When it comes to nutrition, people with questionable credentials are increasing in numbers. So, who can you turn to for the best and most accurate advice?  It’s still the Registered Dietitian.

Here’s a rundown of “new” professional credentials available, and why to avoid individuals with these “certifications.”

1. A Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN) credential is offered by the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board (CNCB), an organization founded in 1991 to provide credentialing to nutrition professionals who might not be eligible to become registered dietitians or to be certified by the American Board of Nutrition.
2. The American Health Science University offers a Certified Nutritionist (CN) credential to students who complete its six-course “distance learning program” and take test. Although accredited, it is closely aligned with the health-food industry whose practices are also largely unregulated.
3. The American Association of Nutritional Consultants issues a Certified Nutritional Consultant (CNC) credential to persons who take an open-book test.
4. The Society of Certified Nutritionists (SCN) established in 1985 includes Certified Clinical Nutritionists (CCN), Certified Nutritionists (CN), and Certified Nutrition Consultants (CNC) among its members. Anyone who has the title “nutritionist” is questionable, since the term is not regulated and can be used by any individual.

Need to find a Registered Dietitian in your area? Visit the American Dietetic Association’s website.