Curious About the CNS Path After American University? You’re in the Right Place.

If you're earning or have completed your MS in Nutrition Education at American University, you've already taken a powerful step toward a career in personalized nutrition. Your program's focus on evidence-based science and behavior change lays the ideal foundation for becoming a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS).

To keep your momentum going, sign up for the American University version of our CNS Launchpad course. This self-paced course walks you through how to track your 1,000 supervised hours, helps you determine which additional coursework (if any) you may need, and outlines the exact steps to qualify for and earn the CNS credential.

At Clinician’s Incubator, we specialize in supporting AU grads as they bridge the gap between education and national board certification—so you can confidently step into private practice, group care, or community-based nutrition work.

Here’s How You’ll Earn Your 1,000 CNS Supervised Hours:

Every AU student who works with Clinician’s Incubator gets access to with 250 hours of observation and case-based learning through our Signature Supervision program including live shadowing, recorded shadowing, and supervisor case studies ready for you to work on.

CNS candidates in our program also accrue average 100 hours of supervision with a CNS-approved supervisor to get tailored feedback and skill-building. These hours with supervisor count toward your direct hours. From there, you choose your path to complete your remaining hours:

  • Best for CNS candidates who are raring to go with their own thriving private practice. This is also a great option for people that work in another provider’s office, or have a busy job at WIC or SNAP seeing clients.

  • This option is best if you know you want to bring some of your own clients, but you’d also like the support of having some clients provided.

  • This is a great option if you want the majority of your direct client hours to be provided for you. With the remaining 200 hours, you can provide group nutrition education to local organizations, see clients, and so much more!

Sign up for a free, no-obligation info session today. We’ll walk through your options, and discuss which plan is best for you.

Resources for American University Students and Grads

CNS Test Prep Mini Course

Get our free mini course that helps you strategize your approach to studying the topics you likely didn’t get in school. We’ll review Genomics, Herbs and Botanicals, and Food Safety as well as give you a general guide to studying for the exam.

CNS Launchpad

This courses includes an overview of hours - how to get them, and how to track them.

We also include our best advice to get the coursework you might be missing to sit for the CNS exam.


Study Tips If You’re Still in School

If you want THE BEST way to efficiently keep notes for when you actually practice clinical nutrition, download our guide now (there is a video explainer link inside the spreadsheet).

Meet Your CNS Supervisors

WHAT’S NEXT

Are You Ready To Do The Dang Thing?

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