Alphabet Soup: What the heck do all those letters after my name even mean? Amber Hanson, LN, CNS
I think understanding credentials are an important part of finding the right professional to help you, whether it is developing a personalized nutrition and lifestyle plan or doing your taxes. You have every right to ask what the heck all those letters after someone’s name actually mean or to take a minute to research them on your own before committing. I have recently added a few more letters to my name so I thought I would take a minute to tell you what they mean and why I think they matter.
LN, licensed nutritionist
The LN after my name means Licensed Nutritionist. This requirement varies by state (and this is where a lot of the confusion comes in) but in Minnesota anyone who wants to use the title nutritionist must be licensed by the state to do so. One of the main benefits of a credential like this is public interest and safety. Each person who wants to be a nutritionist must apply to the Minnesota Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice and provide appropriate documentation that they meets the educational and experience requirements deemed necessary to competently practice and pass a rigorous background check (including fingerprints!).
To be a nutritionist in Minnesota, one must hold at least a master’s degree in nutrition from an accredited institution and have at least 900 hours of supervised professional experience or hold a Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential (more on that in a minute). All licensed nutritionists must also agree to abide by the rules and regulations for practice set forth by the state. The license is up for renewal every year and it requires documented continuing education every 3 years.
CNS, Certified Nutrition Specialist
The CNS is the newest addition to my name, and it means I am a Certified Nutrition Specialist® professional. A CNS credential requires at least a master’s degree in nutrition from an accredited institution, 1000 hours of supervised professional experience, and passing a challenging board exam.
This is the most widely recognized non-dietetics credential by federal and state governments and can be called out as a pathway to licensure like it is in Minnesota. As it stands today the bare-minimum requirements to become a CNS are higher (master’s degree, supervised experience, exam) than those to become a registered dietitian (undergrad degree, dietetic internship, exam). That is not to say that RDs can’t or don’t complete higher level degrees in nutrition, simply that they are not required to for credentialing. Much like the state license, maintaining a CNS requires regular, documented continuing education.
So, if I can legally practice in Minnesota without the CNS credential, why bother? Because of the varying laws between states for the use of the title nutritionist, I thought it was important to take the extra step (and lots of extra studying) to obtain a clearly defined credential that is recognized outside of Minnesota.
MS, Master of Science
I also have used MS after my name in the past and you might still see it occasionally on some materials. This signifies that I have a master’s degree. I have dropped using it for the most part for two reasons – one, how many letters does one really need after their name? And two, both the LN and CNS require I have at least a master’s degree, so it just felt unnecessary and redundant to keep it there.
If you want to understand more about my education, experience, or credentials check-out the about page or send me a question through the contact page.
To learn more about how working with a nutritionist could help you, schedule a free 15 minute call.