Board Certified Applied Nutrition Specialist (BCANS)

The Board Certified Applied Nutrition Specialist (BCANS) credential is designed for non-clinical nutrition professionals who demonstrate advanced knowledge in general nutrition, wellness promotion, and lifestyle-based dietary interventions. This certification focuses on practical, evidence-based applications of nutrition science across diverse populations and settings, including community programs, fitness centers, wellness coaching, schools, and workplace health initiatives.

Candidates are assessed on their ability to translate nutritional principles into actionable guidance, design individualized meal plans, evaluate dietary trends, and support sustainable behavior change. The BCANS credential highlights competence in non-clinical nutrition roles and reflects a strong commitment to ethical, client-centered practice grounded in current scientific understanding.

Exam Outline

Domain 01: Principles of General Nutrition and Health Promotion (20%)
Covers the fundamentals of nutrition science including macronutrients, micronutrients, dietary guidelines, nutrient functions, and their roles in maintaining overall health and preventing disease.

Domain 02: Nutrition Across the Life Cycle (15%)
Addresses nutritional requirements and dietary planning for various life stages including pregnancy, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and aging populations.

Domain 03: Meal Planning, Food Labeling, and Dietary Assessment (15%)
Focuses on practical nutrition tools including menu planning, interpreting food labels, dietary recall techniques, and evaluating nutrient intake using food composition databases.

Domain 04: Behavior Change and Lifestyle Coaching (15%)
Covers strategies for supporting clients in making sustainable dietary changes, including motivational interviewing, goal-setting, habit formation, and addressing emotional eating.

Domain 05: Dietary Trends and Popular Nutrition Approaches (10%)
Explores current dietary trends such as ketogenic, intermittent fasting, plant-based diets, paleo, and others. Emphasizes evidence-based evaluation of claims and safety.

Domain 06: Supplementation and Functional Foods (10%)
Covers the role, benefits, and limitations of dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and functional foods in general wellness and health optimization.

Domain 07: Community and Public Health Nutrition (10%)
Addresses nutrition education strategies, food insecurity, food systems, and the role of applied nutritionists in schools, wellness centers, and community programs.

Domain 08: Ethics, Scope of Practice, and Professional Conduct (5%)
Focuses on ethical client communication, practicing within non-clinical boundaries, cultural sensitivity, and appropriate referral to medical professionals when needed.

Recommended Resources

Recommended Core Texts:

Nutrition for Health, Fitness & Wellness, 13th Edition
By Gordon Wardlaw, Anne M. Smith, and Angela Collene – McGraw-Hill Education
A foundational text that integrates core nutrition science with wellness promotion and healthy lifestyle choices. Covers energy balance, nutrient functions, diet planning, and weight management in non-clinical settings.
Understanding Nutrition, 16th Edition
By Eleanor Noss Whitney and Sharon Rady Rolfes – Cengage Learning
Widely adopted in undergraduate nutrition programs, this resource provides a thorough overview of nutrient metabolism, digestion, lifecycle nutrition, and health-focused dietary strategies.
Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies, 15th Edition
By Frances Sizer and Ellie Whitney – Cengage Learning
Blends nutrition science with analysis of current trends and myths. Ideal for developing critical thinking in applied nutrition practice, especially regarding public perceptions and behavior.

Supplemental Resources:

Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
The official U.S. policy document providing dietary recommendations based on current science to promote health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Precision Nutrition Level 1 Textbook
Precision Nutrition
A leading resource in coaching-based applied nutrition, covering habit-based change, behavior psychology, and client communication strategies in depth.
Position Papers – Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)
Evidence-based papers addressing vegetarian nutrition, nutrient supplementation, fad diets, weight management, and other key topics relevant to non-clinical nutrition professionals.