Learn About Sports Nutrition Certificate Programs Online to Earn a Certification in Sports Nutrition
Sports Nutrition Certification
Graduate certificates in sports nutrition can benefit health and fitness professionals, dietitians, personal trainers, and other healthcare providers by providing the knowledge of advanced nutrition education relating to sports and fitness. Fitness professionals can use the knowledge gained through these programs to provide clients with individualized nutrition plans. This graduate certificate could be used to fulfill continuing education requirements for allied healthcare providers. The certificate could be included in a personal fitness trainer’s portfolio, enhancing employment options. Since weight loss and sports nutrition information is important to most people who work with personal trainers, it makes a lot of sense that a sports nutrition endorsement would be a benefit to any personal trainer.
Online Certificate Programs in Sports Nutrition
Simmons School of Health Sciences offers a graduate certificate in sports nutrition. This is an online program that can be completed in either one or two years. This program consists of four classes: sports psychology, nutrition, fitness and wellness, exercise assessment and prescription, and sports nutrition practice. Students must hold a bachelors degree in a related field. The certificate in sports nutrition will prepare students for the American College of Sports Medicine Health/Fitness Instructor exam.
Stonybrook State University of New York has an online graduate certificate program in Nutrition for Optimal Health, Wellness and Sports. This is basically the same as sports nutrition, it just has a slightly different name. Dietitians, health and fitness professionals, personal trainers and others who are interested in health and wellness can take the four core courses required for the certificate. The courses are weight management, functional foods, public nutrition/wellness education, and sports nutrition and performance. The cost for the entire certificate is $996.
Boston University offers online graduate certificates in physical education, health education and coaching. If you’re interested in a sports trainer or coaching position, this certificate might be beneficial, since it incorporates fitness with sports nutrition information as the core of this certificate. This program consists of four courses to be selected by the student. This certificate program can be easily completed in about 8 months. While this certificate is not a sports nutrition program, applied nutrition is part of the program, so it is being included due to the similarities to many of the sports nutrition certificate programs.
The above online programs offer some great opportunities for anyone who wishes to learn more about sports nutrition, and begin a career in this field. Whether you’re already a personal trainer who wishes to add a sports nutrition endorsement, or someone who wants to work solely in the field of nutrition, a certificate in sports nutrition might just be what you need to get your career rolling!
Resources
1. Simmons College: https://www.simmons.edu/shs/academics/nutrition/degrees/csn.shtml
2. Boston University: https://www.bu.edu/online/online_programs/certificate_programs/physical_education_courses.html
3. Stoneybrook State University: https://www.sunysb.edu/spd/career/efs/nutrition.html
