The institution
An independent standards body for nutrition practice.
The World Board of Nutrition Certification (WBNC) exists to protect the public and strengthen the nutrition profession. We define what competent, ethical nutrition practice looks like, assess candidates against those standards, and make every issued credential publicly verifiable.
Our mandate
Protect the public. Strengthen the profession.
Nutrition advice influences health decisions. The people who provide it should be assessed against clear competencies, held to an ethical code, and easy to verify.
WBNC develops certification frameworks for nutrition advisory, sports nutrition, weight management, and holistic practice. Each framework is built from current evidence, reviewed by subject-matter experts, and tested through applied assessment.
We do not sell credentials. We do not award certifications for attendance alone. Every WBNC credential represents a completed assessment against a published standard.
What we stand for
Three commitments that shape every credential.
Evidence before opinion
Every competency and assessment criterion is grounded in peer-reviewed science and reviewed for currency. We distinguish evidence from marketing claims.
Scope before authority
WBNC credentials define what a practitioner may responsibly do — and when a client must be referred to a registered dietitian, physician, or other licensed professional.
Verification before trust
A credential is only useful if it can be checked. Every certificate is recorded in a public registry and can be verified by name and certificate number.
How we work
From standard to certificate.
The same four-stage process applies to every WBNC credential, from the first draft of a competency framework to the registry record issued to the holder.
Define the competency framework
Subject-matter experts define the knowledge, skills, and professional judgments required for safe, effective practice within a specific scope.
Build applied assessment
Written examinations are combined with case studies, consultations, and supervised practice so candidates must demonstrate judgment, not only recall.
Review independently
The Standards Committee reviews assessment criteria, pass standards, and scope-of-practice guidance before any credential is issued.
Issue and publish
Each certificate receives a unique WBNC number and a registry record. Employers and clients can verify the record at any time through this website.
Standards committee
The expertise behind the standard.
Committee members advise on scientific accuracy, assessment validity, professional ethics, and public protection. They do not assess individual candidates.
Independence
A credential should not be for sale.
WBNC maintains a clear separation between training, assessment, and certification decisions. Fees cover administration and assessment; they do not purchase a passing result.
Certificates may be revoked following a disciplinary review. Revoked records remain visible in the registry with an Invalid status, so the public can rely on the verification result.
Work with WBNC
A standard worth contributing to.
Employers, educators, and practitioners can contact the Board about standards review, assessment partnerships, or verification questions.