Frequently Asked Questions

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  • 2026 Practitioner of Functional Nutritional Therapy program tuition is $14,444 AUD. Finance and payment plans are available for tuition fees. Please note tuition does not include required reading, travel, testing tools, or hotel accommodations for workshops if required.  More on tuition and program fee’s.

  • Yes, we offer payment plans for your Tuition. You can also choose to bundle in the cost of your Nutrient test kit, and any advanced training courses if you wish.

  • The payment plan establishment fee’s are used to cover fees that NTA AU/NZ gets charged for the costs of setting up the payment plan and enrollment. In essence, NTA AU/NZ is taking out a loan for $14,444.00 AUD on the students behalf and then having to cover the costs if the student defaults. 

    This is why we emphasise students should only submit their registration forms when they are ready to make payment and after they have carefully considered what program is right for them.

  • Many options for  government funding or subsidies are no longer available for similar level qualifications in these health fields, which is one reason why so many colleges closed in recent years. We offer a range of flexible payment options. NTA AU/NZ maintains every effort to stay independently funded to maintain the curriculum integrity of our program.

  • We currently offer one scholarship for each Practitioner of Functional Nutritional Therapy class, each year* (February, May and September Classes). Scholarships cover 50% of tuition fees, but do not cover the cost of books, travel or supplies. More information is available here.

    *For a scholarship to be awarded all criteria must be satisfied.  NTA AU/NZ reserves the right to not award a scholarship for a class cycle if no applicants satisfy all criteria.

  • In addition to the Tuition, you are required to have a NTA AU/NZ Nutrient Test Kit, workshop tools (stethoscope, blood pressure cuff and portable massage table) to complete the clinical component of the program.  We will provide further details as to the supplier of the nutrient test kits, and multiple resources on where you can purchase workshop tools. Students will also need to factor in travel and accommodation to workshops if attending these in person. Costs for this will vary depending on location travelling from and too. 

  • Your program tuition includes access to all content through our learning platform. Any required textbooks and the Nutrient Test Kit are not included in this fee. For students selecting our payment plan option, there is an option to include the Nutrient Test Kit in the first three payments. Textbooks must be purchased independently. 

  • The Practitioner of Functional Nutritional Therapy program is accredited in Australia by the Australian Committee of Natural Therapies (ACONT).   In New Zealand and Internationally we are recognized by the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP), the International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT), and Complementary Medical Association UK (CMA UK).

  • In Australia or New Zealand you are not required to sit a Board Exam however our graduates are eligible to apply to sit the Board Exam with the National Association of Nutritional Professionals (NANP) in the USA.

  • No. Education providers only need to be an RTO if they deliver Training Package qualifications under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). This is not required for professional development training or for ACONT accreditation. RTO status unfortunately no longer means that the provider and its courses are more credible or of higher quality than education providers accredited in other ways.

  • Countries and regions vary in their requirements for certification/licensure for those providing nutritional counselling and advice. Current regulations in Australia and New Zealand allow FNTPs to establish their own practice. The Department of Health in your region should have complete information on their individual requirements, and we encourage you to do this research.

  • Because our program is a practitioner program and not a licensure program, you will not be able to bill insurance for your services or supplementation unless you have other licensure that allows you this privilege.

  • Diet is a very large part of our programs. A cornerstone of our programs is our belief that proper nutrition has to be built on a foundation of properly prepared, nutrient-dense foods. Though we discuss supplementation in our programs, especially relating to our Functional Clinical Assessment and lingual-neural testing technique, our instructors emphasise the need for food to be the primary source of nutrition.

  • Our primary focus is a properly prepared, nutrient-dense diet. However, we do discuss supplementation throughout our curriculums. Our Functional Clinical Assessment techniques are most commonly used with supplements and herbal remedies, but foods can be used as well.

  • The FNTP program is split into 2 main components across 4 terms. The first half of our program is focused on the Foundations of Health. It is the foundations that are key to supporting normal function in the body and knowing where to start with any client that you are working with. The second half of the program we focus on what we call "The Consequences"- the dysfunction that occurs in those complex organ systems when the foundations are out of balance. We also look at other factors that contribute to stress in our stress bucket - environmental factors and barriers/beliefs which impact our emotional wellness. More details are available in the Prospectus.

  • You will need to complete the entire program with a minimum grade of 80% across all assessments. Assessments involve practical application assignment, original content projects, clinical consultation work, midterm and final written and practical exams. In additional all quizzes and additional content in the learning platform must be completed within the training year. Attendance at all workshop days is also a requirement in order to gain the FNTP credential and this qualification.

  • You are required to complete 269 Clinical hours to obtain the Practitioner of Functional Nutritional Therapy qualification. These clinical hours are mandatory, and must be completed within the academic cycle. Clinical hours are made up of client consultation work, clinical practice sessions, and practical assessments and are completed throughout the academic cycle as outlined on your class syllabus.

