The American Board of Neurochemistry and Nutrition

The American Board of Neurochemistry and Nutrition® (or ABNN) is a neurological specialty certification board in the subspecialty of Neurochemistry and Nutrition. The ABNN is a sub-agency of the American College of Neurochemistry and Nutrition® (ACFN), a non-profit certification organization dedicated to serving and protecting its members,  by certifying excellence in practice. The ABNN administers certification examinations and maintains certification renewal processes. The ABNN issues a Certificate of Qualification and a Fellowship of Neurochemistry and Nutrition, indicated by the credentials FABNN® and CABNN® respectively.

Fellowship Credentials – FABNN®:

Both FABNN® and the term Fellow of the American Board of Neurochemistry and Nutrition® are federally protected and trademarked terms to describe the highest level of certification by the ABNN.

Fellows must be a licensed health care primary care provider or profession in a healthcare professional field (MD, DO, DC, DPT, ND, PhD, etc),that has completed a minimum of 200 credit hours of training in clinical neuroscience, and 150 credit hours of training in Neurochemistry and Nutrition in an ACFN approved educational program. 

The ABNN requires that throughout the initial certification and maintenance of certification processes, fellows must have a valid, unexpired, and unencumbered license to practice a primary care discipline in their jurisdiction. Should the provider have a lapse of their license to practice, or have it encumbered for any reason, it is the provider’s responsibility to report that information to the ACFN. Failure to report license expiration or encumbrance may result in removal from the registry and/or denial for renewal of credentials.

Certificate of Qualification – CABNN®

CABNN®: Certificate-Holder of the American Board of Neurochemistry and Nutrition® are federally protected and trademarked terms to describe an individual that has met the criteria set forth by the ACFN and the ABNN to hold a certificate of qualification.

Certificate of Qualification holders must have completed a minimum of 150 hours in Neurochemistry and Nutrition, have successfully passed an ACFN administered, approved, and psychometrically-validated board examination, but do not meet all of the criteria set forth by the ACFN to be a CABNN. Often these individuals are assistants to health care providers, or practice in a discipline that is not eligible for a Fellowship per the ACFN bylaws, such as Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Social Workers, Case Managers, etc. 

Recertification Process:

The ACFN and ABNN demand a recertification process that is necessary to maintain the Certificate of Qualification and Fellowship Status with the registry. Registry members must submit a registration fee of $185.00 annually by July 1st with a demonstration of competency including a minimum of 25 hours of continuing education in a board-approved educational program; A bibliography listing of at least 24 neurology related journal articles from peer-reviewed publications. Fellows must also recertify by examination every 10 years.

ABNN Advisory Board

The ABNN Advisory Board consists of 4 ACFN-nominated members that may serve unlimited, staggered, 2-year terms. Appointments are by a nomination and vote of support by two or more of the ACFN Board of Directors. The Board is governed by the executive director and expert board of the American College of Functional Neurology®. Their responsibility is to represent and protect the registry by defining, regulating, assessing, and communicating with its members and the public.

The advisory board is responsible for communicating with the sub-committees and registry and to perform numerous functions included but not limited to: regular job analysis, defining educational requirements and standards for membership, creates and approves board and certification examinations, defines and regulates acceptable usage of board credentials, defines communication with the public about board policy and positions.

• Advisory board appointed by the ACFN
• Sets educational requirements for certification
• Develops examinations
• Regulates the usage of credentials
• Performs regular job analysis
• Defines membership criteria

 Notice of Trademark:

The American College of Functional Neurology®, American Board of Neurochemistry and Nutrition®, FABNN®, CABNN® are actively used and registered trademarks of the American College of Functional Neurology, Inc.