Nutritionist School in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Nutrition Schools, Degrees and Education

Nutritionist programs are typically offered in three ways: (1) an associate’s degree, (2) a bachelor’s degree, and (3) a master’s degree. As you begin researching your education, you need to keep in mind that it is the most important part of your career. For that reason, you need to choose a degree option that will be suitable to your career goals, as well as to the goals of a future employer.

With that being said, many employers prefer to hire someone with a bachelor’s degree or better. However, that does not mean that you will not be able to find employment with an associate’s degree. It simply means that a higher level of education is preferable.

There will be many different classes that you will be taking as a part of any degree program. Some of those classes may include anatomy, biology, chemistry, nutrition, digestion, physiology, patient care, and human development.

Certificate Levels

After completion of any degree program, you will then be eligible to become certified as either a certified clinical nutritionist (CCN) or a certified nutrition specialist (CNS). The CCN can be obtained from the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board (CNCB), and the CNS can be obtained from the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists (CBNS).

The CCN is the entry-level certification that you will need to begin seeking employment, and this type of certification requires the minimum of an associate’s degree. The CNS, on the other hand, is only for students that have completed a bachelor’s degree of higher because it is a specialist certification. Both of these titles will require you to take a sit-in test and pass with an acceptable score.

You are allowed to retake these tests as needed; however, you should be aware that if you do, you will be charged for the cost of the test each time. The cost of the CCN test is $450, and the cost of the CNS test is $300. 

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Nutritionists in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge and Lowell, Massachusetts may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Massachusetts General Hospital, Winchester Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Marlborough Hospital.