Becoming a Nutritionist – Is Nutritional Therapy School for You?

 

Do you have a calling to help people heal through diet and lifestyle? 

 

Do you believe in a whole food diet for optimal health? 

 

Do you want to further your education? 

 

If you answered yes to any of those questions, nutrition school might just be for you! With holistic nutrition on the rise, there has been an increase in courses, certificates, and programs. We love to see this community grow, but how does one pick and choose what program will suit them with all the influx in programs?

 

Ask Yourself Some Hard Questions: 

• How much time can you dedicate to studying?
• What areas are you most interested in?
• Does the program align with your values?
• How much can you spend?

 

We drive into some of the top programs in the industry to help you narrow down your decision.

 

Nutrition Therapy Association (NTA) 

The NTA was founded by Gray and Joy Graham originally as a vocational school to train healthcare practitioners. Now the NTA is a fully online instructor lead program for anyone interested in holistic nutrition.

 

In ten months, you will learn how to take a bio-individual approach to healing clients using the NTAs foundations of properly prepared, nutrient-dense, whole food diet, digestion, blood sugar regulation, fatty acids, minerals, and hydration.

 

The course consists of 20 modules and includes knowledge of motivational Interviewing techniques and one-on-one client consultations. They drive home the importance of root-cause healing and healthy digestion. They focus on the upper GI, liver/gallbladder, small/large intestine, fatty acids, minerals, and sugar handling to isolate the root cause of symptoms your clients may have.

 

The course is $5,999 and has set registration dates/program start dates.

 

They offer the course twice a year.

 

Mission: “To deliver a science-based education that fosters a community of confident holistic nutrition professionals who harness the power of real food and empower people to reconnect with the innate wisdom and unique needs of their bodies, thereby supporting lasting wellness.”

 

Website: https://nutritionaltherapy.com/

 

Please use affiliate code ‘NwJ’ (case sensitive) when you enroll!

• For the NTP program, students will receive a complimentary copy of Nutritional Therapy, Third Edition by Alan R. Gaby, M.D. (eBook).
• For the PHWC program, students will receive a complimentary NTA PHWC notebook. 
• We’ll receive a small commission. 

 

Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN)

Reed Davis created functional Diagnostic Nutrition Certification, a Case Manager and Clinical Nutritionist turned educator.

 

FDN Certification is a fully online course that is self-guided. You have one year to complete the 150-hour program that is broken out into sixteen modules.

 

The average amount of time to complete the course is 6-8 months. The last quarter of the course is made up of 2 personal results sessions and 6 practical sessions with a mentor. FDN provides functional lab assessment training.

 

FDN focuses on hormone, immune, digestion, detoxification, energy, and nervous systems health and enables the practitioner to make holistic lifestyle recommendations to support those areas. They educate their students on how to pair labs with the focus areas listed above to create personalized protocols for your clients. They also provide their students with a health-coach business model so that when they are done with the course, they feel confident to start and maintain a successful business.

 

The cost of the program is $7995.

 

Mission: “Our Mission is to Educate as Many People as Possible How to Get Well and Stay Well Naturally So That They, in Turn, May Educate Others”

 

Website: https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/enrollnow/

 

 

Institution for Integrative Nutrition (IIN)

IIN was started in an NYC rental kitchen by Joshua Rosenthal. Now the fully online program takes a bio-individual approach to integrative nutrition. They incorporate things like relationships, spirituality, mental well-being, career, and nutrition into their training.

 

Integrative Nutrition Health Coach believes in humans’ innate wisdom and using it to support their clients. They cover a wide range of topics that include:

• functional medicine
• joy and self-care
• healthy cooking
• budgeting
• gut health and the human microbiome
• digestive issues and the role of the elimination diet
• inflammation and anti-inflammatory eating
• stress management and dietary choices
• sugar and hormonal balance
• adrenal health.

 

IIN provides you with two options for completing the course.

 

The course is a 12-month program with a module released every week. You can also take an accelerated program lasting 6 months with 2 modules released every week.

 

The cost of the program is $6,995.

 

Mission: “Our mission is to play a crucial role in improving health and happiness, and through that process, create a ripple effect that transforms the world.”

 

Website: https://www.integrativenutrition.com/curriculum

 

 

Primal Health Coach Institute

Primal Health Coach Institute was founded by Mark Sission, author of The Primal Blueprint and focuses on ancestral health education. It’s known as the world’s first program designed with the evolutionary health movement as the focus.

 

They teach their coaches how to reprogram genes to direct optimal cellular function and provide lifestyle recommendations for optimal living, fitness, and dietary choices. They use a Paleo/Primal way of living/eating to support their clients. They specialize in helping clients make lifestyle and behavioral changes to guide them towards optimal health.

 

Their level one program is 20 weeks self-paced which you can register for at any time and there are 20 chapters to complete.

