Sports Nutrition Certification

The Sports Nutrition Certification is a free intermediate-level, 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests sports nutrition knowledge — energy, macronutrients and periodised fuelling, protein and recovery, hydration and competition-day nutrition, and supplements, special issues such as REDs, and safe practice — written to the ACSM/Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/Dietitians of Canada joint position statement (2016), ISSN position stands on protein, creatine and caffeine, and IOC consensus statements on supplements (2018) and REDs (2023) for 2026. It is general education; athletes with medical conditions or eating concerns should see a registered dietitian or doctor. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable Sports Nutrition Proficiency certificate (SOA-SNX). Every question is based on published standards and research — including Thomas DT et al. ACSM/Academy/Dietitians of Canada joint position statement: Nutrition and athletic performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2016 (ACSM (PubMed 26891166)), ISSN Position Stand: Protein and Exercise (Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition), Mountjoy M et al. 2023 IOC consensus statement on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Br J Sports Med (BMJ (PubMed 37752011)) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Science of Apps offers a free Sports Nutrition Certification, updated for 2026 and 2027. It measures energy and macronutrients, protein and recovery, hydration and competition nutrition and supplements, REDs and safe practice and gives instant results with a shareable certificate.

Read the four skill areas on this page, then take the 20-minute test online — no fee, course or sign-up. You see every answer explained when you finish. Score 70% or more and you get a Sports Nutrition Proficiency certificate straight away, on screen, as a PDF and by email, with a credential ID anyone can verify.

Yes. The questions are original scenarios written by Science of Apps, and each one is based on a public source you can read: Thomas DT et al. ACSM/Academy/Dietitians of Canada joint position statement: Nutrition and athletic performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2016 (ACSM (PubMed 26891166)); ISSN Position Stand: Protein and Exercise (Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition); Mountjoy M et al. 2023 IOC consensus statement on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Br J Sports Med (BMJ (PubMed 37752011)); Maughan RJ et al. IOC consensus statement: dietary supplements and the high-performance athlete. Br J Sports Med 2018 (BMJ (PubMed 29540367)); Kreider RB et al. ISSN position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2017 (JISSN (PubMed 28615996)); Guest NS et al. ISSN position stand: caffeine and exercise performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2021 (JISSN (PubMed 33388079)). The source is shown under each question and linked in the answer review. Science of Apps doesn't copy questions from other tests.

Four skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Energy and Macronutrients (Energy availability, Carbohydrate periodisation and Fat and fibre); Protein and Recovery (Protein needs, Timing and distribution and Recovery nutrition); Hydration and Competition Nutrition (Fluid needs, Electrolytes and Fuelling during events); Supplements, REDs and Safe Practice (Evidence-based supplements, Anti-doping and contamination and REDs and special issues). Every question is an original scenario written to the 2026–2027 standard, with the published source named under it.

Sports nutritionist or performance dietitian, Strength and conditioning coach, Personal trainer, Athletic trainer or physiotherapist and Endurance or team-sport athlete. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show Sports Nutrition knowledge in 2026 and 2027, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

The ISSN position stand suggests about 1.4–2.0 g of protein per kilogram of body mass per day for most exercising people, spread across meals of roughly 20–40 g (about 0.25 g/kg). Higher intakes may help during energy restriction to preserve lean mass.

The IOC consensus statement highlights a small group with good evidence in specific situations — caffeine, creatine, nitrate, beta-alanine and sodium bicarbonate — and stresses the risks of contamination, recommending third-party tested products for athletes subject to anti-doping rules.

Yes. The test is online, in English and free everywhere — people take it from India, the US, the UK, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Your certificate is dated with your own local date and can be verified from anywhere at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/.

20 questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — with a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

We rate it Intermediate: assumes hands-on experience in the role. It has 20 scenario questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — and a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

Nothing. There is no fee to take a test, to receive the certificate, to have it emailed or to verify it, and no sign-up.

On our server, not in your browser. The answers never reach the page until you submit, so a certificate can only be earned by passing. Each certificate gets a unique credential ID stored by Science of Apps.

You see your score for each area and every question with the correct answer and why, with the published source behind it. You can retake after 30 minutes, and the retake draws questions you haven't seen yet.

No. Every certificate is dated, so it always shows when you passed. Retake a test any time for a newer date or a higher score.

Yes. After you pass, Add to LinkedIn opens the Licenses & certifications form with the certificate name, Science of Apps as the issuer, the issue date, your credential ID and the verification link filled in. You can also download it as a PDF or PNG, and it's emailed to you as a PDF.

Every certificate has a credential ID and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the ID at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/, shows the holder's name, the certification, the score and the issue date from our records.

No. They are Science of Apps' own assessments of applied skill. They aren't issued by a university or standards body, and they work best alongside a portfolio that shows the skills in real work.