If you are looking to choose the best nutrition therapy course, it can require a bit of research as well as some patience. Several options are available, including courses available through several different types of schools and online. You will also need to decide if you want to take a single course or a more advanced curriculum with multiple courses that offers a degree or certification.
Nutrition therapy entails using nutrition to bring about wellness or healing from a particular disorder. It is often associated with a more holistic approach to healing; this means it is often offered in schools that tend to offer a more alternative approach, such as naturopathic schools, traditional Chinese medicine schools and other similar institutions. Depending on where you are in the world, it may also be offered as a bachelor’s or other similar degree.
Checking with local schools and universities that might offer a nutrition therapy course is the best first step to take. The schools typically have lists of what courses they offer and if any prerequisites are required. Although many schools include nutrition therapy as a degree or overall course of study, some do offer introductory courses or single courses that don’t require a full commitment. In some cases, you might be able to persuade school administrators into allowing you to try a nutrition therapy course or two on a trial basis.
In addition to colleges and universities, some smaller schools, including community colleges and other extension programs, may offer a nutrition therapy course. Courses offered at smaller schools might not be accredited, but they can be taught by qualified teachers nonetheless. They are often good options if you want to take a course for fun or just for your own knowledge; another advantage to taking a nutrition therapy course with a smaller school or educational center is the courses are often less expensive. Courses offered by smaller institutions often offer more flexibility, as well as less traditional or more specialized types of nutritional information.
It can be difficult to know ahead of time if a course is right for you, so sitting in for one class can be helpful. Many schools will allow you to do that free of charge. Checking with friends or former students that have taken the class before is another option. In some instances, review sites online might offer a critical assessment of a class based on student feedback. Talking with the teachers ahead of time is also a good idea, as they may offer you advice about course selection as well as providing other potentially helpful information.