BCPC Exam Guide

1. Eligibility Criteria

To sit for any certification exam under the Board of Nutrition Specialties, candidates must meet specific academic and professional requirements based on the nature of each certification track.

Group A: Clinical Nutrition Certifications

Applies to:

  • Board Certified Clinical Nutrition Specialist (BCCNS)

  • Board Certified Pediatric Nutrition Specialist (BCPNS)

  • Board Certified Oncology Nutrition Specialist (BCONS)

Eligibility Requirements:
Candidates must meet both of the following conditions:

  1. Academic Background:
    Hold a degree in a health-related or medical field such as:

    • Pharmacy (BPharm, PharmD)

    • Medicine (MBBS, MD)

    • Nursing

    • Nutrition & Dietetics (if the program is medically oriented)

    • Physiotherapy, Dentistry, or other licensed healthcare professions

  2. Clinical Training or Experience:

    • Completion of formal clinical training in nutrition or dietetics (internship, residency, or hospital-based practice), or

    • A minimum of one year of documented clinical experience involving patient care in nutrition settings.

Note: Graduates from general nutrition or dietetics programs without medical components are not eligible for clinical certifications but may apply for applied-track certifications.

Group B: Applied and General Nutrition Certifications

Applies to:

  • Board Certified Obesity Management Specialist (BCOMS)

  • Board Certified Sports Nutrition Specialist (BCSNS)

  • Board Certified Applied Nutrition Specialist (BCANS)

Eligibility Requirements:
Candidates must meet one of the following:

  1. Nutrition-Specific Education:
    A degree or diploma in any of the following fields:

    • Nutrition and Dietetics (non-clinical tracks)

    • Food Science

    • Home Economics

    • Public Health Nutrition

    • Health Coaching / Lifestyle Medicine (with a nutrition component)

  2. Health or Fitness-Related Certification:
    Certificate holders from reputable organizations in:

    • Fitness, wellness, or personal training (e.g., NASM, ISSA, ACE)

    • Health coaching or behavior change science

    • Certified nutrition courses from recognized providers (subject to board approval)

  3. Experience-Based Entry:
    Applicants with at least 2 years of practical experience delivering non-clinical nutrition services (e.g., wellness coaching, gym-based nutrition guidance, school nutrition programs) may apply with supporting documentation.

Note: Health professionals who meet the eligibility criteria under Group A (e.g., pharmacists, physicians, nurses) are also welcome to apply for certifications in this group, especially if their interest lies in lifestyle, wellness, or community-based nutrition applications.

2. Exam Dates and Scheduling
Registration

The registration system is open every month. Candidates may register at any time, but registration must be completed no later than two (2) days before the start of the desired exam month.

Exam Window

Examinations are administered during the first fifteen (15) days of each month through the official remote proctoring platform.

Emergency Exceptions

Candidates who are unable to sit for the exam due to documented emergencies (e.g., serious illness, death in the immediate family, court appearance, etc.) may submit a deferral request through the Contact Us page. Each request will be reviewed case-by-case, and the Board reserves the right to accept or deny requests without obligation to disclose the rationale.

One Exam per Month Policy

Candidates are permitted to take only one certification exam per month, regardless of the specialty. Attempting to schedule more than one specialty examination within the same month is not allowed, and any such attempt may result in cancellation of one or more exam appointments at the Board’s discretion.

3. Exam Fees

The following fee structure applies to all certification programs under the Board of Nutrition Specialties:

  • Initial Certification Application Fee: $600 USD

  • Re-test Fee: $300 USD per attempt

  • Recertification Examination Fee: $300 USD

All fees are non-refundable unless otherwise stated in the Withdrawal, Deferral, and Refund Policy. Fees are subject to change at the discretion of the Board.

Reduced Fees for Eligible Countries

Candidates who hold a valid license issued by a country classified as either Low-Income or Lower-Middle-Income by the World Bank are eligible for a 50% discount on all applicable fees, including:

  • Initial certification

  • Retake examinations

  • Recertification

No separate application is required. The discount is automatically granted if the candidates submits a current license issued by a qualifying country.