  • If you want to attain the FNTP credential and Practitioner of Functional Nutritional Therapy qualification then yes, you will need to complete all Clinical hours.

  • Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis and you will be added to a class once payment is received. See Registration.

  • At NTA AU/NZ we train our Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioners to support the WHOLE BEING and delve into total body burden. Our curriculum explores not only the anatomy and physiology of nutrition, but also stress, sleep, movement, environmental factors and emotional wellness. We also provide effective client tools via our culinary wellness modules.

    Truly, what makes our practitioners unique is the clinical assessment tools to truly create bio individual protocols and support - no templates, formulas or one trick ponies. FNTP's learn to communicate with the innate intelligence of the body which helps to identify the BODY’s priorities for healing and powerfully reconnects the client back to themselves.

    When you delve into your health or that of your clients are you considering all aspects of your stress load? Do you have ALL the tools in your Practitioner toolbox?

  • In the USA, we also offer a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) course. Both NTP and FNTP courses employ foundationally based nutritional recommendations, evaluate food journals, utilise our Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire and make dietary and supplemental recommendations.

    However, the FNTP course has the additional tool of our Functional Clinical Assessment and subsequent lingual-neural testing that allows them to further tailor nutritional recommendations to the client's needs.

    The NTA USA Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) ONLINE only program is not nationally recognized in Australia or New Zealand. Advanced level trainings are available to our FNTP graduates, upon completion of the Practitioner of Functional Nutritional Therapy program.

  • The Practitioner of Functional Nutritional Therapy program is a one academic year-long hybrid training program that equips practitioners to address advanced imbalances and deficiencies in the body with clinical-level nutritional therapy skills and the Functional Clinical Assessment (FCA).

    This qualification, is currently only available in Australia and New Zealand. The FCA workshops are mandatory for Australia and New Zealand as they count for the clinical classroom seat hours that are a requirement for recognition by the Australian Committee of Natural Therapies (ACONT) and the International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT) in Australia/New Zealand. International students completing the FNTP program can apply for recognition by Complementary Medical Association UK (CMA UK) and IICT also.

    The NTP (Nutritional Therapy Practitioner) Program is a certificate program.  It is a one academic year-long online training program offered by NTA USA that empowers consultants to address foundational nutrition needs, lifestyle challenges, and environmental factors to educate clients on their journey to optimum health. The NTA USA NTP online only program is not nationally recognized in Australia or New Zealand.

  • Check out our Course Comparison chart here

  • The Practitioner of Functional Nutritional Therapy program is a 12 months in duration and must be completed within the scheduled time. It is the equivalent of a two-year full-time equivalent program condensed into an intensive, one-year format.

    Please note that workshop attendance is required to obtain this qualification. There are three weekend-workshops for the FNTP program. See below question for Class Transfers and Deferral options.

  • The program is an adult education program and so you can work at your own speed within each term of the year long program. Modules for each of the four terms will open at the start of that term which will allow for working ahead for those able or needing to prioritse their time accordingly. The program has weekly live instructor led zoom calls which will follow the syllabus week to week. These are recommended to attend live even if working slightly ahead, however all calls are recorded to allow any missed calls to be rewatched when convenient. Please note calls are required to be watched in order to complete all tasks on the learning platform.

  • Many of our students have full-time jobs so, yes, it is entirely possible to work full-time and complete the program. Students should plan to spend 20-25 hours per week studying. We also recommend you begin your reading even before the class starts, if possible. Reading lists are provided upon enrollment confirmation.

  • The Practitioner of Functional Nutritional Therapy program can only be enrolled in as one complete course, there is not an option to only select some modules for partial study. If you enroll and change your mind on completing the program, you have the option to withdraw. The period of time already elapsed in the program would depend on the level of refund available to you, if any refund is applicable. Details of the time periods for a refund for a withdrawal are listed the Student Handbook.

  • We want nothing more than to see you graduate with your FNTP credential. If you are unable to complete by the program deadline set out in your class syllabus you will be able to apply for a homework extension, or discuss options to defer to another cohort to complete the outstanding term. Extensions and deferrals will be fully explained by our Academic team if required. Terms and Conditions of these are provided at time of application. See Class Transfers for more details.

  • Our 20 module curriculum also includes a dedicated module on Practice and Business Development and Final Term weekly guidance at no extra charge. NTA also offers a Career Development Course once you have graduated.

  • You can work as a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner in private practice, running your own business or as part of a multi-disciplinary clinic. You could use your skills to author cookbooks, blogs, articles or even a book (many graduates have written successful books in the health field now). Other opportunities include working for supplement suppliers/distributors, wellness clinics, running online programs and courses, creating services for other nutrition professionals and more.

