Top 3 Holistic Health Coach And Nutrition Certification Programs: Here's Where To Start
Watch the webinars from the 3 schools we recommend to see which school would be right for you. Or read on below to find out more about each school before watching the webinars.
Considering enrolling in any of the above health coach training programs?
Enter your name and email below and we will offer you a special incentive from each school and/or from The Whole Journey.
This post is for aspiring nutritionists and health coaches as well as health practitioners who want to take their clinical efficacy to the next level with nutrition training programs.
I have lost count of the number of clients who have come to me after seeing over a dozen doctors and spending thousands of dollars to diagnose and treat a condition or array of symptoms they have been suffering with for quite some time.
During this wild goose chase, their quality of life, relationships, and career suffer. They are consumed with feelings of hopelessness, trying to adjust to a new “normal” level of ill health as most doctors tell them they are fine.
It breaks my heart every time I hear this because this kind of confusion and suffering is unnecessary.
Healing Doesn’t Have To Be So Complicated
People just need to find a practitioner who has enough knowledge and heart to light their way during a dark and confusing period – someone with the skills to think outside the box and dig deep enough to be able to explain how they got where they are and to draw the map to where they really want to be.
Many of the ideas and beliefs we hold about health in modern society are broken. We embrace a “band-aid” approach to health by administering medication to mitigate a symptom, which only creates more symptoms and further compromises the body's inherent healing ability (and likely creates the “need” for another medication).
There are conflicts of interest between drug companies, doctors, researchers, and medical journals everywhere. These conflicts of interest prevent us from seeing the body as one whole systemic unit and therefore prevent us from taking back our health.
Throughout my decade of private practice and five years working with large groups online, we’ve had over 800 clients and subscribers who have made dramatic career transitions to become nutritionists and health coaches after having been in completely different fields.
Once they changed their lives, they “caught the bug” of how amazing achieving better health on all levels can be, and they wanted to pay it forward and help others.
I love that and would imagine that might be why or how you’ve landed here on this blog.
Every week, our team receives nearly a dozen inquiries about health coach and nutrition training programs from people who want to study to do this work.
So that you can choose the best path for yourself, read about the health coach and nutrition certification program overviews below and watch the recorded webinars I conducted for you with the founders of my three favorite nutrition programs. This way you can experience each person/school’s teaching style and philosophy, while gaining an in-depth understanding of their curriculum. This will also help you know what you will be able to do career-wise with your certification.
The World Needs More Health Coaches
If we are going to shift our society away from all the health myths out there, then we need more health coaches who believe in healing by addressing the root cause (mind, body, and spirit) instead of individual symptoms. We need more practitioners with an integrative approach that incorporates profound respect for the intelligence and power of the human body to heal and balance itself when given what it needs.
We also need more health coaches and practitioners who are willing to listen intently, hearing the subconscious issues and the “story” of their clients, and thus discovering the emotional roots of physical health concerns that, when ignored, can become the elephant in the room.
We deserve more.
We deserve to be healthier, happier, and more connected. We deserve to take back our health, starting now.
If you have passion, heart, and a solid work ethic, don't worry about how you will earn a living doing this work. Trust that by following your inner guidance, you will.
I did, way back in 2003. If you are unfamiliar with me and my work, you can read about my organic path here. It is one from a sparked passion that led to schooling, then to private practice, developing three TV shows, writing bestselling books, and developing six cutting-edge online programs – all which have enabled me to use my life force to help millions get healthier.
I did not know how I was going to make a go of this new career, I only knew that I wanted to help people and that’s all you need to know right now.
The world needs you to be fully YOU and to give what you’re here to give.
When I was still in private practice, I preferred the nutritionists I hired to have both clinical and holistic training before hiring them.
Therefore, I always recommended they attend both The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and The Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) program.
Had I known about Functional Nutrition Labs (FNL) back then, I would also have put my nutritionists through this program after they had one year of practice under their belt.
The Whole Journey Recommended Health Coach & Nutrition Training Programs
(Note: All programs are online/distance learning.)
Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN)
One attends IIN to become a certified holistic health coach. In the IIN program, you will learn a myriad of dietary theories that will help you customize dietary protocols for clients based upon bio-individuality, their personality, and their emotional capacity for change. These protocols will help your clients heal and maintain their newfound level of health. There is no other school out there that teaches so much about food and how to pull pearls of wisdom from many different dietary theories to create a completely customized “food as medicine” protocol for your clients.
While IIN is now offering advanced courses (I teach their advanced fertility and prenatal course) after their primary certification, the primary certification is not highly clinical, and you will not learn to run lab work or dive more deeply into severe health conditions with this certification alone.
If you want to do what I did in private practice (including food and self care counseling along with running lab work and working with top-notch supplement formulas), I highly suggest both IIN and FDN together as an incredible pairing of the holistic and clinical components so that you can concurrently run lab work and have supplement accounts.
The second major bonus about IIN is that it will teach you how to counsel with food and beyond and to meet the client on their level because it is never just about the food. You cannot get a client to adopt a new model of behavior that changes their health unless you address the whole person and understand how to motivate them toward action.
And finally, IIN will give you the tools to set up a health coaching business of your own, which takes the stress and anxiety out of starting your own business. IIN has a renowned faculty, and their program now counts for up to 30 college units.
