Gain Indirect Hours Through Our Supervised Observation Pathways
CNS Candidates may opt to start their SPE with observational hours (maximum of 250 hours) if needed, as they are learning the personalized nutrition care model and just beginning to apply foundational coursework to clinical situations.
The BCNS recognizes the following indirect experiences:
• Listening to videos of client and practitioner interactions and discussing findings with the supervisor
• Shadowing an experienced clinician (may be another CNS candidate who is more experienced, a CNS, RD, MD, ND, chiropractor, or health coach that specializes in nutrition) in active clinical nutrition care, and discussing cases with the supervisor;
• Participating in supervised simulation exercises and/or role playing; and
• Utilizing case studies to analyze clinical cases and prepare treatment plans or handouts that the supervisor reviews.
NOTE: Observational hours are not required, and candidates may earn the complete 1,000 hours in Direct experience.
The Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists. 2024.BCNS Certifications. Handbook 2024-2025. The Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists.
Our 6-Month/250-Hour Supervised Observation Pathway
Our 3-month supervised observation pathway provides new CNS candidates up to 250 indirect hours, contributing towards the 250 maximum indirect hours permitted by the BCNS.
Our structured timeline ensures you can complete these activities in 6-10 hours a week over the 6 months. The candidate may choose to complete this program in a shorter time frame. This structured timeline is designed to help candidates accumulate a substantial portion of the maximum observation hours early in any SPE program, ensuring they feel prepared before transitioning to direct personalized nutrition care with clients.
Embrace this opportunity to enhance your skills before working with live clients!
Enhancing your fundamental skills as a new CNS candidate is crucial, especially if you haven't yet obtained any indirect hours. We strongly recommend observing experienced practitioners in action and practicing mock client cases to build your confidence before working with clients directly. As a member, you gain exclusive access to pre-recorded videos showcasing consultations, motivational interviewing, coaching techniques, charting, fundamental lab assessment, and more. You'll also receive case studies that provide real-world clinical practice applications to further enrich your learning experience. Additionally, we offer other opportunities, such as observing live sessions with our CNS candidates in practice with their clients!
All completed observational hours must be reviewed by a Susan Testa Nutrition supervisor-mentor to meet the BCNS requirements as supervised indirect hours. The average number of supervisor mentoring sessions a candidate will be required to complete during the 6-month program is 10 sessions.
6-Month Observation Pathway Cost
$99.00 to enroll
$685.00 for supervisor mentoring sessions
$784.00 ($130/month)
Enroll in Our 6-Month Supervised
Observation Pathway Here
Best Value
6-Month Supervised Observation Pathway
99
Valid for 6 months
Our 3-Month/125-Hour Supervised Observation Pathway
Our 3-month supervised observation pathway offers CNS candidates 125 indirect hours, tailored for those who need more indirect hours and have already gained valuable experience in direct personalized client nutrition care. Our structured timeline ensures you can complete these activities in 6-10 hours a week over the 3 months while also completing your current clinical practice experience with clients. The candidate may choose to complete this program over
a shorter period of time.
As a member, you gain exclusive access to pre-recorded videos providing a more advanced functional and integrative approach from various practitioners in functional assessment, stages of change, motivational interviewing, coaching techniques, how to address challenging clients and cases, protocol pearls, and advanced lab interpretation. We also provide you with client case studies that provide you with advanced clinical practice applications to further progress your clinical and reasoning skills within the functional medicine framework.
All completed observational hours must be reviewed by a Susan Testa Nutrition supervisor-mentor to meet the BCNS requirements as supervised indirect hours. The average number of supervisor mentoring sessions a candidate will be required to complete during the 6-month program is 6 sessions.
3-Month Observation Pathway Cost
$49.00 to enroll
$420.00 for supervisor mentoring sessions
$469.00 ($156/month)
Enroll in Our 3-Month Supervised
Observation Pathway Here
Best Value
3-Month Supervised Observation Pathway
49
Valid for 3 months