American Academy of Sports Dietitians and Nutritionists

What American Academy of Sports Dietitians and Nutritionists does

The American Academy of Sports Dietitians and Nutritionists (AASDN) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit certification organization founded in 2001 by Dr. Jane Pentz and headquartered in Sheridan, Oregon, operating as a division of the National Association of Fitness Certifiers (NAFC). Its mission is to provide health and fitness professionals with evidence-based nutrition education and ready-to-deliver program materials under the oversight of licensed registered dietitians, enabling non-licensed practitioners to incorporate nutrition services legally within their existing scope of practice across all 50 U.S. states.

The core product is a two-tier certification stack: the Nutrition Specialist (Level One) certification for certified health professionals who wish to deliver turnkey nutrition programs, and the Nutrition Manager (Level Two) program for specialists working with special populations under AASDN dietitian guidance. A third tier, the Nutrition Specialist Instructor (NSI) program, allows credentialed members to teach the curriculum. There is no proprietary technology platform; the value sits in a curated library of scripted documents, menu plans, legal forms, and educational handouts that cannot be modified without dietitian approval, plus bundled unlimited dietitian support. Delivery occurs through live workshops, live webinars, and a self-paced home study option ($499), with credentials awarded after a proctored exam.

Revenue is generated from one-time certification fees ($299 exam-only, $499 home study, variable workshop/webinar pricing, $125 retakes), annual membership subscriptions ($69 Nutrition Specialist, $329 Nutrition Manager, with multi-tier renewal and reinstatement pricing), ancillary study materials and exam extensions, and instructor program fees ($30 application, $100 deposit). Distribution blends direct-to-consumer e-commerce, community-college and university channel partnerships (University of Richmond, Rutgers, University of South Florida, NJ Community Colleges), and a referral pipeline through the Medical Fitness Network partnership. The customer base spans seven persona segments — fitness professionals, athletic trainers, physical therapists, nurses, health coaches, chiropractors, and health-and-wellness coaches — supplemented by institutional buyers (fitness facilities such as YMCAs, schools).

Name

American Academy of Sports Dietitians and Nutritionists

Legal name

American Academy of Sports Dietitians and Nutritionists

Website

https://aasdn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AASDN is a 501(c)(6) non-profit, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Sheridan, Oregon, that issues Nutrition Specialist and Nutrition Manager certifications to U.S. health and fitness professionals, bundling turnkey scripted curriculum and dietitian support for use within state-defined scopes of practice.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Nutrition Certification and Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Nutrition Coaching (HSADAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nutrition & Diet Education (Meal Planning, Macros, Healthy Cooking) (EDAAAHAA)

Keywords

• Nutrition certification programs
• Sports dietitian training
• Professional health education
• Continuing education credits
• Nonprofit nutrition credentialing

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheridan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Programs: Revenue from Nutrition Specialist and Nutrition Manager certification programs. Options include exam-only ($299), home study ($499), live workshop, and webinar formats. Previous graduates within one year pay $200 for the exam.
2. Annual Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership renewals for certified Nutrition Specialists ($69) and Nutrition Managers ($329). Late fees and reinstatement fees apply for late renewals. Early bird discounts available.
3. Exam Fees and Extensions: Fees for exam registration, retakes ($125), practice exams ($75), and 90-day exam extensions ($50).
4. Publications and Study Materials: Sale of study guides ($25), practice exams, and other educational publications.
5. Instructor Program Fees: NSI Application Form ($30) and NS Class Date Approval Deposit ($100) for instructors seeking to teach the certification courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The American Academy of Sports Dietitians and Nutritionists (AASDN) provides two-tier nutrition certification programs — Nutrition Specialist (entry level) and Nutrition Manager (advanced) — designed for licensed health and fitness professionals to safely and legally incorporate nutrition into their existing practices. The organization delivers these certifications through live workshops, webinars, and self-paced home study, with all programs including ready-to-implement documents, scripted programs, menu plans, and unlimited registered dietitian support. AASDN is a 501(c)(6) non-profit operating as a division of NAFC (National Association of Fitness Certifiers).

Product overview

AASDN operates as a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization offering a certification-based education platform with two primary certification tiers. The core offerings are the Nutrition Specialist Certification (a turnkey nutrition program for certified health professionals) and the Nutrition Manager Program (advanced tier for specialists working with special populations under dietitian guidance). These are supported by multiple delivery formats including Live Workshop, Webinar, and Home Study options. The product portfolio includes exam options, practice exams, study guides, exam extensions, and retake options, plus annual membership renewals at both certification levels. The Nutrition Specialist Instructor (NSI) program enables qualified Nutrition Managers to teach the curriculum. Collaborative courses include Whole Person Integrative Eating (WPIE) certification and Science of Nutrition. All programs include access to scripted documents, menu plans, and unlimited dietitian support. Continuing education acceptance from AND, ACE, AFAA, NSCA, NATA, YMCA, and ACSM.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nutrition Specialist Certification Program: A turnkey nutrition certification program designed for health and fitness professionals to incorporate nutrition services into their existing practice.
• Nutrition Manager Program
• AASDN Credentialing Commission