I attended IIN in person in NYC back in 2005/2006 and am a huge proponent of this school. I would not have achieved the level of success I have without this program and all that I learned from it. Please don't underestimate the value of the counseling component. IIN embraces the idea of healthy relationships, career and creative satisfaction, spiritual connectedness, and movement you enjoy as “primary food.”
They like to refer to the food we actually eat as “secondary food.” Both “foods” are always changing and shifting according to the needs of the individual, and this program trains you how to consistently adapt so that you can create highly-customized protocols for each client, thus setting them up to receive the highest level of support and success while under your wing.
Since I am part of IIN’s Ambassador program, if you choose to attend this school, I can offer you a special savings opportunity as well as a bonus from us at The Whole Journey. More on this below.
I’ve recommended IIN’s distance program to hundreds and hundreds of people who have now graduated, and all loved the program.
Click here to learn more about IIN or to sample their classes for free (one of the best ways to know if you like the program!)
In our webinar with IIN, you will learn:
- Key foundations to understanding our bodies, what keeps us in balance, and how to go beyond food and the physical
- How to maintain health as a core value as life changes
- Program and curriculum so you can understand exactly what the program offers and what you can do with this education in terms of a career path (or just keeping your family healthy)
- Christa's educational and career building story
To sample a free nutrition class, please click here.
Whole Journey Bonus: By enrolling in IIN with Christa's referral, you will receive special tuition savings.
Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN)
The FDN Certification Course is another online course that gets incredibly clinical about finding the root cause of health issues using top-quality lab work. Click here to get $500 off enrollment for being part of The Whole Journey community.
They train you to become a “health detective,” focusing intently on the many facets of digestive health. This includes identifying leaky gut or dysbiosis and pathogens (bad bacteria/parasites/yeast/mold), while also training you to identify liver and kidney issues, and all manner of hormonal imbalances including sex and stress hormones.
FDN can help you understand how to use and customize intelligent supplement protocols, while teaching you which labs to use/run to help clients heal from the root cause. There is significant support on how to interpret lab results and client cases, assisting you to create the correct protocols to build health from the ground up.
FDN provides you with a step-by-step method to engage your clients and patients in the healing process so that the clients get the results they want. By gaining a complete understanding, you will be able to treat the client's root cause versus just treating from testing results.
This is an excellent program for the science-minded individual who wants to end the cycle of trial and error and get to the root cause of health issues. It is also for those who want to get lab and supplement accounts for your practice along with the training on how to use them intelligently.
Click here to learn more about the full FDN program.
In our webinar with Reed Davis, you will learn:
- How to end the Cycle of Trial and Error for you and your clients
- How General Principles of Health outperform specific treatments
- Which labs identify “healing opportunities” for you & your clients
- How you can apply this to “master metabolic chaos”
- Important discount code revealed at the end of the webinar!
For details on the full FDN Certification program, click here. To discuss the FDN Certification Course with a Course Counselor, click here for an appointment.
Functional Nutrition Lab
Functional Nutrition Lab differs from other functional medicine and nutrition training because Andrea Nakayama (their founder and amazing functional nutritionist) provides a forum where anatomy and physiology are looked at through the lens of food and nutrition.
Andrea translates the theoretical into the practical. This includes stories, case studies, and done-for-you protocols that apply to specific conditions, which help you to become an effective, efficient practitioner very quickly. I affectionately refer to her as the “Dr. House” of nutrition.
This health coach training gives you a deeper understanding of nutrition, so you can effect greater change for your clients while watching your by-referral only business grow because of having a higher rate of success with those clients.
The fastest way to build a successful health coach or nutrition practice is to care about people 100% of the time and to be both intuitive and knowledgeable enough to help people get and stay well fast. If you're finding that you hit a wall with clients because you're not able to get to the root of the issues that trouble them, this is a great pathway to finding appropriate ways to truly support their healing. I'd recommend Functional Nutrition Lab once you've been through IIN and FDN (or equivalent) and have had at least one year experience with at least 40 clients.
Click here for more details on this program.
In our webinar with Andrea, you will learn:
- From quick fix to root cause solution
- How to crack the toughest cases using Andrea's functional framework of “The Story, The Soup, and the Skill”
- The critical pieces to understand about physiology and systems biology, and the difference it can make in your practice
- How to identify when your client's dysfunction started
- How to develop unshakable confidence
For more details on the program or to enroll, click here.
Are You Excited To Become A Health Coach?
I cannot encourage you highly enough to take the plunge and make a career out of this noble and rewarding work. By becoming a health coach, you will become part of the change of going from “sick care” to “health care” and from disease to vitality. This is an amazing legacy to leave.
Because we want to support you in your journey, if you are considering enrolling in any of the above health coach training programs, enter your name and email below and we will offer you a special incentive from each school and/or from The Whole Journey.
Why We Promote These 3 Health Coach Training Programs
There are many excellent health coach training programs available today. This blog originally launched with eight programs (as you will see in the comments below).
We took it down to the ones recommended here because I have a close personal relationship with each of these schools and their founders and a deep understanding of what they offer. I am in complete alignment with their food, nutrition, and practice philosophies and trust the integrity and value of their curriculum.
Many of our former clients and those in our TWJ community have gone through these health coach and nutrition training programs with tremendous success.
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Howard Thurman
We are publishing a book, “Your Life Your Choice Let the Healing Begin” where Kelly Lang’s health journey is told, 7 years span of seeking help for low back pain and gut issues while working w/alternative all-natural Dr.s, etc and then doing the “GTin5” program, ultimately Kelly working privately w/Dr Jack Tips who helped her detox fully and heal from pancreatic cancer. It’s a miracle! Kelly’s my miracle! Dr. Jack’s miracle too!
