Certified Professional Nutritionist (CPN) – Examination Overview

ACPN, June 2022

Training Summary

Purpose of Training

  • Academic education and professional practice education

  • Foundational knowledge and its practical application

  • Integration of practice experience, legal regulations, organizational charters, and codes of conduct

Examination Objectives

  • Understanding of relevant laws, regulations, organizational charters, and codes of conduct

  • Ability to address specific issues using professional knowledge

  • Application of theoretical knowledge in real-life practices

Conceptual Section

Basic Concepts

Health Standards

A. General Concepts of Health:

  • Professional definition: normal functioning of all bodily organs; all medical test indicators fall within normal range

  • Social perception of health: good appetite, quality sleep, stable mood, no stress from life or work, no discomfort symptoms

B. Health Standard Advocated by ACPN:

  • Microscopic level of health: cellular-level wellness

Health Assessment Standards

  • A 5-level health classification system

  • Certified Professional Nutritionists have the academic authority to assess a client’s health status and classify them within one of the five levels, based on scientific evidence

  • Different levels require tailored health management plans

  • Personalized and science-based plans are a core academic function of certified nutritionists

Health Testing

Health testing provides the scientific foundation for health assessment. Interpreting test results is currently the most reliable method to understand human health status and to perform accurate assessments.

Types of tests include:

  • Mineral/Vitamin testing

  • Food intolerance testing

  • Lipid metabolism testing

  • Cellular inflammation testing

Functional Preparations

  • Differentiation between essential nutrients and functional nutrients

  • Distinction between:

    • Food

    • Health supplements

    • Natural health products

    • Functional preparations

    • Medications

Certified Professional Nutritionists do not work within the domains of food and pharmaceutical products.

  • Dietary Supplements vs. Functional Preparations

    Note: Nutrition ≠ Food Nutrition
    Nutritional Intervention ≠ Food-Based Intervention

Relationships with Other Standards and Methods

  • Relationship with other testing methods

  • Relationship with other intervention strategies

Legal and Regulatory Section

Relevant Laws and Regulations

  • Chinese regulations on health management

  • Local laws of the province or city where the CPN practices

  • The impact of current Chinese regulations on professional nutritionists

  • ACPN charter and regulatory provisions

  • Code of Conduct for ACPN Certified Professional Nutritionists

Ethical and Practice Requirements

Certified Professional Nutritionists must not:

  • Profit from direct product sales

  • Endorse any product publicly

  • Participate in any form of direct selling

  • Illegally use health data or personal information

  • Violate client privacy

  • Provide services that do not meet the client’s needs or interests—services must be grounded in conscience and scientific understanding

Standardization of Practice Procedures

  • Distinguish between medical services and health management services

  • Deliver health management disclosure

  • Record detailed client information

  • Conduct in-depth review of health symptoms

  • Determine if testing is required

  • Await and interpret health test results

  • Develop a health management plan

  • Issue a written health management recommendation