Study the science and application of performance nutrition 100% online, at your own pace - and graduate eligible for accreditation with the Sports Nutrition Association. No fixed intake dates. No campus. From $325 a month.
At HPI, sports nutrition is not a standalone short course. The full performance nutrition curriculum including exercise physiology, bioenergetics, fuelling, RED-S, supplementation is one of the four certificates that make up HPN1, our Level 1 Holistic Performance Nutritionist programme.
That means you study everything a sports nutrition certificate would have covered, and you graduate with two professional credentials instead of one: accreditation with the Sports Nutrition Association, and registration as a Health Coach with HCANZA. Same monthly price. Considerably more career.
See exactly what you studyWhat you came for
Accredited Sports Nutritionist SNA
What you also leave with
Registered Health Coach HCANZA
Associate Nutritionist AACN
Traditional nutrition degrees cost tens of thousands of dollars, lock you into fixed intake dates, and take 3–4 years to complete. And when you're done, you're often left wondering: how do I actually see clients? How do I run a business? How do I get registered?
Online certificates can be even worse — a few videos, a quick quiz, and a PDF certificate that no one in the industry recognises. They won't get you registered. They won't get you insured. And they won't give you the confidence to genuinely help people.
Taught by researchers and practitioners who work with athletes - not by generalists reading from a textbook.
Also included
This is for you if you are:
Three recognised credentials from one programme.
SNA
The Sports Nutrition Association accredits practitioners to an internationally recognised standard, and HPI is an approved education provider. Graduates are eligible for provisional accreditation, with full accreditation available on completing continuing professional development requirements — or by continuing into HPN2. SNA accreditation opens doors to athletes, coaches, sporting clubs, and high-performance organisations.
HCANZA
Eligible on completing the Health Coaching certificate. The leading professional credential for health coaches in NZ and Australia — recognised by employers, insurers, and the public as a mark of professional training and accountability.
AACN
Graduates are also eligible for associate membership with the Association of Accredited Clinical Nutritionists (international), adding further weight to your professional profile.
SNA accreditation has two levels, and HPI has a route to both. You do not have to decide now - HPN1 is the entry point either way.
Step 1 · HPN1
Graduate from HPN1 and you are eligible to apply for provisional accreditation with the Sports Nutrition Association. Full accreditation is available on completing SNA's continuing professional development requirements.
Step 2 · HPN2
Continue into HPN2, our Clinical Nutritionist programme, and you gain an open accreditation pathway with SNA — progression to full accreditation if you do not already hold it, alongside registration as a Clinical Nutritionist.
The performance nutrition modules are led by researchers and clinicians who publish in the field and work with athletes.
Dr Cliff Harvey
Applied Performance & Carb-Appropriate Nutrition
Dr Eric Helms
Body Composition, Strength & Research Methods
Dr Mikki Williden
Women's Health & Performance
Dr Joe McQuillan
Sports Science & Exercise Physiology
Prof Mike Zourdos
Applied Performance Nutrition
You deserve university-level education without the university-sized price tag, rigid timetable, or three-year wait to start your career.
| Criterion | HPI | Traditional University Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | From $325/month (interest-free) | $25,000 – $60,000+ |
| Study mode | 100% online, self-paced | On-campus or part-online |
| Start date | Start anytime | Fixed intake dates (once or twice a year) |
| Duration | Study at your own pace | 3–4 years fixed |
| Registration pathway | HCANZA / SNA / CNA | Varies — not always industry-registered |
| Business training included | Yes | Rarely |
| Expert mentoring | Yes | Limited |
| Practical confidence | Ready to work from day one | Often theory-heavy |
| Holistic + evidence-based | Yes | Typically conventional only |
| NZ-based & NZ-relevant | Yes — NZQA assessed | Varies |
Pricing comparisons are indicative. University degree costs in NZ typically range from $25,000–$60,000+ for a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition. HPI programmes are interest-free and start from $325/month.
All payment plans are interest-free. All prices include GST. No hidden fees.
Most Accessible
$325/month
24 monthly payments
Initial payment of $1,325, then 23 × $325. Interest-free.
Choose this planBest value
One-Time Payment
$8,800
Paid in full
Save $1,800+ and unlock a career coaching session, 12 months Premium Membership, and 12 months extended access.
Choose this planFast-Track
$700/month
12 monthly payments
Initial payment of $1,100, then 11 × $700. Interest-free.
Choose this planYes - the sports nutrition training is one of four certificates inside HPN1, and they are studied together. In practice this is why HPI graduates are employable: nearly every sports nutrition client also needs behaviour change, sleep, stress and general nutrition support, and the health coaching certificate is what qualifies you to handle that properly. You also finish with a second registration you would not otherwise hold.
On graduating you are eligible to apply for provisional accreditation as an Accredited Sports Nutritionist with the Sports Nutrition Association. Full accreditation follows on completing SNA's continuing professional development requirements. HPI is an approved SNA education provider.
Two ways. You can complete the Sports Nutrition Association's continuing professional development requirements after graduating from HPN1, or you can continue into HPN2 - our Clinical Nutritionist programme - which carries an open accreditation pathway with SNA and progression to full accreditation. Most people start with HPN1 and decide later.
No. HPN1 is designed for beginners - no prior study in nutrition, health or science is required. If you already hold a fitness qualification you will simply move faster through the early material.
Most students complete HPN1 in 12–18 months studying part-time. It is fully self-paced, so you can go faster or slower depending on your life and your training load.
Many students do, within the scope their current qualification allows. The accreditation is what lets you formally offer sports nutrition services, so complete the programme before advertising yourself as an Accredited Sports Nutritionist.
Yes - the Applied Health Coaching Practicum includes live, online sessions with expert facilitators. All other content is on-demand and fully flexible.
Enrol today and you can be studying within minutes.
No intake dates · No campus required · 100% online · Interest-free payment plans available