Thanks for your “GTin5” program. It aided in saving one of our lives, and made us both care better for our bodies! And to think, YOU ALL there made this all possible! Kudos and much, much love and thanks.
Amy (mom) Lang & Kelly (daughter) Lang
Hi Amy and kelly – thanks so much for sharing this with us. We are so happy you’ve reclaimed your health and life back:)
Hi. I am trying to decide between FDN and FNP. I don’t have much money, and I want to do a program where diagnostic testing is included (my mother has cancer and we need this for her as we try to avoid over-exposure to scans, so I realize its importance alongside learning about the body and nutrition). I was wondering if you could provide more information for this statement “ I’d recommend Functional Nutrition Lab once you’ve been through IIN and FDN (or equivalent) and have had at least one year experience with at least 40 clients.” Can you give the “why” behind the statement? Is the FNL too in-depth for beginners? I have a degree in biomedical and electrical engineering and am a fast learner so I think I could go deep pretty quickly – I was just trying to understand why you made that suggestion for the courses and order. If someone had no plans to do IIN, would your recommendation still be the same? Thank you in advance for any thoughts and guidance you can provide.
Hi Jennifer! Please write into the clinical team at [email protected] so they can assist you 🙂
Wondering if you run an affiliate programme as I have clients who I can recommend to a programme such as Gut Thrive on a regular basis.
Please email us – [email protected]
I was wondering if you might recommend the Mind Body Green functional nutrition program? I am debating between that one and IIN and was drawn to IIN for a number of reasons but felt as though the MBG curriculum might be more detail oriented? Thank you!
HI Kaya, -We’ve got some NEW things in store for practitioners coming your way very soon. Please email us and we can support you further – [email protected]
I came here looking for advice on the same question! I’m trying to compare IIN’s program vs. MBG’s program, honestly I love both!
Hi! Im wondering which program you guys decided on. Are you happy with it? I am now weighing all my options and would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!!
Did anyone do the mindbodygreen as mentioned in prior posts. How was it
I was wondering the same!
So glad I stumbled upon this! I was looking at the IIN program and FNL programs but wasn’t sure how well respected they were or if the board certifications really mean anything (as I’ve seen some stuff online saying the AADP accreditation doesn’t mean much). This breakdown of how each program differs is very helpful as well. My friends all call me Dr. Amanda because I’m a bit of a “health detective” and the FDN program sounds right up my alley!
We’re so glad this helped!
Hi Amanda, I have been wondering the same as your question. I have started to do the research to figure it out. What did you come up with?
Do you know if these programs are also usable in other countries? I am a social worker living in the Netherlands but my home country is Canada. I am looking for a way to do holistic health coaching online so that I can travel back and forth from the NL and Canada regularly (once things have changed with the pandemic globally, fingers crossed). I am curious if they are meant to be used culturally within American culture or if it works with other cultures as well….
Hi Anna! Yes, these programs welcome students from other countries and have many international participants. I would encourage you to reach out the program your interested in and they can give you specific insights and information. 🙂
I am 67 years old and a social worker. I would love to learn about functional nutrition, however I am concerned without a license in nutrition or dietetics, that I will not be allowed to practice nutritional medicine. How then can I make use of a functional nutrition program in a way that creates an income?
Hi Steven – Every state has different rules, regulations, and requirements. We’d suggest picking a school first and then diving into this part of it all. There are certificated you can get that allow you to be a health coach vs. functional medicine practitioner. Becoming certified in functional medicine would take more testing and possibly more school (depending upon which school you chose).
very nice and informative blog really apreciating for stress relief just visit on stress relief therapy gurgaon
Hi Jackie,
I too am looking into enrolling in the ITN program, but am finding trouble gaining unbiased reviews. Could you provide your feedback on this program vs HCI? Thank you!
Hello,
I came across your question in reference to ITN as I was also researching the best school for me. I was wondering if you started at ITN or found any unbiased reviews. Thank you
Do any of these programs offer a certification in Functional Medicine?
Hi, I am interested,
Thank you
Simone Myles Young
Hello. I am trying to discern my next steps in my career path and want to choose a program that best fits me. Does Christa recommend the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy? Why did she choose these three programs over it?
What nutrition holistic nutrition health coach program school in NYC dontou recommend
Hi! I completed Christa’s 12 week GT5 program several months ago and I’m looking at IIN and NTA for schools. I live in So Cal and it looks like only RDs registered dietitians are certified practitioners. What can we label ourselves as once we graduate?
Hi, I am looking to become a functional nutritionist and have been considering Nutritional Therapy Institute (NTI), has anyone had any experience with them? Thank you!
I am interested in all of your nutrition programs
Thanks Jennifer! If you need assistance choosing the best program for your needs please contact our support team at [email protected]. Hope to hear from you soon.
Interested in becoming a certified health coach. Currently RN BSN
Best of luck to you, Ashley!
Hi there,
I am starting to rethink my career path and while I cannot afford to get another 4 year degree, I feel this could be a good path. What do you know about the industry and job market? Is it feasible to work for other holistic doctors/health coaches? Or is this more of a practice you have to start from scratch?
Thanks!
