Diploma of Holistic Nutrition
Program Overview
With both on campus and live online learning opportunities, the Diploma of Holistic Nutrition is a 3-year (6-semester) program that explores the use of food and lifestyle habits to maintain health and restore wellness. It is the most comprehensive on-site, and on-line, program of Holistic Nutrition in North America and integrates nutritional philosophies of various indigenous cultures and medical viewpoints. Foundational studies include Ayurvedic Medicine, Western Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine, and the program is comprised of both theoretical and practical courses including cooking and clinical coursework.
Length: 6 semesters
Intakes: Winter, Summer, Fall semesters
Format: Live online and on campus
Clinical Training: 360 hours
Total Training: 2115 hours
ONLINE learning available
I have been thoroughly impressed by Pacific Rim College. Pacific Rim holds high professional standards while maintaining an atmosphere of wellbeing and community. The environment supports students and challenges them to grow into skillful practitioners. I would recommend PRC to anyone who is seeking a place that has deep knowledge and embodied understanding in the field of health and healing.
– Jennifer Raye, RTCMP, RYT, Alumnus
Why Pacific Rim College?
What You’ll Learn:
Key Learning Outcome #1
An in-depth understanding of the therapeutic properties and energetics of foods and how to use them to help clients reach their health goals.
Key Learning Outcome #2
Thorough background of biomedical understanding of the human body, its structure, physiology, common pathologies, and also western diagnostic skills and pharmacotherapy.
Key Learning Outcome #3
The blending of different nutrition philosophies, including the ancient traditions of Ayurvedic Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and cultural diets with contemporary dietary practices.
Key Learning Outcome #4
Therapeutic confidence and rapport-buildings skills in working with clients in one-on-one settings and in groups.
Key Learning Outcome #5
Wide-ranging professional skills from writing and public speaking to cooking and business development experience needed to establish a private holistic nutrition practice or to join an integrative health centre.
I don’t think I could say enough good things about PRC. After spending three years at a large university, the smaller class sizes and compassionate teachers were an inspiring change. The school itself is a beautiful and nurturing space, and the staff and students make it that much more amazing. I learned so much about myself, gained a new outlook on the world and was trained in an amazing form of healing that has given me a job I am so proud of. I would recommend PRC to anyone, the staff and faculty are educated, kind and helpful individuals who want to see their students grow and succeed in the world of health. I will forever be grateful for my experiences and education from PRC as well as the continued support as I start my own career path. Thank you so much for those three life changing years.
– Sasha Ormiston, Alumnus
Core Program Instructors
Cordelia is the Dean of the School of Holistic Nutrition at PRC and is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition (B.C.H.N.) and a Natural Nutrition Clinical Practitioner (N.N.C.P.).
Carrie is a Naturopathic Doctor, yoga teacher and senior educator at PRC.
Peter is a leading herbalist (Phytotherapist) and author with a core interest in contrasting and integrating approaches to healing from both traditional and contemporary sources.
Amber is a Certified Nutritional Practitioner, a Registered Orthomolecular Health Practitioner, and Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioner.
Elham is a teacher and practitioner of Ayurveda and is board certified in Holistic Nutrition.
Jaime is a Naturopathic Physician and Educator with a special interest in treating disorders of the Respiratory and Digestive Systems.
Donna is a Naturopathic Physician, educator, and yoga teacher. She has a Doctor of Naturopathy from CCNM, and a Master of Science from UBC.
Curriculum
Having reached for the first time a point in human existence where more humans are overweight than are hungry, where our children’s life expectancy is less than adults, and where food resources and indigenous knowledge are vanishing faster than we can preserve them, increasing nutritional knowledge on both local and global scales is of vital importance. The Diploma of Holistic Nutrition is training students to advance human and environmental health through the sharing of nutritional knowledge.
The objectives of the Diploma of Holistic Nutrition are threefold:
- to increase human health through the betterment of nutritional practices;
- to preserve and spread indigenous food-based knowledge and practices; and
- to safeguard the global ecosystem through the employment of sustainable food practices.
Below is a list of all courses that must be completed for a student to be eligible for graduation with a Diploma of Holistic Nutrition. Some course prerequisites do exist, and it is the responsibility of students to ensure that they are eligible to enrol in any particular course. The Course Descriptions page indicates course prerequisites. Please see Study Options below for more information on course selection.
Ayurveda
Biomedical/Biological Sciences
Chinese Medicine
Elective
Nutrition
Nutrition Clinical Practice
Professional Development
Western Herbal Sciences
Total Requirements
Clinical Training
Students in the Diploma of Holistic Nutrition program can complete all clinical training in PRC’s on-campus Student Clinic, or can participate in our Clinical Externship Program. Full-time students generally begin clinical training via observation during the very first week of studies.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition is based on a per credit system. Although the college provides guidance for the order of course completion within each program, ultimately each student determines personal course load and schedule and thus per semester tuition. Audited credits do not apply towards graduation requirements. All prices listed are in Canadian dollars. For each semester, full tuition payment is due on the first day of the semester.
Please click here for a description of Academic Fees in PDF format.
Please click here for a description of Academic Fees in PDF format.
Financial Aid
This program is approved for Canada Student Loans. British Columbia residents can apply for student loans online through StudentAid BC. For non-British Columbia residents, please visit hrsdc.gc.ca for information about Canada Student Loans.
For a list of all financial aid programs available to PRC students, please visit our Financial Aid page.
Post-Graduation
Graduates of the Diploma of Holistic Nutrition have the most comprehensive training offered in Canada with more than three times the on-site education than any other diploma program in the field. Having completed a minimum of 360 hours of clinical training, and having received specific education in practice management and business development, graduates are poised to be successful nutritional practitioners and consultants. Additionally, graduates can also seek employment in other sectors of the health and wellness industry by filling positions such as retail consultants, product developers, teachers, fitness advisers, restaurant consultants, spa managers and more.
Program Accreditation
This program is recognized by the National Association of Nutrition Professionals as an approved and recommended education program. Graduates who have sufficient professional experience are qualified for professional membership with NANP and to sit for the holistic nutrition national board exam offered through the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board (HNCB). Successful exam candidates will become Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition.
This program is approved by the Canadian Association of Natural Nutritional Practitioners (CANNP). Graduates are eligible to be considered for the Canadian Association of Natural Nutritional Practitioners designation of NNCP (Natural Nutrition – Clinical Practitioner).
This program is approved by the Health Coach Alliance (HCA), which is proud to fall under the Canadian Association for Integrative Nutrition. Graduates are eligible to apply for membership to become a Registered Health Coach (RHC) or a Registered Health & Nutrition Counselor (RHNC). (Licensed will replace Registered in areas where Registered is not permitted)
This program is approved by the Canadian Association for Integrative Nutrition (CAIN). Graduates are eligible to use the designations of Registered Holistic Nutrition Practitioner (RHNP) or Registered Holistic Health Practitioner (RHHP). (Licensed will replace Registered in areas where Registered is not permitted.)
This program is approved by the Canadian Association of Holistic Nutrition Professionals. CAHN-Pro is a professional association for the accreditation of holistic nutritionists.
Licensing Requirements
Practitioner licensing requirements vary based on region of governance. Currently there are no government restrictions to the practice of Holistic Nutrition in Canada. It is students’ responsibility to ensure they meet eligibility criteria in their chosen region.
