Frequently Asked Questions

Many of our NTMC students work full-time.  Your ability to work while you are in school depends on you. Generally, students can expect to dedicate 10-15 hours outside of the classroom or online lecture per course per week for reading, assignments, and exams. Take this into consideration when deciding whether to take our program as a full-time student (two courses at once) or a part-time student (one course at a time).  Keep in mind our program is comprehensive and rigorous and we expect you to be able to keep up with the weekly work. 

For NFC students, you will be in class for three full days per week (T, TH, F  10am-6pm) for 15 weeks. This may limit your workday availability if you only work during weekdays.

For our NTMC program, yes, we offer both in-person classroom teaching as well as online.  Our entire program can be taken online as either Group Start or Independent Start.  For those who do well working as part of a group, our Group Start online option allows students to progress through course material with a cohort during the scheduled 10-week academic terms - fall, winter, spring, summer.  For those who prefer to be more self-paced, the Independent Start option is available. Here you will select your own start date and complete the coursework on your own within a 10-week timeframe anytime of the year. You can even opt to do a hybrid approach - take some courses as group start, others independent start, and still others in the classroom.  We offer the flexibility that enables you to fit going to school into any lifestyle.

Our NFC program is in-person only in our Nourish House teaching kitchen located in Olde Town Arvada, CO.  The NFC program does not have an online option.

The Nutrition Therapist Master Certification Program will take 18 months to complete as a full-time student taking two courses per term. Part-time students taking one course per term can complete the program in 3 years.

Yes.  Learn more about our Single Course Enrollment option.

A Nutrition Therapist Master (NTM) is a nutrition practitioner who has completed the comprehensive training offered by NTI.  The NTM designation signifies that the graduate has gained mastery in the knowledge, skills and proficiency necessary to be a holistic nutrition professional, and has achieved the competence and confidence necessary to make lasting impact on those they counsel.

We prioritize 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.  Our hope is that by focusing on a strong science foundation, students will graduate with the necessary tools to understand the application of many different philosophies.

With the certification from NTI, you are equipped to practice nutrition counseling with confidence and expertise. Our unique coaching centered business course prepares you for entrepreneurship or employment. Many of our graduates open their own thriving practices, partner with M.D’s, Chiropractors, N.D’s, N.P’s, other wellness professionals, or work for an organization who aligns with their ideals. Check out our Graduate page to see what some of our grads are doing.

Yes! NTI is a proud member and recommended school of the NANP (National Association of Nutrition Professionals). Upon graduation from our Nutrition Therapist Master Certification program you would be eligible to sit for the NANP board exam and become Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition (BCHN). Learn more about the NANP and the board exams by visiting their site.

NTI is a proud member of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. Your $35 advocacy fee paid at registration gives you access to the NANP Legislative Affairs Division which provides exclusive representation for holistic nutrition professionals and students in legislative affairs issues nationwide and provides you with the latest nutrition and wellness practice policy regulations in your state.  Additionally, your $35 fee gets you a one-year student membership in NANP which allows you to take advantage of all student member benefits. 

NTI is approved and regulated by the Colorado State Department of Higher Education, Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS). DPOS assures the student that the Institute 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 loss of unearned tuition fees should the school cease operations.

Generally, the curriculum in a nutrition or dietetics program aligns itself with government standards and recommendations. Here at NTI, we take an inclusive holistic approach delving into spiritual, physical, and emotional connections to food, focusing on naturopathic and holistic principles.   If you are having trouble deciding if you would like to be an R.D. or Nutrition Therapist Master, we encourage you to take look at the curriculum and course descriptions in each program and see which courses resonate with your passion and goals.

A Nutrition Therapist Master (NTM) is a trained Holistic Nutrition Professional who has received comprehensive education in the therapeutic use of nutrition strategies to support optimal wellness.  According to the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC), "health coaches partner with clients seeking self-directed lasting changes, aligned with their values, which promote health and wellness and thereby enhance well-being".  While health coaches do fill a needed niche in the field of complementary health, they do not get the science-based training in nutrition that we provide at NTI.  All of our students participate in NTI's foundational science courses, Anatomy and Physiology, Biochemical Foundations of Nutrition (biochemistry), and Nutrients the Building Blocks, before progressing to the clinical application courses (which are also based in science principles). In doing so, they gain a depth of understanding about the human body and how nutrients function within human biochemistry to achieve optimal outcomes.  Because of this concentrated science background, NTMs achieve a level of knowledge that broadens their ability to support their clients beyond that within the scope of practice for a health coach.

