Holistic nutrition is one of the most popular and exciting fields of study in the world of fitness and nutrition. There is always a drive in people to want to become healthier in life, however, this is certainly easier said than done. Holistic nutrition is a way to make the process of becoming healthier and happier a more scientific and strategic one.
When one embarks upon a holistic nutrition journey, there is an increasing awareness that several aspects of your life—mental, physical, and spiritual—need to be in tandem for you to achieve the health you aspire for.
When one begins to look at nutrition in this holistic way, their daily practices towards health also begin to change. But this is often not something that one can practice on their own. A holistic nutrition certification is, therefore, a way for people to practice holistic nutrition themselves as well as professionally guide others too.
What It Means To Be A Certified Holistic Nutritionist
The good thing is that there are several holistic nutrition certificate programs and courses offered by institutes and universities online. These are some of the best ways to qualify yourself to become a certified holistic nutritionist, often allowing you to complete your education alongside a full-time job or another degree. With a certificate, you can practice as a nutritionist in various forms—as a consultant, have your own practice or even lend your expertise to blogs and content sites.
Are All Certificates Made Equal?
It must be said that all certificates are not the same. Some, of course, can have a great, more fruitful impact on your career. Some institutes are accredited by respectable and trusted boards, such as the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching or the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. Sometimes, a certificate course may be accredited by more than one body, and this is always a good thing.
When you are seeking a certificate course out online, it is imperative to see what accreditation the course and the organization/institute offering the course has. The following are some of such courses that come highly recommended by experts and professionals in the field. The courses have been chosen because of their flexibility, the versatility of the course curriculum, and the convenience of the resources offered to the students, in addition to the employment opportunities they offer.
Best Holistic Nutrition Certifications
Expert Rating—Holistic Nutrition Certification
The Holistic Nutrition Certification program offered by Expert Rating is one of the best courses you can take from the comfort of your home. As soon as you enroll yourself in the course, the course material will be made available to you via email. You do not have to make any additional payments or trips to the institute to acquire the course material and other resources to make this certification program more fruitful.
The course is great to teach students about the skills required in the wellness industry. In the course, some of the topics that the course will cover include macronutrients, micronutrients, the importance and perils of sugar, chronic health conditions, etc. In addition to this, the good thing about this course being conducted online is that you can complete the coursework in your own time. Once you have completed the course, you will receive a certificate, a logo and a transcript that you can display in your office once you take things professional.
Bauman College—Nutrition Consultant Program
Bauman College has one of the best Nutrition Consultant programs in the industry. When you graduate from this program, you will be eligible for the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board (HNCB) examination, upon clearing which you can become Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition®. The program is extremely thorough and will ensure that students will have all the skills to become professional nutrition consultants.
As a graduate of this course, you will be able to work as nutrition health coaches, educators, nutrition product developers, etc. Some of the topics that will be covered in this program include macronutrients, micronutrients, digestion, health coaching, chronic diseases, etc. This course is recommended because Bauman College is one of the best institutes for holistic nutrition and culinary arts professions. This is a 15-month online program that may be on the slightly higher side in terms of tuition fees, but it does open up several avenues for graduates.
The Institute of Holistic Nutrition—Diploma Program in Applied Holistic Nutrition
There are two ways in which you can complete this diploma from The Institute of Holistic Nutrition. The Applied Holistic Nutrition diploma program can be pursued as a full-time program (which comprises four sessions a week), or a part-time program (which comprises two sessions a week and can be taken as a morning or evening session).
While the full-time program can be completed within a year, the part-time program takes two years. There are 19 courses in total that you must complete, and a compulsory 140-hour co-op placement program is required. Some of the topics the program will cover include Ayurveda, biological chemistry, comparative diets, preventive healthcare, herbal medicine and more.
American Fitness Professionals Association—Holistic Nutritionist Certification
The American Fitness Professionals Association is one of the most reputed bodies in the country for training nutritionists. The Holistic Nutritionist Certification program offered by the Association consists of three modules that will have courses, activities and assignments which will bring you closer to being certified as a Holistic Nutritionist. The program includes 16 hours of online lectures, as well as practice tests to prepare for your final online exam.
You will also be provided with resources such as worksheets, client questionnaires, forms, etc. All the course materials will be provided to you when you enroll. You can opt for a digital e-Book or a physical copy of the textbooks. The first module is The Science Behind Holistic Nutrition, the second is Nutrition Consultant Skill Development and the third is Holistic Health Research Presentations.
The great thing about this program is that you can study at your own pace and there is no clock ticking over your head. The Association will provide you with a general study guideline and schedule, but you are free to take the test when you feel you are ready.
NutraPhoria—School of Holistic Nutrition—Holistic Nutritionist Diploma Program
The Holistic Nutritionist Diploma Program, offered by NutraPhoria—School of Holistic Nutrition, is another great place to get a Holistic Nutrition Certificate. The diploma is offered in two parts. The first is the Holistic Nutrition & Health Coach Program and the second is the Advanced Holistic Nutritionist Program.
The first program is enough training for one to take Holistic Nutrition up as a professional. But you can also take the advanced program to further your education and skills. However, to be eligible for the Tier 2 program, you need to have completed the first one. This is a flexible program that is delivered online. The program is conducted on the online portal where all your material will be uploaded for you to visit it any time.
Parting Words: Holistic Nutrition Certifications
The courses that have been described above are some of the most resourceful and thorough ways to acquire holistic nutrition certifications. Most of these courses can be completed on your own time, or at most over a two-year period. You will also be provided the resources and course material for them all. There’s no better time than now to enroll yourself in one of these programs!