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5 Reasons to Become a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner/Consultant

There are a lot of options when it comes to nutrition schools, certifications, and seminars today. It seems like every day, a new program pops up. It can be hard to know which is worth it, and even more so, which is right for you. You may know that I’m nearly done with my RD (Registered Dietitian) credential. I mainly chose to obtain my RD to work more closely with medical professionals and to be able to accept health insurance, however I really value my roots, which all started at NTA (Nutritional Therapy Association). It’s really hard to “unlearn” information, so getting my real food education start at NTA was truly invaluable. It gave me the confidence and knowledge to question a lot of what I was being taught about nutrition in the RD program. I get asked a lot about my experience at the NTA, and if I recommend the program. The short answer? Yes!

Here are five reasons why, if you’re looking into a nutrition certification, you should consider the NTA.

  1. You’ll get an education on what nutrition really is and how the body works, not the rules of a ‘Diet’.

The NTA has been around for nearly 20 years, and was at the forefront of the real-food movement. Its programs are not new, developed in recent years to compete with the growing demand for holistic nutrition, but have been time-tested and built on the groundwork of natural science, not headline-grabbing opinion.

Nutrition is a loaded word, and one that most folks don’t really understand. Is ‘nutrition’ just another word for whatever diet a person is on at any given time? Is there a one-size-fits-all answer out there? One of the things that separates the NTA from other certifications, is that you start out learning about the foundations of optimal human nutrition. How the body works in order to get nutrients from the food that we eat. This is a critical part of being able to understand, not only how to improve your own health, but that of your clients.

How can you help someone suffering from blood sugar control issues, if you don’t understand the process of blood sugar control to begin with? The NTA doesn’t provide a set of black and white ‘rules’ to follow. It is not simply schooling you in another “diet playbook”, but gives you the know-how and tools to allow you to find the optimal diet for each one of your unique clients.

 

  1. You’ll learn how important eating real food is for optimal health, why what you eat really does matter, and be able to teach that to your clients.

         A major roadblock when deciding where to go when it comes to health related certifications (especially when you know that real food is the key to good health), is finding one that matches your philosophy, and we all know there are many conflicting ones out there. Many other programs espouse several different eating philosophies, without giving you a concrete understanding of how real food nutrition actually works in the human body. After I graduated from NTA, I was very confident about which foods to choose for optimal health.

Eating real, unprocessed, properly prepared whole foods, is the very core of what you’ll learn in your NTC/NTP certification. Foods from both plants and animals that we need to thrive as human beings. You will develop an understanding as to how this kind of food is what the body is made to thrive on, and discover how to begin to reverse the negative impacts of the modern diet starting with your clients.

One of the things I’ve learned in my own practice, is that education is key with client compliance as opposed to blind rule-following. They look to you, as the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner/Consultant, for information. They want to understand why they are eating fermented foods, and what happens when they avoid healthy fats. When asked the questions, thanks to your education, you will be ready with the answers.

 

  1. You’ll meet like-minded people who are passionate about real food and develop a network of practitioners who will become invaluable resources.

         It’s a hard gig out there. We are all trying to shift the conversation, and change the course of our health in a world that seems to be fighting against us. People are confused, your clients will come to you with an amazing mix of issues, and excuses. Every day, you’ll encounter something new. Since the NTA attracts like-minded people from all different experiences and walks of life, you will begin to build an amazing network of resources. I’m still good friends with many classmates and others who have graduated from NTA.

People in any given class range from trainers and physical therapists, to bloggers and farmers, to homesteaders and stay at home moms. Some are there to begin they’re career as a professional in the nutrition world. Others are there to expand upon what they’re already doing. Some are just there to learn how to improve the lives of their friends and family. You’ll all come with different backgrounds and goals, graduating with a variety of aspirations for application. Thanks to this unique blend, you’ll always have someone to ask when you have question, or seek help or simply to brainstorm with.

When dealing with clients, your NTA friends will be the folks you turn to the most. They’ll know where you’re coming from and understand how badly you want to help. They’ll have a mix of experiences and specialties of their own that will prove to be of the highest importance to your continued education.

Conferences and seminars offer even more opportunities to expand your NTA network. I can’t speak to the importance of this enough. Having a group of people from countless walks of life all striving to the same goal, wanting to help one another, is one of the greatest things there is to gain from the program.

 

  1. There’s far more to it than you can learn in a weekend, and nine months is a start.

         The world of health and wellness, especially in nutrition, is ever-changing. Research on ‘real food’ is only just starting to be published and we are beginning to see documented studies on its benefits when compared to the Standard American Diet. To say there is a lot to learn is an vast understatement. While there are a lot of excellent weekend certifications available to supplement your working knowledge, building a foundation is key.