Hi Krisan! Christa chose to open her own practice. After several years, that evolved into her online gut healing programs. There are many paths to take in this industry and you will likely find success working for yourself or under someone else. If you are looking for hard data and statistics you might try asking the schools you are researching to provide that. Best of luck to you!
Can you tell me anything about Institute of Transformational Nutrition? They aren’t one of your top 3. Are they good?
I’m a new Registered Dietitian and have a masters degree in nutrition and exercise physiology. I’m currently practicing at a local hospital as a clinical dietitian and outpatient dietitian. However, my passion is functional or holistic nutrition. Any direction for someone such as myself who already has so much education completed? It would be my dream to work with someone like Christa and doing this important work of alternate healing through nutrition.
Hi Christina, We recommend contacting each of the schools in this blog to find out which program will best compliment the education you already have. As you know, functional medicine and holistic nutrition approach individual health needs differently so you will learn new ways to prevent and treat disease. Best of luck to you!
Why isn’t ITN one of your top schools? I’m considering them as the program seems more holistic that the others.
Thank you for the article.
I’d loozing into programs at either IIN for health coaching or the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner program from Nutritional Therapy Association.
What is the difference between a health coach and a nutritional therapy practitioner?
Hi Cindy, Here is a link to a blog that does a great job explaining the differences http://autoimmunewellness.com/nutritional-therapy-association-vs-the-institute-for-integrative-nutrition/. Good luck on your journey!
do you suggest all these schools or picking 1 or 2? which should be attended first?
Hi Chris! While still in private practice, Christa preferred the nutritionists she hired to have both clinical and holistic training before joining her team. She always recommended they attend both The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and The Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) program. Had she known about Holistic Nutrition Labs (HNL) back then, she would also have put her nutritionists through this program after they had one year of practice under their belt. The one you attend first really depends on your personal schedule and goals. After watching the videos and reaching out to the schools with your questions you’ll have a solid idea how to move forward. Best of luck to you!
I tried to sign up for the nutrition kit, but it wasn’t recognizing my email address
Hi Laurissa, Our technical team is working on that link error. I went ahead and signed you up for the Welcome Kit. If you don’t get an email within the hour, check your spam folder. If it’s not there, please email [email protected] and we’ll make sure you’re all set. If you use gmail, make sure to drag my email over to your primary inbox from the promotions folder. Thank you!
I can’t sign up for the Whole Journey Info Kit either so this has not been fixed yet. Same as the other people have said, my email is not valid, AND IT IS! It’s not us.
I just tried to sign up for the ‘free kit’ and a notice popped up saying my email was not valid….and it is! Not sure what’s going on but I’ve gotten info from this site many times.
Hi Foye, I’m sorry you had a problem trying to sign up for your free Whole Journey welcome kit. I entered your email address and you are good to go! You should now see an email from Christa in your inbox. Thank you for being a part of our tribe! ~Stacey, TWJ Team Member
What are your thought on Maryland University of Integrative Health? It is in my area and I am considering it so I can have on campus experience. They work with IIN as well.
Hi Erica, These are the programs we are most intimately familiar with and that’s why Christa recommends them. I’m sure there are many other great programs out there, we just aren’t as knowlegable about them. Best of luck to you!
Hey Erica,
I completed the masters in nutrition program at MUIH and really enjoyed it! Having said that, I also have done IIN and FDN. Each school will teach you different things, but MUIH will give you an actual degree! 🙂
HI Brooke, Do you mind me asking if MUIH masters degree allowed you to sit for the state boards to become a CNS?
Interested in getting certified. I am an RN BSN.
Hi Liz, Sorry for the delay. We’ve updated this blog post and it now includes videos for our free Health Coach webinar series to help you decide which program is best for you. Scroll back up to the the blog and enter your name and email address to access the videos now. Good luck!
Can you also send the links to me please.. [email protected]
Thanks!!
Hi Alishia, We’ve updated this blog post and it now includes videos for our free Health Coach webinar series to help you decide which program is best for you. Scroll back up to the the blog and enter your name and email address to access the videos now.~Stacey, TWJ Team Member
I am debating the same thing! What did you conclude?
Can I get an update on your schooling?
This is such a fantastic list, I want to attend them all! I have no college education so is there a particular place that would count as college credits should I desire to continue onto get a college education? Also are any of these places you can attend in person instead of online? I’m near NY and have considered INN but I would love to be in an actual class setting.
Thanks again for a great list!
Hi All, I am reading all your posts with great interest. I am looking into institutions myself to study Holistic Nutrition. My goal would be to be able to advise private people and/or creating a product/ service to help people eat healthy with variety adapted to their specific health situation so that they will have energy, be happy and prevent illnesses. I really like the programme of Baumann but I prefer a master since I live overseas and think a master will help to get local approval. Furthermore I like a programme that also includes emotional aspects and focuses on whole foods rather than too much on supplements. Oh, and it needs to be online…
Can anyone recommend a online master programme?
Thank you!
Thanks for the posting top 8 clinical and holistic nutrition training programs. I learned so much about nutrition and I really appreciate all the great things that you are doing. For more information about healing institutes .
Hi, I’m debating between IIN and Institute for Transformational Nutrition. IIN seems to have more reputable faculty, but I’m unclear of they are accredited? I am also looking for a program that focuses a good deal on teh psychological and spiritual aspects of health as well since my passion is woking with people dealing with anxiety, depression and other mood disorders. I have my BA in psych and am a certified yoga teacher, I’m looking to add nutrition and coaching to these. I’m fascinated with the way diet affect mood and am looking for a program that addresses this in detail. A program that also has a good business module is very important to me as well. Any ideas as to which program you would suggest?