  • Some graduates combine their qualification with existing licenses/certificates in alternative medicine. Many have established a private practice as a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. We have some graduates working in a clinical setting with other like-minded professionals. NTA has also graduated numerous healthcare professionals such as chiropractors, medical doctors, acupuncturists, registered nurses, and massage therapists. The Practitioner of Functional Nutritional Therapy program does not qualify you to work in a hospital or other government regulated settings as a nutritionist.

  • Salaries for FNTPs can range from $95 to $250 per hour or more, depending on location, experience, and other certifications/licenses.

  • Yes absolutely you can. We encourage our graduates to further their education when the time is right for them to take more study on. Entry into other study programs will depend on the specific requirements of that organisation.  We offer Advanced level training to graduates of the Practitioner of Functional Nutritional Therapy program that cover several areas of interest including functional lab training, muscle testing and more.

  • The only prerequisite is high school education. The Practitioner of Functional Nutritional Therapy program is not a 4-year program or a prerequisite for a four-year dietetics program. As these courses are online, you must have access to a computer with stable internet service.  Some assessments are conducted ‘live’, so your IT needs to be able to support reliable internet connections through live video and audio platforms (i.e. Zoom).   It is your responsibility to ensure you have adequate IT to complete this course.  

  • Yes, about 30% of our students take the training for personal interest, about 30% start their own practice, and the other 40% are health care practitioners who add this training to their existing knowledge and/or practice.  This is a practitioner level program, even if you are only completing this for yourself or your family you will still graduate with this qualification. The expectations on the requirements to complete the program are the same regardless of your intention in taking it. 

  • We frequently get ask this question by the practitioners we train: physicians, osteopaths, naturopaths, nurses, Dietician's etc. The level of anatomy and physiology we teach is far more in depth than the current conventional programs are providing, particularly in relation to how the body physiologically interacts with food and body systems affect each other in regards to normal function and dysfunction.  Every module incorporates A&P specifically in relation to that body system function and the nutrient deficiencies we are looking at as opposed to teaching you this separately - so that you can intimately grasp these relationships. Therefore we cannot apply credit and as our practitioners tell us repeatedly, we delve far deeper into these concepts than they were ever taught.

  • Sometimes continuing education credits can be applied to other certificates and/or licenses. Enquiries must be made to the institution that awarded the license or certificate.

  • Once you graduate your qualification and credential is valid for life. You do not need to submit CEUs to maintain your NTA Membership. You may have to submit CEUs to your relevant registration body depending on their requirements. (i.e ACONT).

  • Yes, we currently run three enrollment cycles every year. Starting in February, May and September.

  • Our classes are run primarily online, with three workshops held across the 12 months. Workshops are run in a hybrid format to accommodate personal preferences on travel, venue attendance and any restrictions in place at the time. Attendance at workshop is mandatory regardless of which of the hybrid format options you choose.

    For more details on workshops and attendance preferences see here. For more details on which main city locations are offered for which cohort during the year, please check our upcoming class dates.

  • Workshops are run in a hybrid format to accommodate personal preferences on travel, venue attendance and any restrictions in place at the time. Attendance at workshop is mandatory regardless of which of the hybrid format options you choose.

    For more details on workshop formats and locations, see here. Post 2020, virtual attendance with localized or virtual support is available please contact Admissions for more information on virtual attendance.

  • Yes, we offer one class transfer per student for those wishing to continue with their studies but need to slow down the pace of the course.  Class Transfers are not for those wanting to stop their studies entirely.  Due to the upcoming expansion of the 2025 curriculum, all September 2024 registrations will be governed by the following transfer policy effective as at August 1, 2024.

    Class transfers from the September 2024 class cohort to either the February or May 2025 cohort will incur a transfer fee of $4,544 AUD.  To transfer, you must complete a full term in your original class to have the grade book transferred. Inability to complete the full term, will require all assignments for that term to be resubmitted in the new classroom. In addition, class transfer students will need to complete all 2025 class contact hour requirements reflective of the new curriculum, for all terms regardless of which term the transfer occurs.  To read more please see page 17 of the Student Handbook.

  • The additional student fee’s associated with moving from the September 2024 Cohort to a 2025 cohort reflect the costs associated with the program expansion outlined in the annoucement by our Program Director, as well as additional staffing costs. Students who transfer would be required to complete any new or expanded modules that they did not have in the September cohort in order to ensure that student is up to speed with the rest of the cohort - there are also support costs associated with this as well. 

    Our Practitioner program is unlike the majority of online programs out there in the virtual world as you are not only learning all of the underlying driving mechanisms to dysfunction which can occur in the body, you are learning a clinical skillset . Which allows you to assess and prioritize support needed for those mechanisms on a completely bio-individual basis - not templates or protocols that often are hit and miss in their success. Therefore it’s like learning a whole new language that takes considerable continuous immersion to not just learn but work with clinically. 

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