BODY COMPOSITION PRACTITIONER – LEVEL 1
Online certification course for professionals who want to assess body composition accurately.Â
Earn CEUs or CECs from major organizations.
GET CERTIFIED
What You’ll Learn:
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Choose the right method for your client
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Perform field methods with low error
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Evaluate new methods that emerge
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Help clients meet their goals
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Course Overview
Course Description:
Level 1 is an evidence-based online course for fitness and nutrition professionals, wellness centers, and concierge medical teams who want to move beyond weight and BMI.
You’ll learn how to perform and interpret body composition assessments using field methods like skinfold thickness and bioelectrical impedance analysis. You’ll also be introduced to clinical-grade techniques like DXA and ultrasound—exploring their advantages, limitations, and how they apply to specific populations like children, older adults, and athletes.
Earn the following continuing education units from these major organizations:
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics - 10 CEUs
- American College of Sports Medicine - 15 CECs
- National Academy of Sports Medicine - 1.5 CEUs
- National Strength and Conditioning Association - 1.7 CEUs (17 contact hours)
Includes:
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10 Learning Modules
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Lifetime Access
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Self-paced online format
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Access to the official ACSM's Body Composition Assessment eBook (Lohman & Milliken, 2020)
This course is designed for:
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Personal trainers & strength coaches
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Nutritionists & dietitians
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Resort/spa wellness teams
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Clinical providers offering lifestyle prescriptions
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Anyone using field methods in practice
Meet your Instructors
Tim Lohman, PhD
Timothy G. Lohman, PhD is a professor emeritus at the University of Arizona and is widely considered a leading scientist in the field of body composition assessment. Dr. Lohman founded the Global Health and Body Composition Institute (GHBCI) in 2019. GHBCI is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) whose goal is fostering body composition expertise, training and certification worldwide. He previously served as the Director of the Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition at the University of Arizona. He co-edited ACSM’s Body Composition Assessment, co-edited Human Body Composition, First and Second Edition, co-edited the Anthropometric Standardization Reference Manual and co-authored The Science of Long Term Weight Loss.
Laurie Milliken, PhD
Dr. Milliken is co-editor of ACSM's Body Composition Assessment text and co-author of The Science of Long-Term Weight Loss. She is currently an associate professor and former chair of the exercise and health sciences department at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. Since 1998, she has been active in the New England chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (NEACSM), serving as president, the chair of the Continuing Education committee, state representative and an executive committee member. She is the 2025 NEACSM Honor Award recipient for her contributions to the field. It is NEACSM's highest honor.
“The depth of the content was exceptional, and I very much liked the content regarding patient interaction and how best to communicate to patients in a professional manner on this topic.”
Christopher
“I liked all the information about the errors of each method, the article lectures were very interesting.”
Gabriela
“This course is comprehensive on this topic, and well organized.”
W.D.
About the Certification
Level 1 is the first step in the Body Composition Practitioner Certification Path.
Take it as a standalone course or continue to Level 2 (In-Person Practicum) and Level 3 (Mastery Certification).