Were you able to find any good programs ? Did you ever enroll, if so how are you liking it? I also have a BA in Psychology
Hello Jackie. I too am considering both ITN and IIN. I am curious why you wish you had gone with IIN. There are SO many positive comments from those who have attended IIN, but I haven’t seen many reviews for ITN. Your posts were a few months back, so I’m hoping you see this one. Thanks for any information you can share!
Thanks for your listing of the 8 clinical and holistic training programs, very useful for a neophyte like me! I am 57 years old and considering a carrier change to become a health coach. My question is; can i follow at the same time 2 training programs such as for example the Holistic MBA and FDN? Is it feasible or will it be too much for someone new to this field?
Hi! I am very interested in making this my career yet have no college education. Could you let me know where I would/should begin? Do I need a BS or BA for these programs/schools? Thank you!
Hi everyone! What a great place I found for all of this helpful information! It is very overwhelming because there are so many options and it’s hard to know what is best, most credible, affordable, feasible, etc. I would love to know the paths you have taken if nutrition was your second career. I am a 35 year old middle school science teacher, but holistic nutrition is my real passion. I’m trying to figure out how to pursue my passion, where do I begin???? Any advice is welcome! Thank you 🙂
Hello everyone,
I am a middle age woman who wish someone would have steered me earlier on to pursue nutrition. I have a BS in chemistry and several years working in a lab. My real nutrition experience has been in the kitchen. Having been a stay at home mom has allowed me to focus on cooking but now that I am a single mom I need to make a living at what I love. I love to cook and I love science. Trying to bridge over into medicine be it through nursing school, phlebotomy or as a CNA has not panned out really well. I think it would be worthwhile if I became a certified holistic chef. So, does anyone have any idea how to become one? Second, I am a nerd when it comes to the science of why green tea is so good for you, etc…I like the science of it, I think it would be good for me to pursue a masters online, but with the end goal of having my own business or finding a job in nutrition. I am in North Carolina and my only option is UNC which has a masters level in public health and a dietetic training. With my past grades in college being so low, I am afraid I won’t have a chance of getting in. That’s life. I am considering U. of Bridgport? I hear great things about IIN but I am leary of institutions that spend so much time selling their brand….By the way, I am currently doing my health coaching with MAYO CLINIC and I highly recommend them..Since I have not launched anything regarding coaching,in fitness or in nutrition, I am not sure how I will use this platform to help me with my line of thinking, certified Chef with a kitchen or restaurant where I will be teaching cooking classes or selling tasty treats?
Can anyone share the cost of the ITN program? Thanks!!
thanks for this article! It would be helpful to have a comparison chart somewhere with how the programs compare/differ especially the length of the programs and any prereqs needed.
Christa, have you heard anything about Bauman College? This is the program that Diane From Balanced Bites did. I have an RN, BS degree but due to fatigue from autoimmune disease, I had to quit those long shifts and give all my effort to taking care of my young family. I’ve been using food to heal and it is my new passion. Thanks in advance for your help!
My story is similar. In fact, half of is eight kids, now near your age, have auto immune problems. I am near graduation as a Dietetic Technician, but plan to use that as a foundation in Medical Nutition Therapy, or healing with food. My focus has been Holistic Health, but no accredited schools nearby.
I do think more nutrition therapy will be used in the future; it makes sense in so many ways.
Now, to determine my next steps!
I am with Corinne. I do meal prep for the elderly already, but need credentials to justify a wage increase.
Hi, I’m strongly considering Bauman college. Did you manage to gather enough information about it? Can you please share what you know.
Thanks!
Hi, I’m strongly considering Bauman college. Did you manage to gather enough information about it? Can you please share what you know.
Thanks!
I too would like feedback about NTA’s program. I am a WAPF member as well and learned about them at a conference a couple yrs ago
Lynette, my daughter and I completed NTA’s NTP program and we loved It! It is very rooted in WAPF, traditional foods, bio individuality. The founder, Gray Davis, is a wonderful man and he did a great job on the program.
Hi, I was enrolled in the NTP program, but dropped out due to what I considered ethical violations by the founder Gray Graham. He is not transparent about it, but he owns a supplement company called Biotics Research NW. NTP students are required to buy a testing kit from Biotics Research that has no scientific validity or reliability. While claiming their program promotes real food, they push supplements at every opportunity. And guess who they want you to buy them from…yep, Biotics Research.
Lauren, thank you for this disclosure. I am presently reviewing candidates and this program was on my list. If I may, where did you end up attending?
Thanks so much for this list! I am an RN currently, but became interested in helping people through nutrition. I am in the IIN program and also just started Holistic MBA. I am curious what Clinical Nutrition program you took in San Diego?Looking forward to hearing more about the program you are developing, too! After I finish the current programs I’m in I will be looking into further nutrition certification.
Hi Jessica, how do you like the Holistic MBA training? Are you doing the Core Training? I’m enrolled in ITN right now and I’m thinking of doing HMBA’s Core Training. I sort of wish I had enrolled in IIN instead of ITN…. oh well……
Jackie, why do you wish that you had done IIN instead of ITN?
Emily, it’s too much to write about here, but I’d be happy to share with you if you give me your email address.
