The American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists (ABPNS) was established by IPNEC to provide a credential that recognizes physician expertise in clinical nutrition. The ABPNS certificate is the premier comprehensive credential for physicians who wish to identify nutrition as an area of expertise. It is equally accessible to physicians with backgrounds in any of the specialties relevant to clinical nutrition, as described in the Definition of Physician Nutrition Specialist®. To be eligible to take the exam:

1. All candidates for certification and recertification must be licensed to practice medicine in the country in which they reside (note that ABPNS certification is not creditable toward licensure to practice medicine in the United States).
2. They must be certified by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties or the equivalent in other countries.
3. Completion of at least 6 months (1000 hours) of mentored clinical nutrition experience and formal instruction in inpatient and outpatient settings must also be documented. This may be obtained in a fellowship in clinical nutrition or as part of training in a related subspecialty such as adult or pediatric gastroenterology, endocrinology, critical care, nephrology, cardiology, or others.

The ABPNS Certification Examination for Physician Nutrition Specialist® is given annually and encompasses the full breadth of clinical nutrition, as reflected in the IPNEC Curriculum Guide. It is valid for 10 years, after which re-certification is required in order to keep the credential current.