Thanks to the length of the certification, you end up with much more than a basic outline. You’ll not only dive into the basic of nutrition and learn about the foundations of good health (like blood sugar balance, vitamins & minerals, fatty acids, etc), but you’ll get a briefing in hormone balance, and even sports  and prenatal nutrition. Once you start, you’ll realize that there is so much more than you every thought possible out there for you to learn. Nine months of real study is enough time to at least lay the groundwork and gain enough knowledge to go out into the world and start helping clients with confidence.

It’s worth adding, a major differentiating piece of the puzzle is that the NTA offers a section in the course on business basics. Though certifications, licensure, and legalities of scope of practice vary state-by-state, you will be provided the basic framework of how to start and run your practice instead of being thrown into the deep end. Even the simplest thing, like having your instructors and group leaders present how they took their certification into practice is unspeakably helpful to those just starting out.

 

  1. You get the flexibility of a distance course, with the structure and hands-on seminars of an in-person class.

Life is crazy. For many who arrive at the NTA, nutrition was not the career that they had in mind when they were younger. It became their passion over time. For may of us, that meant going back to school with full time jobs, kids, a fully-functioning life. Distance learning provides the opportunity to do that on your own schedule, working with the time you set aside within your life every day. It allows for some flexibility in the speed of the curriculum and the time of day in which you are able to get it done. That might mean after work, during your lunch break, or while the kids are at school. You are able to make it work for you.

Through your nine months in the NTP program, you’ll have assigned reading, video and audio lectures, quizzes and more to keep you on pace and make sure that you’re absorbing everything. This is not a ‘skate-by’ type of course. You have to participate and you must do the work. Open-ended courses with no check ins or due dates, often result in unfinished business. An incomplete class, sitting in cyber space until the end of time. That won’t happen with the NTA as you’ll have assignments to complete and deadlines to meet.

Distance learning is wonderful. Still, there is something about sitting in a class room, listening to a lecture, asking questions and being a part of the discussion that cannot be duplicated from a computer screen. The workshop weekends are where what you’ve learned over the months leading into it truly comes together and starts to really make sense. Everything you’ve read, all of the videos you’ve watching, meet up and come to life over the course of these weekends. You’ll ask questions that you didn’t even know you had, and will be able to get unawares from your instructors and group leaders right there when you ask it. You’ll be able to meet your classmates beyond a picture in a forum and start to build those relationships that will form your circle. The weekends are hard work. They’re long, and tiring, and you’ll want to sleep for two days when they’re over…but they’re so, so worth it.

So there you have it. 

This list truly could go on and on, listing everything that can be gained from a year spent with the Nutritional Therapy Association. The foundation in real food, the people that you meet, the structure of the class, and the insightful, well-rounded curriculum that the course follows. They all contribute to what are truly, nine life-changing months.

If you still have questions about NTA vs another “health coaching”, or are deciding between getting your RD or becoming a NTP or NTC, I offer a one-hour, honest and straightforward conversation with you, based on your specific situation (finances, career goals, etc.) to help you decide. For those of you ready to sign up for the program, mention my name and I’ll happily send you a signed copy of my book or give you a free 1/2 hour call to brainstorm ideas about how to start your practice, once you graduate. Feel free to contact me once you’ve signed up to get your book or schedule a call.

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31 thoughts on “5 Reasons to Become a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner/Consultant”

  1. I would take info from a real food RD anytime over someone who only has taken a 9 month course..don’t think the knowledge learned can be compared.
    Happy RD day!

    1. Many graduates of NTA have substantial knowledge bases far superior to what I’ve seen in my RD program. I think that there is a great variance among nutritionists in both the RD world and the NTA world.

  2. Pingback: [BLOCKED BY STBV] How I Became a Real Food Nutritionist - Sustainable DishSustainable Dish

  3. Hi Diana,

    I tried browsing through the website you provided for these classes. From what I gathered in your article, these are not online classes, correct? I’m just wondering because it looks very interesting, but I live in southeastern Ohio and there are no venues listed on their website that are anywhere near my state. So, are there any online options or does a person have to live near one of the listed venues in order to be able to start this program?

    Thanks,
    Jason

  4. I’m in the opposite situation that you’ve been through; I started with my RD credential but am now interested in growing my expertise in functional medicine. Based on your experience and professionals you’ve met, what is your stance on the Institute for Functional Medicine vs. Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy?

    Thanks!