Hi Jackie. I’m currently debating between the HCI and ITN program. I can only afford 1 program and want to choose the program that best covers the nutrition, coaching, and business portions. Can you email me with your opinion/experience with ITN? From my research they seem to cover everything I’m looking for in a program. Researching schools can be so consfusing and overwhelming. Plus, I’d like to know your choice on best overall school? Thanks in advance!! My email address is: [email protected]
Jackie, I’d like to know why as well. I’ve been looking at both programs. You can email at qtchckagrl08(at)sbcglobal(dot)net. Thanks!
Hi Jackie! Was just looking back to see if Christa had ever replied back…Oh well.
But, sorry I didn’t respond before to your comment. I’m in Core right now at HMBA and LOVE it. I’m still in IIN and I think taking them both at the same time is great because I’m getting more of the business side and HMBA really helps give you structure to your practice. I’m taking their Transformational Coaching Method program in Feb, too. I’m curious to know what you think about ITN, also and why you wish you would have done IIN instead.
Hi Jackie, do you mind sharing with me as well? I have been looking into ITN and would like to know what your thoughts are. Even though I have heard good things about IIN, for some reason I feel like it’s not for me. [email protected]
Hi Jackie, I’m am also debating between ITN and IIN and would love to hear about your experience. Please share at [email protected]
I would also like to know as I have been considering IIN and ITN, but just can’t get all the info I need. It would be helpful to have your insight? please email me [email protected]
Hi my name is Melissa also, and saw your comment on Christa Orechios feed. I too am looking into ITN but have something holding me back..and even though IIN has a huge reputation as being an excellent school, i am still not sold on that either, so I am kinda frustrated. I went to Natural Healing Institute in San Diego and am a Certified Nutritionist Consultant, I still feel I need more. I was wondering if Jackie had gotten back to you about her experience with ITN? Thank you for any info you can provide.
Melissa, would you be willing to speak with me or email me regarding NHI In San Diego? Would very much appreciate it!
I’m in my second week at ITN, Jackie, and having a few misgivings. Can you share your take on it with me? [email protected]
Hey, Jackie! I see many have messaged you wondering about your regrets with ITN. I have been researching that program and your comment popped up. Would you be willing to e-mail me your thoughts? [email protected]
Hi – I’d like to know what you think too as I’m torn between IIN & ITN – [email protected]
I just started ITN after comparing around 60 schools (and even trying some). ITN and IIN are very similar in their approach (very complete, using a lively and turnkey multimedia online program including psychology, spiritual, coaching and business) but it seems to me, ITN is a bit deeper on the science side and the one thing which confirmed this is that ITN is accredited by NANP, which for me is important to become Board certified. NANP seems serious and not many schools are accredited. So far I enjoy the program a lot and love the energy of the course and fellow students
Hi Andrea, I find myself in the same comparison (IIN vs ITN) and read that you started ITN in 2016. I am curious if you’d be able to email me some of your insights on the program. You can reach me at [email protected] I look forward to hearing from you! Thanks!
Hi Daria
I know this is quite a few months later, but currently looking at attending ITN. What was your experience with them? Did they provide all that they say they provide?Thanks so much. You can email me at [email protected]
Hi I am looking in to ITN. I was wondering if you could tell me more about how you are liking the program? I would love to hear of your experience. You can email me at [email protected]
Hi Daria! I’d love to get your opinion on ITN since I am debating between that program and IIN. Would you be willing to share your experience and thoughts? My email is [email protected] – thank you!!
Hi Jackie – I know it’s been some time but if you could share/forward your experience, I’d be so grateful! Like many others here, I am also debating between ITN and IIN. My email is [email protected] – thank you!!
Wow, I didn’t realize that so many people wanted to know about ITN vs. IIN. My apologies for not having responded earlier – I think I responded to some but not to all. Well, I am almost done with Health Coach Institute’s (under the umbrella of Holistic MBA) health coaching program, and after having done ITN, I have to say there was absolutely no comparison, hands down. I don’t really want to post my opinion about ITN here, because it’s not very good. But let me say that HCI’s Become a Health Coach program is amazing. It’s not clinical; rather, it teaches how to coach people in reaching their health goals. It also taught business skills. And there were weekly practices, which was absolutely invaluable. I also went through the FDN course at the same time, which was awesome. FDN is more on the clinical side, as they teach functional lab testing. I think this is a great combo – HCI teaches “compliance” – their philosophy is that change is 20% information and 80% transformation – that many people know what to do but just don’t do it. They teach how to help people change their habits. The teachers of this program are both IIN grads. Anyway, I highly recommend this health coaching program. I read Jessica’s post below, and it looks like she really liked HMBA’s other program. All of their programs are excellent.
Hey Jackie, could you privately email our team your opinion/experience of ITN at [email protected]? We like to keep up with all the programs. 🙂
Hi Jackie! Was just looking back to see if Christa had ever replied back…Oh well.
But, sorry I didn’t respond before to your comment. I’m in Core right now at HMBA and LOVE it. I’m still in IIN and I think taking them both at the same time is great because I’m getting more of the business side and HMBA really helps give you structure to your practice. I’m taking their Transformational Coaching Method program in Feb, too. I’m curious to know what you think about ITN, also and why you wish you would have done IIN instead.
Hi Jackie .. Also looking at ITN and would love to hear why you wish you’d chosen IIN .. thanks.. swensenu(at)gmail.com
Hi Jackie: I am also leaning toward ITN instead of IIN. Can you share with me why you wish you went with IIN? Thanks so much. [email protected].
