If you need help studying for the NBNSC Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) exam or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free CNSC practice test!
Exam Eligibility
Before you can register to take the CNSC exam, you’ll have to meet at the eligibility requirements based on your occupation:
- Dietitian
You must be an RD/RDN with the Commission on Dietetic Registration. - Registered Nurse
You must have a valid RN license in the US. - Pharmacist
You must have a valid pharmacist license in the US. - Physician
You must be licensed as an MD or DO in the US. - Advanced Practice Provider
You must be licensed as a PA, APN, or NP in the US. - Doctor of Dental Surgery/Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry
You must be licensed as a DDS or DMD in the US.
If you meet one of these requirements, you’re set to begin the registration process!
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 250 multiple-choice questions total, but only 220 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 30 unscored questions on the CNSC exam are called “pretest” questions. These are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pretest. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
The time limit for the exam is 4 hours, and you’ll have an optional break after the first two hours.
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the CNSC exam.
1. Nutrition Assessment
31% of the exam
- Identifying patients with malnutrition and risk factors for developing malnutrition
- Reviewing patient history and current clinical status
- Reviewing diet, medication, and supplements
- Evaluating anthropometric data
- Identifying potential or existing nutrition support access
- Performing a nutrition-focused physical exam
- Evaluating patient for potential complications of initiating nutrition support therapy
- Determining fluid, nutrient, and electrolyte intake and output
- Determining macronutrient and micronutrient requirements
- Evaluating psychological, socioeconomic, developmental, functional, behavioral, and quality of life factors
- Evaluating indication for timing and route of administration
- Determining etiology, degree, and type of malnutrition
- Determining nutritional diagnosis/problem
- Assessing patient and caregiver capabilities and limitations
2. Clinical Management
57% of the exam
- Recommending administration route and access for nutrition support therapy
- Recommending formulation, rate, and/or volume
- Recommending use of pharmacologic adjunctive agents
- Recommending cost-effective strategies
- Recommending short-term and long-term nutrition support therapy goals
- Recommending diagnostic tests, procedures, or consultations that may modify the nutrition support plan
- Recommending laboratory tests that may modify the nutrition support plan
- Recommending regimen for initiation, advancement, maintenance, and discontinuation of nutrition support therapy
- Verifying position, location and functionality of nutrition access device
- Evaluating tolerance of nutrition support therapy
- Evaluating fluid status
- Monitoring adherence with nutrition support therapy plan
- Monitoring for complications of nutrition support therapy
- Evaluating laboratory test results
- Monitoring nutritional and metabolic response
- Evaluating status of nutrition access device
- Assessing nutrition support therapy for safety concerns
- Monitoring for drug-nutrient interaction
- Monitoring for enteral or parenteral formula stability
- Modifying nutrition support therapy based on changes in patient clinical status and medical plan of care
- Managing complications
- Reevaluating nutrition support therapy goals and adjunctive drug therapy
- Transitioning/discontinuing nutrition support therapy
- Transitioning patient from one care setting to another
- Educaing patient, caregiver, and/or health care professionals
3. Process Management
5% of the exam
- Developing/updating policies and procedures to guide patient care
- Implementing current guidelines and standards of practice in the provision of nutrition support therapy
- Developing or updating patient education materials
- Utilizing a continuous process improvement model to evaluate nutrition care
4. Professional Practice
7% of the exam
- Applying ethical principles in the application of nutrition support therapy
- Providing nutrition support therapy
- Evaluating scientific literature and interpreting study design, methodology, statistical analysis, and results
- Applying principles of evidence-based practice in provision of nutrition support therapy
How to Register
Once you’ve ensured that you meet all of the eligibility requirements, you can register for the exam.
To get started, you’ll need to submit an application on NBNSC’s website. The application will ask you for your contact information and any documentation to prove your eligibility (among other things).
When you submit the application, you’ll also need to submit the application fee, which is $430. If you’re an NOVA member, you will only have to pay $380, and ASPEN members only pay $330.
Nutrition Support Clinician Exam Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
The test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. This scaled score will range somewhere between 200 and 800.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test during the next available testing period.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay the full testing fee every time you retake the test.
FAQs
How many questions are on the CNSC exam?
The exam contains 250 questions.
What is the time limit for the CNSC exam?
The exam is timed at 4 hours.
What is the passing score for the CNSC exam?
You’ll need to get a final scaled score of at least 500 to pass.
How much does the CNSC exam cost?
The application fee is $430.