 

They also offer a level Two program that is available to level one Primal Health Coaches to further their education.

 

The National Board approves the program for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC), the UK Health Coaches Association, the Health Coach Alliance, and is accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP) Certification & Accreditation Board.

 

The price of the course is $4,495.

 

Mission: “Our mission is to create a global network of Primal Health Coaches to transform the health and consciousness of our communities into ones of optimal wellness and happiness through ancestral health”

 

Website: https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/courses/

 

 

Autoimmune Paleo Certified Coach – Practitioner Training Program 

AIP certification program was created by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, Mickey Trescott, NTP, and Angie Alt, NTP, CHC.

 

This program educates practitioners on the science and implementation of the Autoimmune Protocol. They use both diet and lifestyle recommendations to promote healing for people suffering from autoimmune conditions.

 

This course has specific enrollment and course start dates.

 

It consists of 6 modules and requires 4-5 hours a week for 8 weeks.

 

The price is $799 and they offer payment plans.

 

Not everyone is able to take this course, as you need to have an existing certificate or license that allows you to work with clients or patients. You must also carry proper liability insurance. Some examples of eligible candidates sare registered dietitians, health coaches, chiropractors, and medical doctors.

 

Mission: “At AIP Certified Coach we train practitioners on the science and implementation of the Autoimmune Protocol within a holistic understanding of health. In the simplest terms, we believe we are all linked and that seeking health and building community is an interdependent project that must be rooted in social equity.”

 

Website: https://aipcertified.com/training/

 

Bauman College

Bauman college has been based in the San Francisco East Bay for over 30 years but now offers both a nutrition consultant and holistic chef culinary program online. Bauman college joined the National Holistic Institute in August of 2020.

 

They blend the science of nutrition with restorative cooking providing their students with the knowledge to create personalized nutrition evaluations for clients.

 

The nutrition consultant program is a 15-month long program with 800 total hours to be completed.

 

The program is broken up into four categories, therapeutic nutrition, foundations of nutrition, business, and practicum. Covering a wide range of topics from macronutrients, chronic disease prevention, exercise, meal planning, research projects, nutritional biochemistry, client work, and networking, to starting a practice and business finances.

 

Tuition is $11,500 and is approved to offer federal student aid for those who can qualify.

 

Mission: “We’re on a mission to Help You Have Work You Love! We live and breathe our mission statement of Helping People Have Work They Love, because we wholeheartedly believe that being a well-trained holistic chef or nutrition consultant gives you the ability to improve your life, career and community in ways that will make you and the people around you happier and more fulfilled.”

 

Website: https://baumancollege.org/blog/

 

Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) Practitioner Program

Dr. Campbell-McBride’s book “Gut and Psychology Syndrome” shares food’s healing benefits and supporting the gut.

 

GAPS training offers two certificates.

 

The Certified GAPS Practitioner (CGP) Training course is highly extensive and doesn’t cover content that is already covered in the GAPS book.

 

This course is for active practitioners who are currently working with clients. Some examples include Chiropractors, Dietitians/Clinical Nutritionists, Certified Nutritional Therapy Consultants and Practitioners, Naturopathic Doctors, Osteopathic Doctors, Medical Doctors, Nurses, Psychologists, Social Workers, and Occupational Therapists.

 

At the end of the course, practitioners will be able to identify and advise patients/clients in a clinical setting who may have GAPS and be able to support them with a nutritional protocol.

 

The second certificate is the GAPS Coach. You’ll learn how to work with people outside of a clinical setting and do not need to be an active practitioner/doctor or clinician.

 

It is a 12-week program with 8 modules allowing for 10-15 hours of work a week.

 

The course will cover the following Review of the GAPS Diet Spectrum, Treatment of GAPS, Supplement & Lifestyle Changes, Practical Issues, GAPS Protocols, Heart Health, Vegetarianism, Running a Private Clinic & Local GAPS Group, Cooking Techniques, Business Development/Scope of Practice, Legal Boundaries, Branding & Intellectual Property.

 

Tuition is $2,450 and they offer payment plans and early bird discounts.

 

The course is not instructor lead but there are registration and start dates.

 

Website: https://gapstraining.com/gaps-coach-training/

 

 

Final Thoughts

Many of us have healed from the right foods, and once we do, we want to share the amazing news with others.

 

Some of you may decide that you want to further your passion by joining one of these schools and course programs. Some of you may like to learn more to feed your family better.

 

Nutrition with Judy is a big fan of always learning and improving and recommends all the schools for your personal or professional growth.

 

Never stop learning.

 

Let us know if you tried one of the schools and certification programs!

 

DISCLAIMER: The content is for educational purposes only. While I am board-certified in holistic nutrition and a nutritional therapy practitioner, I am not providing medical advice. Whenever you start a new diet or protocol, always first consult with your trusted practitioner.