Hi Jackie, I’ve been doing some research and looking into enrolling in ITN or IIN. Can you please give me some feedback on ITN. Would be much appreciated! [email protected]
Hi Jackie! Can you please let me know why you wish you would have chose IIN instead of ITN? [email protected]
Hi Jackie
Can you share why you wish you had done IIN instead of ITN? What are you misgivings? Thank you
[email protected]
Jackie- I am also trying to decide between IIN and ITN. Can you please share your thoughts and misgivings regarding ITN with me? [email protected]
Thank you so much!
HI Jackie, would you share your ITN experience with me. My email is [email protected].
Hi Jackie. I’m currently debating between the HCI and ITN program. I can only afford 1 program and want to choose the program that best covers the nutrition, coaching, and business portions. Can you email me with your reasons for not liking ITN? From my research they seem to cover everything I’m looking for in a program. Researching schools can be so consfusing and overwhelming. Plus, I’d like to know your choice on best overall school? Thanks in advance!! My email address is: [email protected]
Hi Jackie,
Not to sound like a broken record, would you mind emailing me your personal opinion on ITN as it is an expensive program. I’ve searched for reviews and this is the only somewhat critical review I’ve encountered. I read that you have liked the business aspect and learnings how to coach from HCI’s programs and that isn’t clinical. After speaking with ITN’s they’ve advised they are clinical and do teach how to coach. I’m not concerned with the business aspect because my background is in Marketing. Any insight to your experience and their program would be great. If you’ve read this far, thanks again, I know your time is precious and this is a HUGE favor! My email is [email protected]
I am currently debating between the NTP program and the ITN program. Could you please send me your opinion? I would appreciate it so much!
Hi Jackie! Please share your opinion on ITN. I am also considering the program and dont see any critical reviews… it would be soooo necessary for me to learn more about it. On the website it seems so polished. [email protected]
I would love the same info please! Looking into both programs as well. mismol2 at me dot com
Hi,
I would love to know more about the program in San Diego as well. I have heard that IIN is not accredited and therefore may not be a viable choice. What fo you all think?
Hi Jessica – came across your comment here and wanted to see if you’d be willing to fill me in on your experiences with IIN and Holisitc MBA. I’m currently looking into both programs! Would appreciate it 🙂 [email protected]
Hi,
Can you please share more information about the holistic MBA. I was considering IIN and Bauman College (seems the most extensive so this is my strongest option) until I saw these posts. I’d love to hear more about the holistic MBA.
Thanks!
Hi Christa, thank you so much for the info! That’s what I was looking for and I’m going to look into those programs 🙂
I’m trying to find out more about the CCN certification. I already have my bachelors in exercise and wellness so I just need to take a few nutrition core requirements. I’m worried about the PGSCN course work and am nervous I won’t learn that much. I have talked to the CNCB board on the phone and they don’t really expand upon how the material is delivered or if there are lectures, books involved. Do you feel like the program will prepare me well to be a certified clinical nutritionist or should I go to a vocational school first and maybe get certified later on. Any advice would be great! I have been searching for a couple months for the right program for me.
I would like to know as well. Did you find out what route to take to get ccn certified? Thanks.
Hello!
I too would like to complete my bachelor’s in psychology but right now these programs are the best option for me. My main goal is to give holistic nutrition advice to special needs children and their families. A lot of these children have underlying health concerns as well. However, I am terrified of math and science. Would the IIN be the best option for me?
Thank you very much for this list! Just what I needed. I have been considering IIN for some time. However, I do want to follow up with a Bachelor’s Degree. Can anyone recommend a Bachelor’s Degree Program?
I found the most thorough and in depth health coaching program at the Institute for Nutritional Endocrinology (INE). There’s nothing like that out there. I’m so glad to be part of this program to learn all about nutrition and hormone health. It’s a no-nonsense approach.
How much is the 2 year program an INE?
Hi, Norma, If you would like to learn more, you can apply at http://www.NEPTApply.com
I’m currently in the Institute for Nutritional Endocrinology program. I also am a 2010 graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. The education I am receiving here is expanding my parameters, which will have a ripple effect with the quality of care and information I will be offering those I work with. I am seeing that it all starts with knowing what questions to ask and which assessments to offer, which then allows me to guide them as we look at the necessary protocols to help them balance their health. At the end of two years, I will know about hormones, but I will have also done intense and deep study of each of the body systems, and the many ways to bring them into balance, which will include nutrition, herbs, traditional Chinese medicine, nutrigenomics, and other healing modalities. The result of all this hard work is Certification as a Functional Endocrinology Nutritionist.
<3 this! The body itself, but the endocrine system is simply amazing!
I agree, RC! The endocrine system is the best communication system there is. If we would only listen, think how our health would be greatly increased.
Hi Christa,
Thank you so much for the info. I have never heard of most of these schools, so I look forward to looking into them. I have been doing a lot of research on Hawthorne and Bauman, and Bastyr and was wondering if you know anything about them or and if so, what the pros and cons were that you know of.
Thank you!
It great to hear all the comments! I have been doing lots of research as well to know my next step, I graduated from IIN and I have learned a lot from it, I have also taken many classes with Naturopath David Getoff at price pottenger foundation. I want to learn more about the clinical aspects of nutrition, natural remedies and supplementation so I asked Kim Schuette from biodynamic wellness recently what she suggests and she said she would suggest Hawthorn University’s online program geared to the principles of WAPF and the NTP program is also a nice option.
