AfN launched a certification scheme in 2012 with the aim of improving knowledge on nutrition in the wider workforce. Initially created for the Health & Social Care Sector, this was extended in 2016 to also provide certification for courses for those working or volunteering within catering or the fitness and leisure sectors. AfN delivered the scheme by assessing and approving courses and events that provided evidenced based training that met our ethical, scientific and quality standards, to people working in occupations connected to food. AfN has defined three frameworks against which courses and events have and can be assessed against.

Scheme Review

To ensure that our course certification scheme continues to operate effectively and meets its primary aim, we have been conducting a review of the scheme. As part of the review, revisions were made to our course certification scheme frameworks, standards and processes. These were piloted in a phased approach across the framework sectors. As each framework relaunched, applications for approval or re-approval were considered under the new standards. Courses that fell due for resubmission during the review period (as part of the periodic review process) had their approval extended for a period of 6-months following launch of the revised scheme for their framework (fitness & leisure, catering or health & social care), to provide them with adequate time to make any required amendments and submit their course for assessment. This extension period has now expired and only courses that have been assessed and approved under the revised scheme are now listed on the AfN website.

(Please note, if you completed a course when it was certified against the previous standards you will not be eligible for the awarding of an AfN Certificate of completion, due to differences in the frameworks, standards and procedures).

Applications for Course Certification under the amended certification scheme are welcomed from courses designed for those working or volunteering within the fitness and leisure sector, the catering sector or the health and social care sector.

Please scroll down for information on the three different certification frameworks.