Frequently Asked Questions about Certified Practicing Nutritionists

A Certified Practicing Nutritionist (CPN) is a tertiary educated, degree qualified, clinically trained Nutritionist (Practicing Nutritionist) whose qualifications have been assessed and accepted as meeting the training and competency standards of the Australasian Association and Register of Practicing Nutritionists (AARPN). 

CPNs are bona fide primary care nutrition practitioners who practice Clinical Nutrition, which includes dietary modification (applied within a Clinical Nutrition/Nutritional Medicine paradigm) and the prescribing of supplements for both nutrient repletion and complex Nutritional Medicine purposes. CPNs bring a critical skillset to the allied health dietary services space – namely their independent prescribing capacity, independent client assessment skill-set, and training in individualised preventative healthcare.  

A Certified Practicing Nutritionist (CPN) should not be confused with a non-clinically trained nutrition scientist (also termed a Nutritionist) who will not have undertaken 300 hours or more of supervised Clinical Nutrition Therapy clinical practicum training, in combination with the required clinical skills theory curricular (i.e. pathophysiology, pharmacology, independent clinical examination, independent complex case taking, counselling, and independent Clinical Nutrition / Nutritional Medicine prescribing).

Clinical Nutrition (and from this Clinical Nutritionists and thence Certified Practicing Nutritionists) evolved from the merging of medicine and nutrition science in the 1950’s, (hence its other name of Nutritional Medicine) https://doi.org; neither clinical nutrition nor Certified Practicing Nutritionists is a derivative of any other profession, and have their own unique history that is distinct from other professions sharing the dietary services space. 

Clinically trained Nutritionists have been formally recognised as Health Professionals via section 42AA of the Australian Government Australian Therapeutic Goods Act since 1989, and hold Private Health insurance rebates with recognising Private Health insurance funds.

 All Certified Practicing Nutritionists (CPNs) are qualified as Clinical Nutritionists, but not all Clinical Nutritionists are CPNs. As per its allied health positioning, the CPN profession has a degree minimum entry standard, has its own clearly defined scope of practice within the allied health dietary services space, and adheres to a range of other self-regulatory compliance factors therein.  

Nutrition Practice and private health insurance

Certified Practicing Nutritionist is a private health fund recognised profession, which is supported by a range of health funds who have policies that include Nutrition.  

NIB and NIB underwritten funds, 

• NIB
• AAMI 
• Suncorp 
• APIA 
• Qantas Insurance 
• GU Health (Grand United)

Australian Regional Health Group (ARHG) partnered funds, 

• HBF 
• See-U (by HBF) (formally C.U.A Health Limited)
• Latrobe Health Services 
• Mildura Health Fund 
• Phoenix Health Fund  
• St. Luke’s Health
• Westfund
• Health Partners

Additional funds,  

• Medibank Private  
• AHM (Australian Health Management Group)
• Australian Unity

Participating AARPN members are eligible providers with the above funds. Coverage via a listed fund is contingent on the consumer’s policy including Nutrition. Please contact a given fund directly to clarify a consumer’s individual policy if unsure.