    1. I highly recommend NTA over IIN. I’m not familiar with Functional Nutrition Academy, but I went to their website and it looks interesting. NTA is a food-based program, and they teach supplements, but it’s not functional nutrition the way Functional Nutrition Academy teaches. You don’t learn lab value interpretation for example in NTA but it looks like they teach vegan diets, which I would not recommend and because of this I don’t feel comfortable endorsing their program. If you want to chat, I offer “Ask Me Anything” calls and I’m happy to discuss further with you and help you make your decision based on what you’re looking to learn. There are other programs that might work better for you. If you do decide on NTA, use my name as a referral and I’ll send you a signed book when your classes start.

  5. Pingback: [BLOCKED BY STBV] Why You Should Test Your Blood Sugar - Even if You're Not Diabetic! - Sustainable Dish

  6. Hi Diana,

    Thanks for the article.

    I have taken an interest in pursuing some sort of education in the field of nutrition, and a chiropractor friend suggested pursing a CN (Certified Nutritionist) certification (granted he was not familiar with NTP) From what I gather at http://americannutritionassociation.org/toolsandresources/descriptiondegreescredentials, a CN seems to be laying the foundations for obtaining an RD which is not something that I would rule out. Is a CN comparable to an NTP? I found your point above regarding lab value interpretation interesting. Would a CN course of study include that training or is that for a more advanced level of study such as RD?

    Thanks
    ,
    Jeff

    1. I am unfamiliar with CN training schools so I can’t comment on them vs. NTA. NTA is focused on a real food approach, which is unique among nutrition programs. Most 2 or 4 year colleges are more along the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics line of thinking, so if a CN is through a traditional college, my guess those classes will focus on a “My Plate” type of education – something I personally disagree with.

  7. Hello! Thanks for this article. I’ve been looking at the NTA programs for a while now but can’t decide between the NTP and NTC program. Which do you think is best? Or what would help make that decision?

    Thanks!
    Jen

  8. I have a couple questions I’d like to ask. I don’t mean to pry- but I am highly interested in becoming an NTC or NTP. Could you give me an estimate of a yearly salary with each? I have searched all over the internet for an answer. A number. I’ve contacted several NTA graduates and I seem to get the same answer which is basically that it’s all subjective and it just depends on this and that, which I understand, but I’m a very anxious person and I won’t go through with anything until I know as much as I possibly can. I’ve browsed NTA’s FAQ’s and they said $50-$120 an hour but I want to make sure they’re not embellishing. Thanks so much in advance!

    1. It really depends on what you decide to do with it. Private practice can be difficult in many states because of the laws preventing one-on-one counseling unless your a Registered Dietitian, which I decided to become. You can check out this site to see if your state is “green” and if it is, you still can only see people for “healthy eating” or “weight loss” and for them to see you for cash vs. paying a $30 or $0 copay to see a dietitian through insurance, it can be a hard sell unless you’re really great at marketing yourself. There are other career options you can do with the certificate, but I’m not sure there’s any standard pay for it. If you want to be a full time, one-on-one nutritional counselor and practice “medical nutrition therapy” meaning you’d like to see people who are sick and help them by changing their diet (working with real food) I suggest you do the NTC program and then get your RD.

  9. It’s me again. Of course I had some technological issues and my second question was erased. I apologize. I asked about the renewing of your education you’re required to do every 2 years. How does one go about doing that? Do you do so through their program or elsewhere? Again, thanks so much!

      1. Meaning you didn’t need the traditional undergrad prerequisites to get into your RD program? Are you saying they accepted your NTP credentials as consideration for admittance. If so, that gives me hope.

  10. Pingback: [BLOCKED BY STBV] My plans for transitioning to a career in functional nutrition: The Nutritional Therapy Association

  11. I am currently a Registered Dietetic Technician (NDTR) and am interested in this program. I am currently working clinically and see patients giving them nutrition information. Would I be eligible to take the NTP course or just the NTC course since I am not a RD? Thanks!

  12. How doable is this program with 2 kids under the age of 3? I’ve been looking into this program specifically for quite some time now, and I plan to leave my current job once baby #2 comes this fall. So ideally I’d like to do this program in between baby #2 and #3 (assuming we are blessed with more kids!). I do not have a science background but have become so passionate about this stuff because of my own health journey and that of my husband’s.

    1. It depends on how much non kid time you have to watch the videos and do the work. If you’re full time with the kids then I might wait a bit until one of them is in preschool. Maybe you could start reading some of their recommended books though!

  13. Hi Diana,

    Would you recommend this program for someone who is not going to practice as a NTP in the United States (Maybe only online)? I want to do this program so badly, I think it’s the right program for me but I am moving to Spain next year. My goal is to get my degree in
    Dietetics in Spain for all the reasons you mentioned in your post but I want to practice medical nutrition therapy.

    Thanks,

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