Eligibility is determined based on the most recent World Bank classification at the time of application.
A current list of qualifying countries is available at: https://data.worldbank.org

4. Exam Format

  • Number of Questions: 100 multiple-choice questions

  • Exam Duration: 2.5 hours

  • Delivery Method: Online, remote-proctored exam

  • Minimum Passing Score: 70%

5. Scoring and Performance Reporting

  • Each correct answer is worth one point. There is no negative marking for incorrect responses.

  • Score reports will indicate Pass or Fail status only.

  • Candidates who achieve a passing score will be awarded the relevant certification title corresponding to their chosen specialty.

6. Result Notification and Certificate Issuance

  • Examination results are released within fifteen (15) days after the close of the monthly testing window.

  • Candidates will receive an email notification once their official result is available.

  • Successful candidates will be issued a digital certificate (PDF) via email within thirty (30) calendar days of the result release.

  • Each certificate includes a unique verification number that can be used to confirm certification status through the official certification verification portal.

7. Exam Retake Policy

Candidates who do not achieve a passing score on a Board of Nutrition Specialties examination may retake the exam under the following conditions:

Retake Window

The first retake must be completed within three testing windows from the release date of the initial exam results.

If the candidate does not pass the first retake, a second and final retake must be completed within three testing windows from the release date of the first retake result.

Retake Fees

  • Each retake attempt is available at 50% of the standard examination fee.

Failure to Pass After Two Retakes

Candidates who do not pass after two retake attempts must restart the certification process as new applicants. This includes:

  • Submitting a new application

  • Paying the full exam fee

  • Meeting the current eligibility requirements in effect at the time of reapplication

Note: For missed appointments or failure to schedule, please refer to the Withdrawal, Deferral, and Refund Policy.

8. Withdrawal, Deferral, and Refund Policy
Withdrawal from the Exam

  • Candidates may withdraw their exam application at any time before scheduling their exam appointment.

  • Withdrawal requests must be submitted via the Contact Us page on the Board website.

  • Withdrawals submitted before scheduling the exam are eligible for a partial refund (50% of the exam fee).

  • Withdrawals submitted after scheduling the exam are not eligible for any refund unless an approved emergency applies.

Emergency Withdrawal (After Scheduling)

A candidate who cannot attend the exam due to:

  • Serious illness (candidate or immediate family)

  • Death in the immediate family

  • Disabling accident

  • Court appearance or jury duty

  • Unexpected military deployment
    ...may submit an emergency withdrawal request within 7 calendar days of the missed appointment, along with official documentation (e.g., medical report, court summons), via the Contact Us page.

If approved:

  • A partial refund will be issued after deducting an administrative fee of $100 and $50 scheduling fee if applicable.

Deferral (Rescheduling)

  • Candidates may reschedule their exam up to 7 calendar days before the appointment.

  • A $50 rescheduling fee will be applied.

  • Requests must be submitted through the Contact Us page.

  • Requests made after the allowed time will be considered a no-show, and the full exam fee will be forfeited.

No-Show Policy

  • A candidate who fails to appear at the scheduled time without prior notice will be marked as a no-show.

  • No refund will be provided.

  • The candidate must reapply and pay the full exam fee to sit again.

Refunds

  • Refunds, where applicable, will be processed within 30 business days from the date of approval.

  • All refunds are subject to deduction of any applicable fees (e.g., administrative, scheduling).

9. Recertification

To maintain an active certification status, certificants under the Board of Nutrition Specialties must complete the recertification process every five (5) years by retaking and passing the certification examination for their specialty.

Recertification Requirements

  • Recertification is achieved exclusively through re-examination; continuing education is not required.

  • The recertification exam must be taken at any time during the sixth year of the certification cycle.

  • During the sixth year, the certification status will be marked as "Pending Recertification" until the candidate successfully completes the exam.

Recertification Fee Structure

  • The recertification exam is offered at 50% of the standard examination fee.

  • Certificants who do not pass on the first attempt are allowed two additional retake attempts, each at 50% of the standard fee.

  • Failure to pass after the third attempt requires the certificant to restart the process as a new applicant, including:

    • Submitting a new application

    • Paying the full examination fee

    • Meeting all current eligibility criteria in effect at the time of reapplication

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