Dietary Supplement Educational Curriculum Requirements

Applying programs must be from schools that, at a minimum possess official recognition from their State’s Department of Post-secondary Education or Department of Education as a Private Post-secondary Educational Institution. Programs from entities that do not possess such recognition will be not be considered for review.

Graduates of NANP-approved dietary supplement education programs are eligible:

• for Dietary Supplement Professional membership in the NANP
• to apply to take the Dietary Supplement Professional Certification Exam

Dietary Supplement Professional Educational Curriculum Requirements – 8 credits (1 semester credit=45 educational hours)

1. Anatomy/Physiology/Biochemistry – 1 semester credit
1. Macronutrients
2. Micronutrients
2. Nutritional Support of the Body – 2 semester credits
1. Life Cycle Nutrition:
1. Men’s health (pediatric & geriatric)
2. Women’s health (pediatric & geriatric)
2. Sports Nutrition
3. Body Systems:
1. Blood Sugar
2. Cardiovascular System
3. Detoxification
4. Digestion
5. Healthy Diet
6. Immune System
7. Liver
8. Mental Health/Stress
9. Skin
3. Nutraceuticals – 2 semester credits
1. Vitamins & minerals
2. Herbs
3. Homeopathy
4. Glandulars
5. Mushrooms
4. Legal Responsibilities – 3 semester credit, to include:
1. DSEA (Dietary Supplement Education Act)
2. FALCPA (Food Allergy Labelling and Consumer Protection Act)
3. FDA (Food & Drug Administration)
4. GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)
5. Delivery Form
6. Disease Treatment Language
7. Amounts/Servings
8. Excipients/Other Ingredients
9. Health Claims
10. Health Supportive Language
11. Marketing Claims
12. Proprietary Blends
13. Structure-Function Claims
14. Supplement Facts
15. 3rd Party Literature
16. Qualified Health Claims
17. Ethics – Scope of Practice

Independent Educational Review

A person wishing to take the exam to become a Certified Dietary Supplement Professional who has not graduated from an approved dietary supplement educational program may request an independent review to determine eligibility.

Requirements for the independent review include:

1. a cover letter stating the desire to take the Certified Dietary Supplement Professional exam
2. a fifty dollar ($50.00) review fee
3. official transcripts from all relevant educational institutions
4. course description materials (i.e. catalog, etc.)
5. may also include a telephone interview with the NANP Educational Programs Assistant

Persons who do not meet the above mentioned requirements, may be asked to complete one or more courses of study before being able to take the exam. To inquire about an Independent Educational Review (IER) contact Andrea Grandson at andrea@nanp.org.