Ford Wellness’s Nutrition Pro Prep program provides CNS-approved supervision for practice experience. It is specifically designed to prepare graduates of functional medicine-oriented nutrition sciences master’s or doctorate level programs to pursue board certification as a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS). Our mentoring program aligns directly with the requirements outlined by the American Nutrition Association.
There are two options for mentoring:
Option 1: Working as a Clinical Nutrition Intern at Ford Wellness
If you are interested in mentorship but don’t currently have a client base, this program option is best suited for you.
As a clinical nutrition intern, you will have direct contact with patients and clients of Ford Wellness via:
- Observing and co-leading Virtual and/or In-Person Medical Nutrition Therapy Appointments
- Observing and conducting Virtual 1-1 and Group Nutrition Education Appointments and Workshops
- Online Text Nutrition Coaching
- Customized Meal planning
You will also gain tons of experience with
- Charting and record-keeping
- Laboratory assessments
- Nutrient-Herb-Drug interactions
- Nutraceuticals
- Nutrition technology
- Exercise prescriptions
- HIPAA compliance
- A variety of patient diagnoses, demographics, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, food preferences, and mental health conditions
As a member of the Nutrition Pro Prep program, interns have access to:
- 1-1 virtual sessions via Zoom with their supervisor to review cases and discuss clinical care
- Clinical rounds sessions
- Professional workshops
- Professional liability coverage
- CNS exam test prep sessions, curriculum, and practice tests
- Maryland LDNs with a functional medicine background to oversee your clinical work and provide support, guidance, and feedback
Option 2: Independent Mentorship
Independent mentorship is the best choice if you already have a client base AND you live in the state of Maryland and will only work with clients within the state of Maryland. As an independent graduate, you work with your own clients and set your own schedule.
As a member of the Nutrition Pro Prep program, independent mentees have access to:
- 1-1 virtual sessions via Zoom with their supervisor to review cases and discuss clinical care
- Clinical rounds sessions
- Professional workshops
- CNS exam test prep sessions, curriculum, and practice tests
- Maryland LDNs with a functional medicine background to oversee your clinical work and provide support, guidance, and feedback
Requirements for Registration
- Understanding of the meaning of “healing presence” and the ability to practice the concept when working with team members, clients, and patients
- An openness to and appreciation of working with diverse colleagues, clients, and patients with varying ethnicities, religions, genders, and sexual orientations
- Registration payment and completion of intake forms and internship agreement
- Submission of unofficial or official transcripts confirming degree conferral from an accredited Master’s or Doctorate-level degree nutrition sciences program (exceptions may be made for students enrolled in their last program semester)
- Proficiency in functional medicine principles
- Independent mentees only – proof of current professional liability insurance
Program Requirements [all requirements count towards hours]
- Attend an NPP orientation session
- Attend two clinical rounds sessions monthly, and prepare and present one case monthly
- Attend one 1-1 session with your CNS supervisor monthly (for independent mentorship, you must schedule a 1-1 session for every 40 hours of independent clinical work you complete)
- Attend one group meeting/PD monthly
- Design and facilitate one group training session per 16-week period
- Keep accurate records and documentation of work performed
Program Costs (click the link to register)
Month-to-Month – $250 per month
3-month term – $712.50 (5% savings)
6-month term – $1350 (10% savings)
12 month term – $2400 (20% savings)
Nutrition Pro Prep – Program Coordinator
Dr. Jonene Ford (Dr. Jo) is a Certified Nutrition Specialist, a Maryland Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist, and is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition. She is also an authorized CNS supervisor. Dr. Jo has over 20 years of experience in nutrition, having served her community as a nutrition educator and clinical nutritionist. Dr. Jo went into private practice in 2017 and sees patients and clients both virtually and in person at her office in Rockville, Maryland.
Things to Know
- The “Nutrition Intern” option is available to CNS candidates in all states in the United States EXCEPT for designated “red” states (Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Tennessee).
- All registrants must check with their state laws governing nutrition practice to determine licensing and practice requirements BEFORE entering the program. We cannot guarantee or determine whether our program meets individual graduates’ state health department requirements.
- While we only require our independent graduates to purchase professional liability insurance, we encourage ALL Nutrition Pro Prep members to purchase their own policies as an added layer of protection.
- As of 2023, the ANA requires candidates to complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice experience. Since the registrant directs their own program pacing, and the number of clinical appointments at Ford Wellness varies from week to week, we cannot guarantee how many hours they will be able to complete by the end of the program term. Additionally, completing those hours does not guarantee that the supervisor will provide a favorable recommendation.
- There are no refunds after registration. If, for some reason, the registrant temporarily cannot participate in mentorship (i.e., due to illness, personal hardship, etc.), we will pause membership until the registrant can resume.