Start Your Journey To Become A Nutrition Therapist
Become a Nutrition Therapist Master
This 500-hour program provides rigorous, in-depth education in the relevant topics you need to know to become a skilled Nutrition Therapist Master.
What makes NTI different from other nutrition schools? - We teach not only what to do, but why to do it.
NTI’s Nutrition Therapist Master program is right for you if you want to:
Deeply understand how nutrition influences health from a science and research-based curriculum
Be empowered with critical thinking skills that enables you to assess the reliability of nutrition advice your are hearing from others
Support your own health and that of your family and community
Create a rewarding career that aligns with your personal beliefs about wellness
Attain confidence and competence in knowing how to expertly guide others in achieving their own wellness goals
Be ready to become Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition
Become your own boss and achieve desirable work-life balance
Become the person YOU needed most on your health journey!
There are many post-education possibilities to consider as a graduate of NTI. You can read about them here.
Graduation and achievement of certification as a Nutrition Therapist Master requires successful completion of all 13 courses in our NTMC program, which includes a combination of core academic courses and skills development courses.
The first 12 courses are each 10 weeks long; The final course, Independent Study, is completed over a 20 week time frame
NTI is 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. See the full tuition breakdown here.
Core Academic Courses Include (10 weeks each):
Anatomy & Physiology for the Nutritionist
Special emphasis is placed on principles of physiological function and nutrient / body system interrelationships.
Biochemical Foundations of Nutrition
Principles are presented in an understandable and accessible way to enable students to use the information to educate their clients. Emphasis is on application of principles to life situations.
Nutrients: The Building Blocks
The chemistry and mechanisms of action of each of the macro and micronutrients are covered in this comprehensive course, including carbohydrates, lipids, protein, vitamins and minerals.
Digestion and Detoxification
Study includes digestion processes and malfunctions which can lead to compromised nutrient assimilation and resulting toxicity. Colon health, liver detoxification and detox protocols, and digestive disorders are covered in the course.
Life Cycles and Healthy Aging
Holistic thought is emphasized focusing on the special nutrition requirements for different stages of life starting with preconception and progressing to healthy aging protocols.
Pathophysiology and Clinical Applications
Content includes pathophysiology of common health conditions along with cutting-edge applied nutritional protocols for adjunctive support. Wide ranging topics covered include: stress, blood sugar imbalances, methylation, cardiovascular disease, mental health disorders, and autoimmunity.
Weight Management and Sports Nutrition
Course begins with principles of metabolism in weight control and progresses into the study of various influences involved in weight management. Classes in sports nutrition focus on energy metabolism, performance, recovery and specific dietary protocols for different athletic needs.
Nutritional Endocrinology and Reproductive Health
A deep dive into the endocrine system and targeted nutritional strategies for hormone balance. Content includes thyroid health, hormone balance for both male and female reproductive systems, and the hormonal pathways utilized for bone health.
Introduction to Herbology, Supplements and Nutritional Lab Reports
This course provides information on adjunct tools for use in the current nutrition therapy paradigm. It is designed to introduce basic concepts in herbology, use of supplements in clinical practice, and provides a primer on available lab testing and their appropriate application in a nutrition practice.
Research and Communications
In this course students learn how to use and properly cite information resources that are specific to health-related topics. They discuss evidence-based medicine and learn how to evaluate whether a scientific study is of high or low quality. In addition to being the prerequisite foundation for the Independent Study project, this course also provides skills necessary for creating credible content for your future nutrition therapy practice.
Skills Development Courses Include:
Nutrition Therapy in Practice (10 weeks)
This course delves into the 'mechanics' of being a Nutrition Therapist Master and provides students with the skills needed to have meaningful interaction with your clients. Here you will create your intake forms, so necessary for getting good information from your client; learn how to perform diet analysis and efficient ways to present nutritional needs to your client; get guidance on how to conduct client meetings so your clients feel supported in achieving their wellness goals.
Business Readiness and Coaching Skills (10 weeks)
Here students explore their own self-awareness and motivations that underlie their passion for learning about nutrition and sharing what they know with others. You will be introduced to usable, relevant business tools that can be implemented to build a successful business or be an impactful member of an existing team helping clients meet their optimal wellness goals. An introduction to practice-targeted coaching skills will help enable you to interact with your clients in a powerful, compassionate way that empowers them to make change.
Independent Study (20 weeks)
The Nutrition Therapist Master Certification Program culminates with Independent Study which offers the student the opportunity for concentrated research in a particular area of interest and the development of a niche area of specialization to prepare for the workplace. Here you will work independently and create a final project that stands as the exhibit of your expertise in a specific subject. Different from our other courses, we have allotted 20 weeks for this course to give you ample time to complete your final project masterpiece.
Take Courses Online or In The Classroom:
Online Distance Learning
Our entire program can be taken online as either Group Start or Independent Start. Group Start means you progress through the course as part of a group during the scheduled 10-week academic terms - fall, winter, spring, and summer. Group start students participate in weekly live webinars and discussion boards with their classmates.
Our Group Start online option offers scheduled, regular interaction with the instructor!
For greater flexibility, you can choose Independent Start online, meaning you select your own start date and complete the course within a 10-week time frame anytime of the year. Scheduled exam due dates still apply. Independent start students are not required to participate in weekly webinars or discussion boards.
Classroom Learning
For those who prefer to learn in person, most of our courses can be taken in the classroom at our physical location in Arvada, CO. Classroom courses run during the scheduled 10-week academic terms - fall, winter, spring, and summer. Classes are held weekly, three hours each week, for 10 weeks.
NTI is one of the only nutrition schools to offer an in-person classroom experience!
We also allow a hybrid approach - take some courses in person and others online. You choose which format to take each time your register for a course. We offer flexibility that enables you to fit going to school into any lifestyle. You can even choose the option to begin with a single course before deciding to enroll in the full NTMC program.Â
Progressing Through the NTMC program
We offer a variety of flexible ways to partake in our curriculum so students can make choices that align with their learning style and lifestyle, and make going to school an easier fit in their schedule. This means that the flow of courses may not be the same for everyone.
All students are required to complete NTI's foundational prerequisite courses - Anatomy and Physiology for the Nutritionist, Biochemical Foundations of Nutrition, Nutrients the Building Blocks, and Nutrition Therapy in Practice (in that order) - before moving on to the rest of their curriculum.
All of our courses are offered every term.
Full-time students take two courses at-a-time each of the 6 terms; during 3 of their terms, they will overlap with an additional skills development course. This method enables completion of the program in 18 months. Students who choose to be part-time students take one course at-a-time and can complete the program in three years.
Here is an example of what the program progress may look like, including the first four foundational prerequisite courses (each individual student's path may look a little different depending on their unique scheduling needs):
Term one
Anatomy & Physiology for the Nutritionist + Biochemical Foundations of Nutrition
Term two
Nutrients: The Building Blocks + Nutrition Therapy in Practice
Term three
Digestion and Detoxification + Life Cycles and Healthy Aging Nutrition + Business Readiness and Coaching Skills
Term four
Pathophysiology and Clinical Applications + Research and Communications
Term five
Weight Management and Sports Nutrition + Nutritional Endocrinology and Reproductive Health + Independent Study (1st half)
Term six
Introduction to Herbology, Supplements and Lab Assessments + Independent Study (2nd half)
Find Out More
Are you interested in holistic nutrition as a career?
Fill out the form below to receive an email from our Admissions Team with information about the Nutrition Therapist Master program.