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The NANP posted a list of the top 15 questions to ask your prospective nutrition school. It lays the foundation for NTI to provide information about our program as answers to these questions:
1) How are the courses within the program taught? Are classes virtual, held in person in a classroom, or both?
NTI offers courses both online and in the classroom. All of our courses are available to be taken online, either as a ‘group start’ or ‘independent start’. Additionally, for those who learn better in person, many of our courses can be taken in the classroom at our physical location in Denver CO. You can even do a hybrid approach and take some classes online and others in the classroom.
2) Are the courses a self-paced style of learning, or do the courses keep to a specified schedule?
NTI offers a great variety in how students progress through our program. Our classroom courses have a set schedule and run during four 10-week terms – fall, winter, spring, and summer. Our group start online courses follow the same academic term schedule.
If you prefer to be more self-paced, you can choose the independent start online option. Here you select your own start date and work through the course material within a 10-week timeframe any time of the year. We allow a hybrid approach here as well, you can mix and match classroom, group start and independent start online courses as you see fit.
3) Is there ample interaction with other students taking the course, or are students fully independent in their coursework?
Classroom courses are held one day per week for three hours, during which, classroom discussion is encouraged.
Group start means you progress through the coursework as part of a group with designated opportunities for interaction with your classmates. This includes closed Facebook page discussions and occasional online/webinar meetings.
Independent start students work through the course material on their own with no required interaction with classmates.
4) How much access will students have to their teachers for asking questions, getting additional support, or having discussions outside the scheduled course time?
The three hours per week of class time allows for ample opportunity to interact with the instructor, and he/she is also available outside of class via email for quick questions or comments.
The designated online discussions and webinar meetings for group start courses provide the opportunity to respond to instructor requests for comment on specific topics as well as get questions answered by the instructor. He/she is also available via email for quick questions or comments.
For independent start students, interaction with the instructor is on an as-needed basis. Students are encouraged to email instructors with questions when they arise. Often times independent start students are invited to group start discussions and webinars, but they are not required to attend.
5) What is the school’s primary food philosophy? Do they teach a variety of food philosophies for a well-rounded approach?
NTI places a priority on nutrient density and biochemical individuality. We teach our students to know which foods are highly reliable sources of the essential nutrients and how those nutrients interact within the human biochemical environment. Layered on top is the recognition that certain foods may be more or less beneficial for each individual based on their unique biochemistry. The result is an ability to make adjustments in food recommendations that match a person’s particular needs and goals.
We recognize the nutritional benefits provided by all different types of foods and our curriculum encompasses a variety of views on which diet plan to follow based on one’s wellness ambitions.
We believe that learning multiple viewpoints from a scientific standpoint will allow our students to be critical thinkers and form their own opinions. And by focusing on a strong science foundation, students will graduate with the necessary tools to understand the application of many different philosophies.
6) Does the holistic nutrition program also include cooking lessons, recipe development, and basic kitchen methodology?
NTI offers professional training as a Natural Food Chef. Our NFC program is 18 weeks long and includes instruction in foundational chef skills using whole foods from the perspective of cooking for optimal wellness. You can participate in the NFC program two times per year – the fall term and the winter term. Instruction is hands-on in our professionally appointed training kitchen in Denver, CO.
7) What type of business guidance is offered by the program? Do they provide business development courses, electives, counseling, or resources?
Our business training is done in a course called Business Readiness and Coaching Skills. Here students learn basic business skills specifically catered to the nutrition practitioner, as well as learning the necessary coaching skills for being able to work with clients after graduation.
8) Is there a job placement component to the program? Does the school have strong connections with holistic health businesses in their geographic area?
We do not have a formal job placement program. However, because of NTI’s strong standing in the region, many local holistic businesses are happy to hire our grads because they know the caliber of the person they are getting when they see NTI graduate on the resume.
We also provide the ability for businesses to post job openings on our closed Facebook page which is only accessible by our students and grads.
9) What is their NANP Board Exam pass/fail rate? How many students sit for the NANP Board Exam? Do they offer study groups in preparation for the Board Exam?
NTI’s pass rate on the BCHN board exam is 94%, which is the highest compared to other schools. We have had 53 grads sit for the exam which is comparable to other schools. We do not formally create study groups in preparation for the exam, however, our grads are familiar with utilizing our closed Facebook page to post interesting articles and events and they would be able to post a request for informal board exam study group participants on this page as well.
10) How long has the school been in business? Who is running the school? What is the background of the director, the instructors, and the staff running the admissions?
NTI was founded in 1999 by Char Leberer, who was the Director until June 2019. In July 2019, the school was purchased by Dianne Koehler. Dianne is a graduate of NTI, has been an instructor at the school for 10 years, and was the Academic Dean for the two years preceding her ownership of the school. Dianne has maintained her own private nutrition consultation practice for 12 years.
The instructors at NTI come from a wide variety of backgrounds – Naturopathic Doctors, Nutritionists, Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, Nurse Practitioners, and other health-related fields.
11) What is the financial status of the institution? Is the school financially in good health and prepared to make good on your investment in your education?
NTI is financially stable. We are approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, the Division of Private and Occupational Schools (DPOS). DPOS assures the student that the Institution has an approved program of study, operates on a sound financial basis, has qualified instructors, approved recruitment and admissions policies, and promotes its courses truthfully.
Additionally, NTI is bonded in compliance with the State of Colorado. NTI holds a surety bond that protects students against a loss of unearned tuition fees should the school cease operations.
12) Does the program offer financial assistance to students?
NTI does not offer financial assistance or financial aid, however, on the FAQ page of our website, you can find information about a wide variety of funding options that you may be eligible for.
NTI is a pay-as-you-go school, meaning that you only pay for the courses that you register for; i.e. if you only take one class at a time, you only pay for one class at a time. We also offer payment plans that allow you to split your tuition up into four payments throughout your 10-week term.
13) Does this program satisfy the requirements for your specific state laws? Is the school in good standing with state and local laws?
Yes, oversight by DPOS requires regular evaluations in the form of quarterly reports and annual reviews.
14) Does the school have an alumni list for you to access? What kind of reviews exist from students who have attended this program in the past?
Our website has a Graduate page and a Testimonial page where grads and students volunteer to post their information and school reviews – accessible for anyone to see.
15) Does the school allow for credits to roll over to other institutions in the event you might want to continue with a higher education program elsewhere?
NTI has no formal agreements with other institutions that would allow our credits to roll over. However, if the institution allows students to test out of basic courses, we have no doubt that NTI grads will easily be able to pass these tests.
Related reading…
What is the Difference between Nutrition Therapists and Health Coaches?
Holistic Nutrition and Dietetics – What Is the Difference?!
Nutrition Therapist Master vs. Registered Dietitian: What’s the Difference?
Ready to become a student at NTI?
You can find all of the application requirements in the Get Started section of our website. Then, head over to our student portal and click ‘Start Your Application’ at the top of the page.
Image: Image by Lukas is free for use by Pexels
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