of non-licensed wellness work — a clear, accredited framework for how graduates may practice and where their work fits in the broader healthcare ecosystem.
Graduates DO
- ✓Educate clients on diet, lifestyle, and nutritional mindset
- ✓Conduct diet/lifestyle evaluations and intake assessments
- ✓Recommend therapeutic foods, nutrients, and basic supplementation
- ✓Review lab assessments and summarize case findings
- ✓Build individualized, evidence-informed plans
- ✓Teach, run wellness classes, and consult with other practitioners
- ✓Refer out to licensed providers when appropriate
Graduates DO NOT
- ✕Diagnose, treat, cure, prescribe, or manage disease
- ✕Practice Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)
- ✕Make unproven health claims
- ✕Use unproven devices or therapies
- ✕Misrepresent their training or scope of practice
Additive, not substitutive.
Licensed professionals — RDs, NPs, DCs, MDs, and other credentialed clinicians — complete the program as an added clinical specialization. The credential does not modify or replace an existing license; licensed graduates continue to operate under their primary credential's scope and maintain all licensing and CE requirements.
Recognized internationally.
International students earn the same accreditations, and the ANWPB credential is internationally recognized. GEHA licensing is U.S.-specific; international graduates should verify how RSN credentials map to their local regulatory framework.
Important Distinctions
FOR LICENSED PROFESSIONALS
Additive, not substitutive.
Licensed professionals - RDs, NPs, DCs, MDs, and other credentialed clinicians - complete the program as an added clinical specialization. The credential does not modify or replace an existing license; licensed graduates continue to operate under their primary credential's scope and maintain all licensing and CE requirements.
INTERNATIONAL GRADUATES
Recognized internationally.
International students earn the same accreditations, and the ANWPB credential is internationally recognized. GEHA licensing is U.S.-specific; international graduates should verify how RSN credentials map to their local regulatory framework.
PLEASE READ
Board certification through AANWP, ANWPB, and AANWC is a private professional credential, and GEHA licensing is a private ecclesiastical license - neither is a state or federally regulated license, and neither authorizes the holder to diagnose, treat, or cure disease. State regulations governing scope of practice continue to apply and vary by jurisdiction. Each graduate is responsible for practicing within the laws of their own state.
Questions about your specific situation?
Every prospective student has a different professional background. Speak with the RSN admissions team to walk through how the credentials map to your existing license and goals.
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