Products and services

• Nutrition Specialist Certification
• Nutrition Manager Program
• Live Workshop Certification
• Webinar Certification
• Nutrition Specialist Home Study
• New Nutrition Manager Enrollment
• Nutrition Specialist Exam-Only Option
• Nutrition for Professionals Textbook (9th Edition)
• Nutrition Specialist Instructor (NSI) Training
• Whole Person Integrative Eating (WPIE) Certification Course
• NSI Application and Instructor Onboarding
• AASDN Previous Graduate Exam

Quantifiable outcome

• Income increase of almost $10,000 reported by YMCA program within 4 months of implementation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Whole Person Integrative Eating (WPIE) / Deborah KestencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020AASDN partnered with Whole Person Integrative Eating to provide a new certification course for certified health professionals. WPIE is a science-backed dietary lifestyle focused on addressing overeating, overweight, and obesity by considering psychological, spiritual, and social well-being alongside biological health. Deborah Kesten is an international nutrition researcher who was Nutritionist on Dean Ornish, M.D.'s first clinical trial for reversing heart disease.
• Lockton AffinityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAASDN partnered with Lockton Affinity to provide professional liability insurance for AASDN members. This supports member success by offering access to critical insurance coverage.
• USDA/Center for Nutrition Policy and PromotioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAASDN began a partnership with the USDA/Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion in 2009. As a community partner, AASDN is committed to establishing programs that promote physical fitness and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• National Childhood Obesity Awareness Initiative (NCOAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAASDN launched a collaborative partnership with NCOAI in 2012. The initiative incorporates a star-associated food rating system through NCOAI placemats to educate, inspire, and motivate children to make healthy school lunch choices. Dr. Jane Pentz became a member of the NANA School Foods Subcommittee and the NANA Food Marketing Workgroup.
• Medical Fitness Network (MFN)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAASDN announced a new joint agreement with Medical Fitness Network in 2015 that expands outreach significantly. MFN partnership provides Nutrition Manager members access to the MFN network.
• University of South FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2013, AASDN announced a collaborative research project with The University of South Florida. The purpose was to determine the impact of the NCOAI placemat on fruit and vegetable intake of 2nd grade school-age children at a charter school in The Villages, FL.
• NAFC (National Association of Fitness Certifiers)coreOthersAASDN is a division of NAFC (National Association of Fitness Certifiers). NAFC provides organizational oversight and structure for the certification programs.
• NANA CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAASDN joined the NANA (National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity) coalition in 2012. Dr. Jane Pentz became a member of the NANA School Foods Subcommittee and the NANA Food Marketing Workgroup.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Council on Exercise (ACE): Major NCCA-accredited fitness-certification body with a Health Coach and nutrition specialty track; accepts AASDN CECs reciprocally, so it competes for the same instructors' continuing-education dollars.
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA): Issues the CSCS and other fitness credentials that many AASDN members already hold; NSCA accepts AASDN CECs and competes for the same continuing-education share of wallet.
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND): The national professional body for registered dietitians; while AND licenses RDs rather than selling certifications to non-RDs, it shapes scope-of-practice rules that govern AASDN's legal framework and member positioning.
• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM): One of the largest fitness-certification bodies; offers a Certified Nutrition Coach (CNC) specialty and is a recognized continuing-education source for the same personal-trainer buyer that AASDN targets.

Direct peers

• American Fitness Professionals & Associates (AFPA): Provides online nutrition and holistic-health certifications to fitness and wellness professionals — a closely matched self-paced, online-delivery competitor to AASDN's home-study track.
• International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA): Sells online nutrition and fitness certifications directly to working trainers and coaches, competing head-to-head with AASDN on price, online delivery, and CEC acceptance.
• Precision Nutrition: Sells nutrition-coaching certification and continuing-education to personal trainers and health professionals — overlapping buyer persona and competing for the same wallet as AASDN's Nutrition Specialist credential.

Emerging players

• Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN): Sells a Health Coach certification with a heavy nutrition curriculum to aspiring coaches — partial overlap with AASDN's health-coach and chiropractor customer segments.
• Dr. Sears Wellness Institute: Offers a Health Coach certification aimed at professionals adding wellness services; competes for the same health-coach and chiropractor buyers AASDN targets.

Others

• National Association of Fitness Certifiers (NAFC): AASDN's parent organization, which also runs the Science of Nutrition collaborative course on its CEC platform; comparable in mission (certifying fitness and nutrition professionals) and adjacent in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/InfoAASDN
• Facebookfacebook.com/aasdn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aasdn-org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Academy of Sports Dietitians and Nutritionists