Back to School: 10 Things You May Not Know About NTI

Welcome to Part 3 of our 4-part Back to School series! In this blog post, we will share some fun NTI facts with our prospective students, current students, and graduates. Read below to learn 10 things you may not know about NTI. Some well-known, and some not-so-well-known tidbits!

1. Nutrition Therapy Institute (NTI) was founded in 1999

This makes NTI one of the oldest holistic nutrition schools in the country!

2. There are 2 programs offered at NTI: the Nutrition Therapist Master Certification (NTMC) and the Natural Food Chef (NFC) program

The NTMC program can be completed in 18 months and is always open for enrollment. The NFC program is offered each fall and spring, and runs for 15 weeks.

3. NTI is located in “Nourish House” – a historic building in Olde Town Arvada, Colorado

The building was constructed in 1893 and was the home of Arvada’s first mayor starting in 1904. NTI moved to this location in the summer of 2020 because we desired to host both of our programs under one roof – we have a classroom for the Nutrition Therapist Master holistic nutrition courses, and a teaching kitchen for the Natural Food Chef program. We lovingly refer to our building as Nourish House – seems like the perfect name to represent our mission!

4. NTI is the ONLY holistic nutrition school in the US still offering in-person classroom classes

We offer both in-person and online courses. Although the Nutrition Therapist Master Certification can be completed 100% online, some students choose a hybrid option – certain holistic nutrition courses in the classroom, and others online. This is a fantastic option for those who learn best in a live setting! The Natural Food Chef program is available only in-person in Arvada, CO.

5. Students in the Natural Food Chef program enjoy 2 nutrient-dense meals every day!

This may be one of the best perks of being a Natural Food Chef (NFC) student – you eat like (holistically-minded) kings! The NFC students learn to prepare and present food in a way that optimizes its nutritional value – enjoy meals adapted to accommodate any dietary restriction including gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, paleo, vegan, sugar-free, allergen-free, and so much more…

6. Our Director Dianne Koehler has been an instructor at NTI for over 10 years

If you’re lucky enough to take a classroom course, we highly recommend Dianne’s course Nutrients: The Building Blocks. She is a student favorite! Dianne is known for her animated hand motions and booming voice – sometimes she just can’t contain her deep passion for holistic nutrition…

7. There is a spaceship in our basement

We’re not kidding – NTI’s CFO and co-owner (and Dianne’s husband) Chris Koehler is the Director for the Colorado Space Grant Consortium and a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. During pandemic days of virtual learning, Chris decided to spice up his classes and teach from a make-shift spaceship that includes 300 LED lights, 5 computers, 3 monitors, 4 GoPros, a “turbo lift”, 3 magic windows and “replicator”, and 1 disco ball (ok ok, it’s not a real spaceship…).

8. The entire office staff are NTI graduates!

Our staff members loved their experience as NTI students. As employees, they are committed to supporting NTI’s mission in becoming the choice for nutrition education. No matter who you speak to in the office – one of the Ambers (we have 2!), Karen, or Daina – all of us are proud graduates of NTI!

9. A bell rings every time a new student is accepted

Oh yes, we ring a bell anytime a new student is accepted into one of our programs at NTI. We truly value each and every NTI student: our team knows every student by name and we celebrate their progress as they come closer to graduating as Nutrition Therapist Masters or Natural Food Chefs.

10. Our graduates have one of the highest pass rates when becoming Board-Certified in Holistic Nutrition (BCHN)

Graduates of schools whose programs meet the National Association of Nutrition Professionals’ (NANP) high academic standards are qualified to take the BCHN exam. Although not required to practice nutrition therapy, this exam demonstrates that you have achieved the highest level of professional recognition and validation of your knowledge and experience in the holistic nutrition industry. NTI grads have one of the highest pass rates at 91%!

Are you interested in becoming a Nutrition Therapist Master or Natural Food Chef? We would love to hear from you! Contact our Admissions team at

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or give us a call (303-284-8361). We invite you to sign up for a Free Informational Webinar that will cover details on becoming a student at Nutrition Therapy Institute, launching your career as a Nutrition Therapist or Natural Food Chef, and allowing you to connect with prospective students from all across the country!

More from our back-to-school series:

How NTI is Helping Me Shift Careers

Tips for Effective Studying

Special Discounts for NTI Students

About the author: Daina Rasutis is a graduate of the Nutrition Therapist Master program from NTI, the leader in nutrition training. Her background in Environmental Engineering has allowed her to combine the best of science with a love for nutrition, the environment & delicious food. Follow Daina’s cooking creations and lifestyle tips on her website: tabletocrave.com