How to Study for the NASM CNC – Achieve a Passing Score Immediately with These Helpful Hints

NASM CNC, National Academy of Sports Medicine’s Certified Nutrition Coach, is a comprehensive nutrition certification.

Check out our NASM CNC review to get the full scoop on this program and what it has to offer. Go ahead. We’ll wait.

All finished? Now that’s you’ve read all about the NASM CNC certification, it’s time to discuss how to study for it.

Nutrition recommendations for a healthy lifestyle vary from person to person and change as science progresses.

NASM provides a range of study materials to help you succeed as a NASM Certified Nutrition Coach. This article will discover all those study materials and information about the exam.

Certified Nutrition Coach – NASM

We applaud you if you already hold a NASM certification or recently read our NASM CES review on becoming a corrective exercise specialist.

While you are familiar with the physical fitness certification, you might want to know more about the nutrition coaching skills and what is required to receive a certificate. You’ve come to the right place.

Becoming a NASM Certified Nutrition Coach is an excellent way to add more value to your certified personal training credentials. While exercise is a vital part of everyday life, proper nutrition is the backbone of exceptional health and well-being.

A comprehensive nutrition program like NASM CNC gives you the tools to make individualized nutrition coaching for your clients. Certain people require different nutrition based on their fitness goals, current fitness levels, or health and allergy complications.

You’ll learn about nutrition hot topics and show your clients the importance of reading food and supplement labels to ensure they are getting the proper fuel throughout the day.

With the most comprehensive nutrition program around, a nutrition coach, NASM CNC, is aimed to advance your knowledge of nutrition to gain better results for your clients.

Certified Nutrition Coach – NASM Course Explained

The NASM Certified Nutrition Coach provides a comprehensive nutrition program curriculum consisting of 24 chapters divided into three more extensive chapters.

The Nutritional Science chapter starts with chapters about protein, carbohydrates, fats, and more to understand how each food group influences your daily diet.

Next, the Behavior Change Strategies chapter delves into the psychology behind weight management and setting realistic goals.

Finally, the Nutrition Coaching chapter brings all of that knowledge together to facilitate individualized nutrition coaching for your client.

The Nutrition Coaching chapter explains managing weight loss plateaus, weight control, and relevant knowledge about evidence based nutrition. 

Nutrition Coach, NASM CNC Online Certification Exam

Before we look at study materials, let’s understand what the exam for a NASM nutrition certification offers.

The test consists of 100 questions with a 90-minute time limit provided online. A passing score is 70%, and you can take the exam three times.

This comprehensive nutrition program offers unlimited access to practice exams to prepare you for the final exam.

NASM Certified Nutrition Coach Study Materials

Now that you know the test structure, let’s go through the study materials offered to become a NASM Certified Nutrition Coach.

NASM CNC Study Books

In addition to the chapters offered with the NASM Certified Nutrition Coach curriculum, there are many books for purchase to further your knowledge and training. One of the most popular books written by Joshua Efron is called NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialty (FNS) Study Guide.

Available on Amazon, it’s a 40-page study guide that incorporates the NASM CNC curriculum well. Other resources are available to download as part of the course to prepare you for the final exam.

NASM CNC Study Apps

There’s always an app for everything, and the NASM Certified Nutrition Coach program is no different. They offer an app specifically designed to go along with the course and their curriculum to help you study.

In addition, there are other nutrition apps available to increase your knowledge on nutrition hot topics and nutrition science, so you are better prepared for the online certification exam.

NASM CNC Flashcards

Flashcards are a timeless study aid. You probably used them as a kid to study for tests, and there is no better way to study for the NASM CNC exam.

Put the exam question on one side and the answer on the other. If you don’t want to print out cards, use an online source like Quizlet.

This site is specifically designed to help with your NASM Certified Nutrition Coach certification. Learn imperative nutrition coaching skills via flashcards and ace that exam.

Nutrition Coach, NASM CNC Practice Tests

A part of the NASM nutrition certification offers you practice tests to download. This is an excellent way to study for the online certification exam. There are 100 multiple choice questions on the practice test, which is the same as the final online certification exam.

Time yourself during the practice tests to ensure you complete it within the 90-minute time constraint. If you took a test for your previous fitness qualifications, you may be more familiar with these exams.

Depending on which certification you chose, ACE vs. NASM, the tests might be different. The best way to know what you are getting into is to try these practice tests. There are other websites that offer practice tests in addition to what NASM offers with their curriculum.

Other Helpful Study Tips

When it comes to studying, the sky is the limit. The more you study, the better your chances of passing the NASM CNC exam on your first try. NASM only allows three attempts to pass their exam so being prepared is crucial. 

Ensure you download and utilize every resource NASM generates through your curriculum.

From practice tests to outside resources, everything you need to know to pass the course is there at your disposal. There are numerous practice tests to choose from so try several different ones.

All of them focus on the main ideas behind nutrition science and what is essential for nutrition coaching.

When you finally sit down to take the online certification exam, ensure you are in a quiet place where you can focus.

Avoid crowded coffee houses or restaurants where distractions are immense. Remember, you only have 90 minutes to complete the test so avoiding distractions is a must. 

In the end, if you put in the study and dedication to the NASM Certified Nutrition Coach progarm, you will be one step closer to a nutrition coach.

It’s a significant step for personal trainers to be able to give their clients a dietary assessment that provides results alongside a daily exercise program. Good luck!