CNSC Exam Study Tips: Proven Strategies to Pass the Certified Nutrition Support Clinician Exam

Preparing for the CNSC exam can be daunting, but with the right strategies and resources, you can boost your confidence and increase your chances of success. Whether you’re just beginning your study journey or fine-tuning your knowledge before test day, these CNSC exam study tips will help you make the most of your preparation time.

Use the Calculator & Know Your Numbers

Yes, the CNSC exam provides access to a digital calculator. You’ll need to memorize essential clinical nutrition calculations to save time and reduce stress on exam day.

🌟 Even experienced clinicians can get tripped up by simple equations we haven’t had to calculate from scratch in years. If your EMR calculates things for you, be sure you know how to do the math on your own. 

Use my CNSC study guide to master the following:

• BMI and Ideal Body Weight (IBW)
• Energy and protein needs for various disease states
• Basic nutrition support calculations, including final macronutrient percentages of PN
• Osmolarity of PPN
• Corrected Calcium
• Nitrogen Balance
• Total Body Water
• Free Water Deficit
• Holliday-Segar method for pediatric fluid requirements

Using these equations in real life is the best way to memorize them. Try to use them on your patients in real life, for the next few months (even if it you don’t have to, and even if it slows you down).

Make sure you can calculate PN orders by hand. Even if you have a spreadsheet or calculator, or if pharmacy does this bit for you, practice doing it for every PN patient you can.

In my CNSC Exam Study Guide & Course, you’ll learn all the other numbers and calculations you need to memorize, as well as what you don’t have to bother memorizing.

Solo vs. Group Study

I recommend a mixture of solo and group studying for best results. During solo studying, focus on specific, challenging topics. Use active recall techniques and spaced repetition. Drill flashcards. During group sessions, teach concepts to each other using the teach back method, and do practice quizzes together.

If you assemble a group, 2-4 people is an ideal number. Meet once at the beginning of your study window to hone in on your study plan, once in the middle, and once right before the exam (and then meet for a celebratory happy hour when you pass!🥂)

Speak It to Keep It: Verbal Study Techniques

Speaking out loud is a powerful memory aid. Verbalizing key terms, definitions, and concepts can enhance your ability to retain and recall information. Teaching the material (even if it’s just to your dog) boosts comprehension and retention.

In my CNSC Exam Study Group, you’ll get a weekly audio companion with test content. This is a super valuable tool you can listen to on a walk, or during your commute. 

Bedtime Reviews (but keep it brief)

A short (I’m talking 5-10 minutes max) review of flashcards or summary notes right before bed can enhance memory consolidation. However, avoid cramming. Too much mental stimulation can disrupt your sleep.

I also recommend looking at some charts and graphs right before bed, and thinking about them as you drift off. You’ll be surprised how much visual content you remember in the morning.

There is one rule, though: no phones, scrolling, reading, or TV after this quick study session (this will only distract your brain). Just review the information, and lights out.

Answering CNSC Exam Questions: Strategy Over Speed

Have a plan for the exam. You’ll get a 15 minute break between Part I and Part II. You cannot go back to Part I once you’ve taken your break. My recommendation is to go through Part I at a moderate speed (<1 minute per question), skipping and flagging any questions where you are not at least 75% sure of the answer. Then, go back and take another stab at the flagged questions. Sometimes, another question will jog your memory.

On your second pass, try not to change many of your original answers (the answers you were pretty sure on). If you feel strongly you need to change the answer (and you could stand up and justify why), do it.

Save 5-10 minutes at the very end to answer the remaining flagged answers where you still have no clue. Try to eliminate one or two answers that are incorrect, than randomly choose the answer. Don’t spend a lot of time guessing; save that for the easier questions you’re more likely to get right. 

🌟 This is another area that often trips up experienced clinicians. If you’ve taken this exam before, chances are you can get the answer right if you think about it long enough. Many students sitting for their 5, 10 and 15 year recertifications tell me they wasted too much time on questions they ended up guessing on anyway. Don’t make this mistake!

Not All Answers Are Created Equal. Some options may be factually correct, but don’t fully answer the question. Read carefully, re-read the question, and always match your answer to what the question is truly asking.

“Best” Answer vs. “First” Step

Some questions will ask for the best answer, while others want to know what you would do first. These are not always the same! For example, pancreatic enzymes are the gold standard for unclogging a feeding tube, but we never try that first. First, we’d flush and plunge warm water in the tube to try and resolve the clog. Stay grounded in clinical reasoning and patient priorities when making your choice.

💥 Embrace Strategic Failure

Strategic failure is where you choose one specific topic that you find impossible to commit to memory, and you stop trying to learn it. Instead of wasting your time trying to learn the ins and outs of micronutrient toxicity levels, just drop it. Focus on the big picture. Memorize a few sample questions or scenario-type questions, and leave the rest on the table. The exam is designed so you can get many questions wrong and still pass.

No, you can’t ditch all the pediatric content 🙃 Sorry. It has to be pretty niche for this to be a workable strategy.