This is great! Thanks for this list and for sharing your personal experiences. What do you think of Andrea Nakayama’s program? I’ve been really interested in her digestive intensive & full body systems classes.
Christa …. I to would love to know what you think about the Natural Healing Institute in Encinitas. Thanks
Thank you very much for this valuable information Christa! I’m just about finished my holistic nutrition program and hope to create a second career for myself in the field after 20 years as a school teacher observing how food affects our children. I’m interested in the ideas of clinical nutrition, but am unsure of whether or not that type of practice is permissible in Canada. Nutrition practice here is very restricted unfortunately. Thanks again- I learn so much from you and appreciate you and your work a great deal.
I graduated from IIN in 2007 and loved the program too! A functional nutrition program I came across is called Holistic Nutrition Labs taught by Andrea Nakayama and her team. She is fantastic and I highly recommend the program for any health coach. I signed up for it last year and got this year for free! It is filled with so much information that going over it again on the live calls really helps cement the info (all course material is available to download for future review, including transcripts of the audio classes). There are no certificates offered upon completion but it’s still worth every penny!!!
Thanks for these recommendations here too. I’ve heard lots of great things about Holistic MBA, I will have to check it out!
Saybrook University (based out of San Francisco but also offeri distance based programming) is launching a Masters in Functional Nutrition starting January 2015
Hi Christa. Can you comment on Natural Healing Institute in Encinitas and Bastry University Masters in Wellness Nutrition program?
Thank you so much for this list. I am also loving my Nutritional Therapy Counselor program through the Nutritional Therapy Association out of Washington state. Their programs are rooted in the discoveries of Weston A. Price, Francis Pottenger and the traditional food wisdom which has been recently popularized by Sally Fallon.
To those looking for a Masters program…take a look at the University of Western States program in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine. It is an online program that I have been considering.
Hi, does anyone have experience or information to share on the Kalish Method or the program offered by Reed Davis? Both are functional programs (online)? I’d also love any feedback or information on NTC, which allows you to sit for the NANP boards. So many “programs” and certs and state laws to be aware of, it gets confusing quickly. Christa thanks so much for continuing to help us grow, provide leadership and drive advocacy. You rock!
Thank you so much for this list. It is just what I have been looking for! I am currently a RN and am looking to find further training in holistic nutrition. I really appreciate all the great things you are doing Christa, such an inspiration.
I graduated from University of Bridgeport’s M.S. in Human Nutrition. They have both an on campus and online program and what I liked about it was it was from an accredited University and the program had a strong science base with an integrative and holistic approach. It heavily promoted the concept of bio-individuality and I would recommend adding it to your list!
Hi Deanna! Dietetics – awesome, you are halfway there! FDN or CCN would be a good choice (you won’t have to do prereqs for the CCN) but I don’t know of any master’s programs in functional medicine – not to say there aren’t any. I just haven’t researched that.
Hi Jamie and Kris. Jamie I don’t anything about that program but please share here if you find out some good stuff. Kris, so happy that IIN was such a positive experience for you. I feel I owe them so much. They are awesome. Glad TWJ is helpful learning for your practice. 🙂
Thanks for your comment, Jolene. Keep learning. 🙂 Psychology and social work on commendable fields! Adding nutrition it to that would really be helpful as our eating habits dramatically effect our mood and behavior.
Hi Shelley! Love your education and profession as we all need to learn how to implement what we learn in the kitchen. Thank you for the IFM update. It sounds like FDN might be a good fit for you if you want a certification to add. Keep up the great work!
Thank you! Having been a dietetics mAjor I was thinking about getting my masters I’m nutrition but really love the functional approach so your review of these has been great! Any good functional medicine schools that do offer masters? And online as I have three kids and am a teacher. Huntington health sciences colleges looks like they offer a more holistic nutrition masters.
Thanks for posting this! Having just graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I can’t speak highly enough of that program. I learned so much about nutrition, and got way more training about business and marketing than I ever expected. My health coaching business is off to a good start! And thank you Christa for your contribution to that – I learn so much from you!
Thank you for this list. What about the Nutritional Therapy Association’s Nutritional Therapy Practionioner program?
I have a BA degree in psychology and a masters degree in social work. I am also license in social work practice. I would love to learn every
Thing about helping clients clinically. Nutritionally and spiritually while also
Leaning for me. I can’t think of a more positive way to make. Living. I’d be interested in all courses and licensure/certification. Thanks
I am a Certified Natural Foods Chef and have been working in that capacity in my own business for 5 years teaching healthy cooking classes, doing patient education for doctor’s and also working with corporate wellness programs. To offer a larger umbrella of services, I joined IIN’s Heatlh Coach training program in January and am really enjoying it. I finish in December 2014. Through my journey, I have discovered that I would like to get more clinical, root cause analysis training though, so I started searching around for additional programs and found Institute for Functional Medicine. To add to your blog information about their program, I wanted to let everyone know that to become ‘CERTIFIED’ in their program, you have to already be a LICENSED practitioner in some form of alternative care. Unfortunately, given my background, I did not qualify to become CERTIFIED. However, the good news is that even if you are not a licensed practitioner, you can still take all of their courses and learn the material. You just can’t become CERTIFIED.
And now there is a coaching program affiliated with IFM: Functional Medicine Coaching Academy. It’s a year-long program, all online.