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Sport Nutrition

Policies and Procedures

Candidate Handbook

Eligibility Requirements

Sport Nutrition Specialist Exam candidates must meet at least one of the following requirements to be eligible for the exam:

  • Hold a current NCSF certification, or
  • A current NCCA-accredited fitness certification, or
  • Hold a license and/or certification in an Allied Health Profession, or
  • Hold a Teacher specific State-issued Certification or License, or
  • Enrollment in the CPT/SNS dual credentialing program or the Master Trainer program
Have a question on eligibility? Call 800-772-6273
  • Exam candidates are not required to participate in an NCSF educational program to qualify to sit for the Sport Nutrition Specialist Examination. Although the organization offers education courses and preparation materials for the exam, candidates may choose to engage in primary education offered by other organizations, colleges, or universities. In addition, the Exam is based on universally accepted theories, principles, and guidelines, which allow candidates the option to choose to utilize study materials not offered by the NCSF.

Appeals for Denied Eligibility

NCSF reserves the right to reject any application that in the organization’s view does not meet eligibility requirements. If your application for the NCSF Sport Nutrition Specialist exam is not accepted, you can request that your application be reviewed again. You must send a written appeal to:

NCSF Exam Registration
5915 Ponce de Leon Blvd., #60
Coral Gables, FL 33146

Your written appeal must include a detailed explanation of why you think you should be eligible and provide all supporting and helpful documentation. All matters will be reviewed within 10 business days upon receipt of correspondence. Candidates will be notified immediately in writing of approval or denial of their appeal.

Examination Fees

U.S. and Canada

  • First-time candidates $299.00
  • Re-take candidates $99.00

Non U.S. and Canada

  • First-time candidates $299.00
  • Re-take candidates $299.00

Paying for the Examination

  • The NCSF will only register candidates who submit a COMPLETED application either through their educational institution or through online enrollment and payment in FULL.
  • The NCSF will return all incomplete applications and/or applications with a declined credit card or returned check.
  • Exam fees are subject to change without notice.
  • The NCSF accepts checks, money orders, and credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express).
  • The NCSF does not accept cash, purchase orders, or invoices.
  • Check or money order should be in U.S. funds, drawn on a U.S. bank, and payable to the NCSF.
  • If you pay by check, your canceled check will serve as your receipt. If you pay by money order or bank draft, you may request a receipt for income tax documentation by writing to the NCSF when you register.
  • In the United States, an income tax deduction may be allowed for expenses related to education necessary to maintain or improve professional skills. See your tax advisor for details. International registration fees must be payable in U.S. funds by U.S. bank draft. You may also pay by VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card or American Express.

Examination Content

Eligible exam candidates must meet the minimum passing score to attain the Sport Nutrition Specialist Certificate. The Sport Nutrition Specialist Examination is comprised of 150 multiple choice questions proportionately sectioned to assess the requisite five (5) content areas.

  • Required Passing Score: 70
  • Number of Questions: 150
  • Time Allowed: 3 Hour Maximum
Sport Nutrition Specialist Exam Breakdown:
Macronutrients31%
Micronutrients19%
Dietary Supplements and Ergogenic Aids24%
Nutritional Analysis and Weight Management26%

Sport Nutrition Specialist Sample Test

Taking the Specialist Exam

After the candidate registers for an exam with the NCSF they will be sent an exam confirmation notice containing their eligibility number and all related documentation required to sit for the Sport Nutrition Specialist Exam. Once a candidate has registered with the National Council on Strength and Fitness and has received their exam confirmation notice they can then schedule an appointment to take the Sport Nutrition Specialist Examination. Scheduling as well as rescheduling if necessary is handled directly through Prometric.

Your exam confirmation number will be valid for six months. If you have not scheduled and tested with Prometric you must re-register with the NCSF. Your re-registration is subject to the same policies as the exam retake.

If you cannot make your exam appointment and fail to contact Prometric within 72 hours of your scheduled appointment time you must re-register under the exam retake policies.

Exam Center

The first room you will visit when entering a Prometric Testing Center is usually the waiting area. Upon entering, you will be asked to sign-in. The test proctor will call you when it's time to test.

You will then begin the check-in process. First, the proctor will check your ID;a government issued, signature bearing photo ID (ex. driver’s license or passport) is required.

The Test Center Administrator will provide you with all appropriate items prior to the beginning of the exam.

The Test Center Administrator will then lead you to a test workstation. Each workstation has a computer, monitor, mouse and an adjustable chair so that test takers can be as comfortable as possible. The computer format is as easy to use as the traditional paper-and-pencil exam. You will be given a short tutorial at the onset of the exam telling you when to press a key or when to click a mouse. Think of it this way, with the traditional exam you fill in the blanks with a pencil, while with a computer-based exam you click on the appropriate key or click the mouse.

You will have three hours to complete the 150 question multiple choice exam.

Technical assistance will also be provided during the examination itself if any problems should arise.

Once you have completed the exam, the proctor will escort you out of the room, where the check out process will begin. This process includes signing out and the collection of any exhibits and scratch paper. In the event you do not meet the minimum passing score you must contact the NCSF to register for another examination. Retake fees are $99.00 (see Retake Policy).

Online Testing

Your pretest system check will verify whether your computer can install and run the ProProctor Application so that you can take your exam. Once your computer has been validated, you are ready to download and install the ProProctor application that delivers your exam. To launch your exam, please enter your appointment confirmation number and the first four (4) letters of your last name/surname. You should launch your exam 15 minutes before the scheduled start time so that you can complete the inspection of your testing environment.

On the day of your exam, please make sure you allow 15 minutes to prepare your testing environment. When you are comfortably sitting at your workstation go to the Prometric ProProctor site at https://rpcandidate.prometric.com/ and launch your exam.

