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About Nutrition Therapy Institute and our Nutrition Therapist Master Certification Program

NTI has been a leader in holistic nutrition education for 20 years. Since 1999, we have provided students with the highest quality training, helping them to achieve thriving careers in the field of holistic health and wellness.

Why are we here and why do we endure?

The US Healthcare system is the largest and most expensive in the world. Yet, paradoxically, it delivers the worst health outcomes of any developed nation in the world. At NTI, we know that the predominant reason for this incongruity is that no one – not the government, not the “experts”, and most notably, not the general public – truly recognize and accept the inescapable truth that what we eat is the most important influence on health outcomes.

Eating food is something we do multiple times per day. Food consumption is the most common way we engage with nutrients – the indispensable substances that influence and orchestrate the functioning of our biology on a second-by-second basis, at the cellular, sub-cellular, and DNA level. Cells cannot and will not function properly without adequate nutrition.

As people finally come to terms with this reality and finally awaken from their Standard American Diet-induced stupor, they realize they have been misguided and outright lied to about the immense control they have over their own health outcomes by simply making different food and lifestyle choices. But they are confronted with a conundrum – whose dogmatic preachings about what we should and shouldn’t eat do they believe?

At NTI, we aren’t here to be another pontificating voice that just tells people what they should be eating based on our own beliefs. Instead, we teach people the science of how nutrition interacts with human biochemistry, so they are empowered to make the right choice for themselves because they actually know about nutrition, and aren’t limited to just trusting what others tell them.

Once gaining this powerful knowledge tool, our students and graduates are now fully prepared to show up as a credible, competent, and confident holistic nutrition professionals, ready to help others make lasting, meaningful changes that trend towards better health, more vitality and better quality of life.

If you know that food matters, but want to know why – then NTI is right for you.

Distinctive advantages of choosing Nutrition Therapy Institute for your professional holistic nutrition training:

  • Our carefully crafted curriculum is science-based, rigorous, and diverse - drawn from nutrition textbooks, professional and academic journals, and consumer books. We not only talk about the "what to do", but the why.
  • Our instructors maintain thriving practices as Naturopaths, Nutrition Therapists, and other health professionals, on which students can model their own future practices.
  • The full program is available online with two format to choose from so you can study from anywhere.
  • Our program utilizes recorded video lectures to capture and hold student attention, coupled with slide presentations with detailed curriculum content.
  • Group start online students participate in live weekly webinars with their instructor, and have ample opportunity to interact with their classmates.
  • Independent start online program allows students to choose their own course start date and expedite the pace of their learning.
  • NTI is a proud member of NANP - National Association of Nutrition Professionals.  NANP sets the standards for holistic nutrition professionals by outlining the scope of practice and educational curriculum standards.
  • Completion of our NTMC program makes students eligible to sit for the NANP BCHN board exam – your professional credentials are enhanced with this nationally recognized board certification designation.
  • NTI graduates historically have had the highest pass rates on the BCHN exam – 93% of those who took it, passed. NANP recommends NTI to those who ask which school's graduates have the highest pass rate.
  • The $35 advocacy fee (paid at registration) provides students with 1 year student membership in NANP.
  • NTI has collaborated with Sofia Health, a premier online market place that connects clients with holistic practitioners from a wide variety of disciplines. Benefits for practitioner members include a custom website, client scheduling and messaging, and billing and payment facilitation. Graduates of NTI receive one year free Business Level membership in Sofia Health, a $1200 value, which gives them the business and marketing tools they need to be successful immediately following graduation.
  • NTI has collaborated with the Holistic Entrepreneur Association, an online membership community with the mission of helping holistic nutrition professionals create a successful business.  NTI graduates receive a free three month Professional membership in HEA, a $60 dollar value.
NTI: Become part of the nutrition solution.

"15 Questions To Ask Your Prospective Nutrition School"

Choosing the right nutrition school is a big decision, and it's essential to have all the facts before you commit. To make it easier for you to compare programs, we've compiled a list of the 16 most important questions you should ask any prospective nutrition school.

These questions will help you evaluate and compare schools, so you can make an informed choice and find the best fit for your goals.

See NTI’s answers below, and use this list as a guide to ensure you're making an apples-to-apples comparison when exploring other programs.

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 for distance learning 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 Arvada, 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 as classroom. 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 time frame anytime of the year. Independent start students can even expedite their learning and finish a 10-week course in as little as 4 weeks. 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 online discussions that occur in a closed platform, and weekly webinar teaching from the instructor.  Independent start students work through the course material on their own, with no required interaction with the instructor or 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?
For classroom students, 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 weekly webinar meetings for group start courses provide the opportunity to respond to instructor requests for comment on specific topics as well as receive weekly live instruction and get questions answered by the instructor. He/she is also available via email for 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.
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.  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 food philosophies.  This level of variety and understanding of the underlying scientific mechanisms allows us to teach not only what to do but why to do it - a key feature of personalized nutrition counseling.
6)   Does the holistic nutrition program also include cooking lessons, recipe development, basic kitchen methodology? 
NTI offers professional training as a Natural Food Chef. Our NFC program is 15 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 Arvada, 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 relevant to the nutrition practitioner, as well as learning the necessary coaching skills for being able to work with clients after graduation.  Upon completion, graduates of NTI receive a one year free membership in Sofia Health, a premier online marketplace that connects clients with holistic practitioners like themselves.  This inclusive business tool allows graduates to set up a practice that looks professional and has an existing client base.  Additionally, NTI graduates receive 3 months free Professional membership in the Holistic Entrepreneur Association, an online business training resource designed specifically to meet the unique needs of holistic health professionals.
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 look first 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 93%, which is the highest compared 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, the staff running the admissions?
NTI was founded in 1999 by Char Leberer, who was the Director until June, 2019.  In July of 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.  Read more about the NTI faculty.
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 CO Dept. 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 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 course at a time, you only pay for one course 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 for students to test out of basic courses, we have no doubt that NTI grads will easily be able to pass these tests.
16)  Does the school require CEUs to maintain their certification?
NTI does not require CEUs.  Upon successful completion of our curriculum, you will be granted certification as a Nutrition Therapist Master, with no requirement for continuing education to maintain that certification.  Although, we do strongly recommend that our graduates participate in continuing education to retain their relevance in the field.