Cert VS Degree: What Type of Nutrition Credential is Best?

Quality nutrition and consistency are the keys to health and wellness. Purposeful eating and getting a good balance of minerals, vitamins, protein, carbohydrates, fat, and water are challenging for most people. A nutrition specialist or health coach is educated and trained to teach clients about these six elements of nutrition and develop a plan for effective eating habits. Specialists come in the form of a certified nutritionist, a licensed nutritionist, or a dietitian.

As a personal trainer looking to expand their knowledge and services for clients or someone interested in nutrition, you will need to weigh the different pathways to credentialing. There are many different options!

Nutrition Certification vs Degree: What's the Difference?

There are so many ways to gain the knowledge needed to understand nutrition, digestion, absorption, and nutrition therapies. Outside of the education about food, counseling clients and nutrition programming requires its own set of learned skills. Personal trainers go from a fitness coach to a health coach when they can train the whole individual for success!

Certifications are the shortest programs of the options while degrees take the longest and cost the most. Degrees can be an associate degree, bachelor's degree, or a master's degree with distance (online) programs available. Let's explore the differences as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each.

What is a Nutrition Certification?

There are several recognized certification options for nutrition coaching and nutrition specialist that take 8-24 weeks to complete. Most of these programs come with a physical book that is mailed to you as well as online resources, practice exams, and videos. The certification exam is usually completed online and, once earned, the certification will not expire.

Most certification programs range in cost from $499 to $999 and cover the essentials of nutrition, coaching clients, and community health. One can even become a holistic nutritionist with the correct program.

Certified nutrition professionals can counsel clients with food choices, meal ideas, and provide tools for nutritional success regardless of their fitness and health goals.

Learn more about the ISSA nutrition certification and get started on the first step today! ISSA Certified Nutritionist

What is a Nutrition Degree?

Associate degree: This 2-year program allows the student to complete their prerequisite and basic college coursework with 12-20 of the 60 credits of coursework geared towards the subject of their choice. There is no concluding exam required.

Cost: $10,000 - $25,000

Bachelor's degree: This is a 4-year program, typically 120 credits including the completion of prerequisite basic coursework and 30-45 credits worth of nutrition, dietetics, or nutrition counseling courses. There is no exam to complete a bachelor's degree in nutrition. The degree may meet the requirements to sit for the Registered Dietitian exam if completed through an accredited program.

Cost: $20,000-$75,000

Master's degree: This is an additional 2-4 years of study beyond the bachelor's degree. It includes 40-60 credits of coursework specific to the field and practice of nutrition. Most accredited master's degree programs require completion and defense of a thesis in the field prior to graduation. The master's degree is currently not a requirement to sit for the Registered Dietitian exam, but, as of January 2024, a master's degree will be required.

Cost: $30,000-$50,000

Doctoral degree: The requires another 4-6 years more of intensified and specific nutrition study. While the cost and time spent for a doctoral degree versus the other degrees are much higher, the average income for a nutrition job with this background, according to the BLS, is the same. However, the opportunity for high-level (higher paying) science and nutrition positions is open for a Post-doctoral individual.

Cost: $20,000-$40,000

Online education is a much more accessible form of learning for students as long as they have a computer and access to the Internet. As previously mentioned, online programs are typically more expensive than campus-based programs. There are more than 200 approved campus programs making students eligible to sit for the registered dietitian exam and only four approved colleges for online learning (bachelor's degrees only).

Licenses for Nutrition

Most licenses require a bachelor's degree or higher, with some states also requiring 900 or more hours of supervised experience with a specific nutrition focus. After meeting all education and experiential requirements, the student can sit for the licensure exam. Licenses are renewed with continuing education credits every 2-5 years. Licensure varies by state.

A certified clinical nutritionist is the most prominent of the licensed nutrition programs available. Like the licensed dietitians, licensed nutritionists will complete an accepted degree. They complete a 56-hour post-collegiate course series educating them on clinical nutrition prior to taking the Certified Clinical Nutrition Exam. They come away with detailed knowledge of specific nutrition therapies like homeopathy, naturopathy, and detoxing. These therapies are typically not explored in a certification or a degree and registered dietitian credential.

Pros and Cons of Nutrition Certifications

Pros of earning a nutrition certification:

• Shorter program

• Lower cost of completion

• Gain general nutrition knowledge

• Flexible and often online

Cons of nutrition certifications:

• Not as detailed as a degree or licensure

• More may be required for certain employment opportunities

Pros and Cons of Nutrition Degrees

Pros of earning a nutrition degree:

• Very detailed education

• Accepted for any employment option

• Necessary for licensure

Cons of nutrition degrees:

• Longer programs (4-6 years)

• Presentation of research thesis prior to graduation with master's or higher (versus certification exam)

• Much higher cost of programming (especially for distance or online programs)

• More academic-focused (may not appeal to those wanting practical skills quickly)

Career Opportunities for Nutrition Coaches

A certification in nutrition can open and advance a lot of career opportunities. Nutrition coach is the most popular option, but this role also blends will with that of a personal trainer, health coach, and corporate wellness coach.

Personal Trainer: Earning both a personal training and a nutrition certification allows you to address more of your client’s needs. Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand to improve overall health and well-being. With both certifications, you’re able to create complete programs.

Health Coach: As a health coach, you help clients make lasting lifestyle changes. This includes areas like nutrition, fitness, and overall wellness. You’ll provide clients with the foundational knowledge needed to build healthier habits.

Corporate Wellness Coach: Companies hire wellness coordinators to develop workshops and programs for their employees. This helps them boost employee health and productivity. Working in corporate wellness might include creating nutrition education workshops, individual counseling, and offering fitness tips.

Nutrition Coach Salary

Factors like location, employment type, and years of experience impact salary:

• The average nutrition coach salary, according to ZipRecruiter, is $43,836 per year. (1)

• Salary.com, however, reports the median nutrition coach salary to be $71,689. (2)

• Glassdoor is situated between the two, listing the average at $61,561 per year. (3)

Dietitians may earn more with a degree and licensure with an average of $68,680 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (4) Nutrition coaches have a wide range of opportunities though to increase their take-home pay. And with a shorter process to get certified, they can start earning much sooner!

How to Get Certified as a Nutrition Coach

Most students opt for the certification, which allows them to begin working with clients sooner. It’s also a great into to nutrition while pursuing a larger education. The hands-on experience is a great resume builder!

A great place to start is with your ISSA Certified Nutritionist credential!

References

1. Nutrition Coach Salary: Hourly Rate February 2025 USA. (2025, February 17). ZipRecruiter. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Nutrition-Coach-Salary#Yearly

2. Nutrition Coach Salary. (2025, February 1). Salary.com. https://www.salary.com/research/salary/posting/nutrition-coach-salary

3. Salary: Nutritional Health Coach in United States. (2024, June 6). Glassdoor. https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/nutritional-health-coach-salary-SRCH_KO0,24.htm

4. Dietitians and Nutritionists. (2024, August 29). Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm#tab-1