The Prometric Readiness Agent will greet you and capture your image and identification. Then they will walk you through a checklist to ensure you have everything required to take the exam including candidate detail confirmation, environmental check as well as person check.

Now you are ready to take your online proctored exam. Although you will not see your Prometric Proctor, he/she will monitor you throughout the testing process and will be available to provide assistance at any point during your exam.

You will have three hours to complete the 150 question multiple choice exam.

In the event you do not meet the minimum passing score you must contact the NCSF to register for another examination. Retake fees are $99.00 (see Retake Policy).

Disqualification

All NCSF examinations are third party proctored, ensuring candidates the most valid test experience. You may be disqualified from taking or continuing in the examination process, or from receiving exam results, if the NCSF and/or Prometric (the organization administering the exams on behalf of the NCSF) have determined through either examiner observation or statistical analysis that you were engaged in collaborative, disruptive, or other unacceptable behavior before, during, or following the administration of the NCSF exam.

Rescheduling

If for any reason you are unable to take the exam on the date and time for which you have registered, you must reschedule to avoid forfeiting your entire exam fee. You have up to 72 hours (48 business hours) before your exam appointment to reschedule through your Prometric exam location. Note: You must take your exam within six (6) months of your original registration. If you do not take your examination within six (6) months’ time, you must re-apply to take the examination.

Rescheduling can be done online, over the phone, or by visiting your local Prometric testing center. In order to reschedule you will need your confirmation number. This number was provided to you upon your initial appointment scheduling.

If you cannot make your exam appointment and fail to contact your Prometric exam center within 72 hours of your scheduled appointment time, you will forfeit your examination and need to re-register under the exam re-take policies.

Missed Appointments

Under no circumstances will Prometric Testing or NCSF waive testing fees, regardless of the situation. If an exam candidate is unable to attend a scheduled test appointment for any reason, they are required to reschedule outside of 72 business hours. If the appointment is rescheduled or cancelled within 72 business hours, or the appointment is missed, the full re-testing fee(s) will be assessed in order to schedule the exam at a later date. To assist candidates in relevant circumstances, the NCSF Board for Certification reserves the right to implement a price reduction to the published re-testing fee(s) on a case-by-case basis. Written documentation in the event of an uncontrollable, emergency situation will be required.

Refund Policy

If you decide for any reason you cannot or do not wish to take the exam after registering, you may request a refund in lieu of rescheduling. To request a refund, you must contact the NCSF in writing within 30 days (electronically date-stamped or postmarked) of your original exam registration. If the request is received within the 30 days of original registration, refunds will be 50% of your exam registration fee. There are no refunds after 30 days of original exam registration.

Exceptions to the refund deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis for documented cases of medical, bereavement, or other emergencies. In these instances, candidates must electronically date-stamp or postmark their refund request no later than 60 days after the exam date and provide any and all supporting documentation.

No refunds will be given for rescheduled examinations. You can expect to receive your refund or notice of denial within six weeks of your request.

All examination registrations are non-transferable.

Special Exam Accommodations

Special arrangements can be made if you have a visual, sensory, physical, or other disability that prevents you from taking the exam under standard conditions. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), documentation of the disability must be made by a professional qualified to diagnose the disability at the time of registration.

Written requests and completed registration information from disabled candidates must include a description of the accommodation requested. The NCSF reserves the right to determine the reasonableness of the accommodation requested. Requests for special accommodations must be made at the time of registration; additional fees may apply.

Retake Policy

If you do not meet the minimum passing score on the exam you may re-apply to take the exam again. Re-take exam fees are $99.00 U.S and Canada, $299.00 Non-US and Canada.

To re-apply to take the exam, contact the NCSF directly at 1-800-772-NCSF(6273). A $99.00 U.S and Canada, $299.00 Non-US and Canada re-take exam fee will be payable to the NCSF. After your request has been processed, you will receive a new eligibility number via email. No refunds are given for re-take exam applications.

You are eligible for the re-take exam fee for a period of six months after you have taken your first exam. After this six month period, you must submit the first-time candidate exam fee.

There is no limit as to the amount of times you may take the exam.

Exam Score Information

Prometric Testing uses state-of-the-art testing and scoring to administer and evaluate your responses. A Pass/Fail status will appear on screen upon exam submission and a Score Report will be emailed to you. Your exam results will automatically be sent to the NCSF.

General Policies and Procedures

Confidentiality: No information submitted to the NCSF and Prometric will be released to a third party without authorization from the candidate.

Disclosure: To maintain the integrity and security of the NCSF exams, exam questions, answer sheets, answers or other source materials will not be released to candidates under any circumstances.

Fair and Equal Treatment of NCSF Candidates: NCSF does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of religion, gender, ethnic background, age, national origin, or physical disability.

Marketing Your Specialist Status

You may only market yourself as an NCSF Sport Nutrition Specialist during the two years that your certificate is current. If you do not renew your qualification by earning the necessary continuing education credits and paying the appropriate renewal fees, or by retaking and passing the Sport Nutrition Specialist exam, you may not claim to be an NCSF Sport Nutrition Specialist. False claims may prohibit your ability to renew your certificate or retake an NCSF Examination.

Awarding of the NCSF-SNS Certificate

Only candidates who achieve the minimum passing score of 70 or greater will be awarded the NCSF Sport Nutrition Specialist Certificate. Should you meet the minimum passing requirements, your certificate will be sent to you within two weeks of passing the examination. Internationally based students will typically receive their certificate within 3-4 weeks. Should you fail to meet the minimum passing requirements you may retake the exam (see retake policy).