My Journey Through the NTA Program

One of the most common questions I get asked is “was the NTA program worth it?” and my answer is always, without fail, a resounding YES.

The NTA is the Nutritional Therapy Association. I started their Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner program in September of 2019 and graduated in June 2020. Signing up for this course was truly one of the best decisions I ever could have made.

It was a hard decision to invest in this program considering I was (and still am) drowning in student debt from getting my Masters in Occupational Therapy. Making a career change when I was only about a year and half into my OT career seemed…irresponsible. But I knew I wanted to do more with my career and nutrition seemed like the next logical step.

WHY I SWITCHED TO NUTRITION

When I first moved to Arizona, I started at an OT job in the public schools. At this point, I was on my own nutrition journey but wasn’t really considering a career in it by any means.

Once I saw what the kids were fed by the public schools, I was absolutely appalled. Packaged, processed foods full of sugar and chemicals for breakfast and lunch every single day. The teachers were nearly forcing kids to eat Pillsbury pastries for breakfast when the kids didn’t even want them. I worked with one kid, ONE KID, who brought her own lunch to school.

And then my job was to provide “sensory support” for these kids who were constantly bouncing off the walls. No amount of OT was ever going to work when these kids ate processed sugar, food dyes, and chemical ridden foods for 2/3 meals per day.

WHY I PICKED THE NTA

I got so fed up with standing by, I decided to start looking into nutrition programs during my down time at work. I looked at the IIN program (Institute for Integrative Nutrition) and even talked to someone in their admissions department. Ultimately I didn’t feel like that program was for me, as they strongly push “intuitive eating” and their content is more about learning about all the different dietary approaches rather than focusing on root-cause healing. It felt more like a health/life-coaching program and that wasn’t what I was looking for.

I followed a few people on Instagram at the time who were going through the NTA program. After chatting with them about what they were learning and attending one of the NTA’s webinars about their program, I was sold. The NTA focuses on the foundations of health — blood sugar regulation, digestion, nutrient dense diets, fatty acid balance, mineral balancing, and hydration.

The NTA also emphasizes bioindividuality, meaning no 2 people are the same. They help you learn how to determine what is best for every individual client rather than providing a “one size fits all” approach.

Their core values aligned with mine and I knew this program would provide me with the training needed to make a real difference in people’s lives.

FNTP vs NTP programs

I completed the FNTP program — which is the Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner program. I began the program pre-COVID, so we attended 2 in-person conferences to learn the Functional Clinical Assessment and Lingual Neural Testing. The FCA/LNT are hands-on assessment tools to assess whether certain nutrients or supplements are appropriate for specific clients. It gives us the ability to cut out the guesswork and evaluate what is needed for every person individually.

Currently, they are only offering the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner program, which is 100% online and does not teach the FCA/LNT process. I anticipate they will bring back the FNTP program at some point, but this is the only program option for the time being.

Course Material

This is a BIG reason why I decided to go with the NTA for my nutritional training! They cover just about everything you could imagine when it comes to holistic nutrition.

The program starts with learning the history behind our food system and you get to learn why things are so ass-backwards now. You also get to learn early on about the client consultation process so you can begin practicing with clients as you learn the material.

From there, you’ll get into the nitty gritty of anatomy and physiology, digestion, blood sugar regulation, fatty acids, mineral balance, hydration, the endocrine, immune, and cardiovascular systems, detox, and the impacts of sleep, stress, movement, and emotional wellbeing on our health.

There is no shortage of material in this program! If you want to read more about the program specifics, click here to head to their website.

FAQ

Is it possible to complete the program while working a full time job?

I completed the entire NTA program while working full time as an occupational therapist. Granted, I was working in the schools so my hours were a little shorter and I had school breaks to catch up on schoolwork if I needed to, but I almost never fell behind on any of my school work.

Are there weekly requirements or meetings?

The program is self paced to an extent — they provide you with a suggested timeline to keep you on track, especially if you want to utilize the zoom meetings where you can ask questions regarding the modules. These zoom meetings are not mandatory but can be helpful if you’re struggling with any of the material.

Are there any prerequisite for the program?

There are no prerequisites for the NTA program other than a high school diploma, but having at least a basic knowledge of human anatomy and nutrition will definitely help.

How much time did you spend on material per week?

I found that I only needed to spend 2-3 hours per week (sometimes less) on the course material, however I already had a strong background in science and anatomy from my undergrad/graduate degrees. The amount of time needed will also vary by module, for example I only spent about an hour on the Basics of Nutrition module, but I spent closer to 6+ hours on the Immune module. I would anticipate spending an average 4-5 hours on the material if this is all new for you!

Do you have to get any other certification to practice?

Because I live in Arizona, I do not need any further certification to see clients. This will vary depending on where you live! This website is a great resource to check out what may be required in your state.

More program specific questions? Check out the NTA’s FAQ page here.

The Takeaway

If you are interested in functional, holistic nutrition, I highly recommend checking out the NTP program. You will get a comprehensive education regarding functional nutrition and they will leave you confident in your abilities to work with clients on the foundations of health.

Now is the time! Nothing like a global pandemic to wake people up to their own health status. Not only do people want your services, but they need them. You can help turn the tide from sick-care to preventative healthcare!