Credentials / International Society of Sports Nutrition

Certified Sports Nutritionist from the International Society of Sports Nutrition

CISSNcertificationverifiedby International Society of Sports Nutrition· Compare
Verified: this record was checked against its official source. Last verified 2026-09-03. 12 sources on file.

At a glance

Credential type
certification
Status
active
Target professional
Exercise physiologists, fitness professionals, nurse practitioners, nutritionists, personal trainers, sport dietitians, sports nutritionists, strength and conditioning professionals
Country
unknown
Official page
https://www.sportsnutritionsociety.org/CISSN.html
Recertification page
https://www.sportsnutritionsociety.org/CISSN.html
Categories
Nutrition Coaching, Sports Performance, Body Composition

Accreditation

No accreditation on record — status unknown. Absence of a claim is recorded honestly rather than guessed.

Eligibility & examination

Eligibility

Minimum age
unknown
Education
Required to have a 4-year undergraduate college degree; without one, credentials are considered on a case-by-case basis by email
Degree required
yes — 4-year undergraduate (bachelor's) degree
Degree field
Any field; a 4-year degree in an unrelated field (e.g., psychology, sociology, liberal arts) is still eligible, though it is highly recommended (not mandatory) to take and pass a semester-long college course in Sports Nutrition or related class
Experience
Only for the alternative (no-degree) pathway: practicing in the field for at least five years
CPR/AED
unknown
Other prerequisites
Must be a paid ISSN member to take the exam (or pay the $999 non-member rate) and to receive the certificate. Alternative pathway without a 4-year degree requires ALL of: 5+ years practicing in the field and paid ISSN membership; certification as a trainer by NSCA, ACE or ACSM (CPT or HFI); and attendance (with proof) at 3 ISSN National Conferences in the past 4 years.

Exams are given in English; proficiency in reading English is expected (Spanish/Portuguese by direct request).

Examination

Format
Online examination; 200 questions in multiple-choice and true/false format; not open-note. Can be taken online at any time, or proctored in a group/testing site (e.g., university).
Online exam
yes
Testing center
yes
Length
80 minutes
Questions
200
Passing score
70.00% or higher (anything below 70.00% fails)
Attempts included
1
Retake policy
No limit on the number of retakes, but you must pay for each exam attempt. No refunds for certification exams; poor internet connection is not grounds for a free retake. If you cancel within 60 days after registering, a 10% refund applies.

Initial certification costs

$699
exam fee member
$999
exam fee nonmember
$649
exam fee

$699: ISSN member (Fellow, Professional, or Student) · $999: Non-member · $649: Regular rate quoted in FAQ; conflicts with $699 member rate on registration page

Renewal & CEU requirements

1 yr
renewal cycle
6
CEUs per cycle
Recertification required
yes
CEU unit system
ISSN CEU (6 CEU per year, or 30 CEU every five years)
Ethics requirement
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
not_applicable
Deadline rule
Annual: 6 CEU must be earned per year (alternatively 30 CEU per five-year span); active ISSN membership must be maintained continuously. If membership lapses, certification remains valid for 1 year.

Maintaining an active paid ISSN membership is mandatory to keep the CISSN. Qualifying activities include presenting at national/regional ISSN conferences (6), ISSN office/volunteer service (6), publishing in JISSN (6), attending the US National ISSN conference (13-15), ISSN webinars (up to 6), international ISSN conferences (6), regional ISSN workshops (6), and online CEU quizzes (6, or 6-12 points). Approved non-ISSN events (e.g., NSCA) count for 3 CEU, approved case by case, and are unlikely to count if the holder never attends an ISSN conference or webinar. Holders self-track CEUs and are randomly audited; CEUs are reported via the member portal (Certifications > CEU Reporting). Recommended practice: maintain membership and attend an ISSN National Conference at least every 2 years; holders outside North/South America must attend the national meeting once every 4 years.

CEU recognition

  • Non-ISSN event providers (e.g., NSCA) — petition accepted
    Approved non-ISSN events count for 3 CEU, approved on a case-by-case basis; unlikely to count if the holder never attends an ISSN conference or webinar.
  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), NSCA, ACSM, NASM, ACE, IDEA — approved ceu provider
    ISSN conferences are stated to be available for continuing education credits by these associations.

Pathway

What this credential requires

One of:
  • EducationFour-year undergraduate college degree
— or —
all of the following together:
  • ExperienceAt least 5 years practicing in the field
  • MembershipPaid ISSN member
  • CertificationTrainer certification through NSCA, ACE, or ACSM as specified by ISSN
  • ExperienceAttended at least 3 ISSN National Conferences in the past 4 years

Open in Pathways →

Sources (12)

Latest verification activity: initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-07) · reverification → confirmed (2026-09-06) · initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-06) · initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-04) · reverification → confirmed (2026-09-03)

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