How I became a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP)
Are you thinking about a career in holistic nutrition?
Have you researched different options for certification, and wonder which one is right for you?
Institute of Integrative Nutrition vs. Nutritional Therapy Association vs. Bauman vs.Precision Nutrition?
It's a lot of info, I know.
Today i'm going to be talking about how I became a Nutritional Therapy practitioner, why I chose the Nutritional Therapy Association for my certification, and my thoughts and experience with the program.
I'll also be answering the most common questions I get about going through the training to become an NTP. And if you're on the fence, be sure to download my free worksheet, "What you need to know before becoming an NTP".
So HOW did I become a Nutritional Therapy practitioner?
I attended the Nutritional therapy practitioner program through the Nutritional Therapy Association, which is a 9 month, mostly online course that takes you through everything you need to know about supporting the body through real, whole food nutrition. The NTP program also has 3 in person workshop weekends that are required, and which I attended at the Denver, Colorado venue.
Before I get into specifics about the program, let me first start by saying I LOVED the program. I went back and forth on the investment for a while, because I honestly did NOT have the money to do it at the time, but I knew that if I didn’t do it, I would have regrets. And i’m honestly SO glad that I did it, because it was the catalyst for me to start my business, which is now completely online and I can take with me wherever I go, which was always my ultimate dream.
The reason I chose the NTA over other similar programs like IIN (The institute of Integrative Nutrition) was that I felt like it was the perfect combination of real food nutrition AND anatomy and physiology - enough to where I felt like I had a complete understanding of each of the different systems in the body, different organs, how different foods can harm or hurt the body, vitamins and minerals, digestion, blood sugar regulation, detoxification, mineral balance and a whole lot more.
And I actually had enrolled at IIN a few months prior but after a few weeks of course content I felt like it was a little light on the science end of things and talked more about different diets- rather than what is actually going on in the body. Also, IIN’s nutritional recommendations swayed more towards the plant-based style of eating, whereas the NTA is closer to a paleo or ancestral-style template which was more aligned with what i believe to be true about nutrition.
BUT keep in mind I didn’t go through the entire IIN program, so these were just my initial reactions - but I followed my gut and withdrew, and i’m really glad that I did because within a few days of starting the NTA program I knew it was the right decision.
Video more your thing? Watch the whole thing, including what I *wish* I would've known before enrolling in the NTA, HERE!
Also, despite the fact that the NTA curriculum was more science forward than IIN - it was still doable for me, someone who definitely does not have a anatomy/physiology or science background whatsoever. I also was working full time while I went through the program, so I would say that it is totally doable for anyone who is looking to juggle the program with a full time job. On average I probably spent 5-15 hours a week completing the video lectures, required reading, writing assignments, etc.
HOW DID I JUGGLE THE PROGRAM WITH A FULL TIME JOB?
I juggled the program WITH a full time job AND starting my blog on the side is that I would dedicate my weekend days to studying, and then over the holidays or course breaks I would try to work ahead so that I never had to cram or pull all nighters. Plus if you’re someone interested in nutrition, you are going to LOVE the course content. I actually looked forward to studying because I thought it was so interesting.
By the end of my training, I definitely had the tools I needed to start working with clients - including the intake forms and software, which was super helpful.
Now, for one area that I think the NTA was lacking, was the feeling of “now how do I turn this knowledge into a business that actually makes money”. And I observed this with pretty much everyone who graduated with me, it was like we had all of this new knowledge but then were all paralyzed because we didn't know what to do with it.
This is also why I created my own online course on this exact topic...
Now of course you can always try to get hired in a chiropractors office or naturopathic office or acupuncture clinic - but not everyone wants to work in an office setting, at least I didn't. I wanted the freedom to be able to see clients online and work from my pajamas, which is exactly why I created the Digital Nomad Nutritionist course. But NONE of the information I provide in my course was part of the NTA curriculum - so I ended up having to figure it all out myself - which in the end i’m thankful for because now I turned it into my own course!
So now that i’ve told you all about how I became an NTP and what to expect, be sure to download my free cheatsheet called “what you need to know before becoming an NTP” because I talk about a few things I did NOT mention in this blog post- things that I wish I had known before enrolling.
Pssst...thinking of enrolling in the Nutritional Therapy Association program? Tell them I referred you (and send proof!) and i'll give you a FREE 30 minute consult.
Also, if you have more questions about the NTA program, feel free to leave them in the comments section below or email me at amie@rebellenutrition.com.
XO,
Amie