Until the summer of 2019, NTI offered two programs: Certified Nutrition Therapist Practitioner (CNTP) and Master Nutrition Therapist (MNT).  The CNTP program included all the basic/foundational courses, but did not include advanced/clinical courses.  The MNT program was designed to be a continuation of the CNTP program for those who wanted education that included more advanced/clinical application.  MNT graduates were also eligible to sit for the NANP BCHN exam; CNTP grads were not eligible.  In July 2019, NTI received approval from our state regulatory agency to streamline the previous two programs into one - the Nutrition Therapist Master Certification program (NTMC).  NTMC is the only nutrition program NTI offers; we also have a professional cooking program the Natural Food Chef program (NFC).  NTMC students take all of NTI's nutrition courses, receiving high quality instruction in both the foundational and the advanced/clinical subjects.  Additionally, every NTMC graduate, designated Nutrition Therapist Master (NTM), is eligible to sit for the NANP BCHN exam. 

NTI does not offer financing because we are a pay-as-you-go school, meaning students only pay for the course(s) that they are registering for. There are no deposits, down-payments or finance charges when beginning the program; tuition cannot be paid in full. Each course is $950 or less and payment plans are available to break up the course fee into up to 4 payments. 

NTI is not considered a "Title 4" school, and, thus, there is no eligibility for federal financial aid. We are approved & regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education as a private vocational college, and there is some financial support available for retraining people that are looking to transition careers.

Some things to keep in mind:

• Start the funding search as early as possible. The process can take months.
• Be assertive! Go after what you want.
• Be confident. You have the ability to apply for any and every scholarship and grant that you are eligible for and deserve to give yourself the chance.
• Think outside of the box! The resources listed here are certainly not exhaustive. Think about what makes you unique, where you come from, what you’re passionate about, and what you have experienced. There may be a scholarship or grant for that!
• Do you belong to any large company, organization, religious organization, or union that gives awards to its members? Are you a minority group, a woman, a person with an illness/disability, or do you have a unique family situation? There may be assistance available!
• This list is just a place to start and is definitely not exhaustive! Keep an open mind and investigate your options.

SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS & LOANS

Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federal law that helps youth and adults access employment training and support services. The program is administered on the county level and operates through a network of local centers in each state, American Job Centers (AJC).

Find an American Job Center near you!

NTI is on the Eligible Training Provider List for Colorado and is actively working toward eligibility in other states. If you are not in Colorado, you can ask your local workforce center if they will provide funding for an out-of-state, online training program.

Do Something Awards 
Take action with DoSomething.org to make social change! By signing up for one of their featured campaigns, you'll not only be doing good, but you could even win a scholarship -- which means money to pay for school. Contests are open to legal residents of the United States, living in the U.S. or abroad, who are between 13 and 25 years of age.

Live Your Dream, Education and Training Awards for Women 
The Live Your Dream Awards are for women who are the primary financial providers for themselves AND their dependent(s), who are struggling to meet the financial needs of their family while also attending school or a training program, or pursuing an undergraduate degree, or attending a vocational/skills training program.

The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards assists women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills, and employment prospects.

Private Student Loans

A private loan is made by a private organization such as a bank, credit union, or state-based or state-affiliated organization, and has terms and conditions that are set by the lender.

Employer-Based Tuition Reimbursement

Some companies offer tuition reimbursement to their employees. Implementation of this program varies significantly from company to company. Some reimburse any educational classes. Others require that coursework is done through specific schools to be eligible for reimbursement. Some companies may only cover tuition costs for approved classes. Check with your employer to find out your options. 

Some companies that offer tuition reimbursement:

• Amazon
• AT&T
• Chipotle
• Elevance Health
• Home Depot
• Jet Blue
• P&G
• The JM Smucker Company
• Starbucks
• UPS
• Wells Fargo

Members Only

The following organizations/companies may have funding available for members/associates for continuing education.

Catholic United Financial 
Members could receive $300 for attending a non-Catholic college, university or institution

Circle K Members 
Only for those in their last year of highschool.

Demolay Members 
For men only.

Lutheran Laywoman Members 
The applicant must:

• be a citizen of the United States of America.
• hold membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
• be at least 21 years old.
• have experienced an interruption in education of two or more years since completion of high school or college.