Diploma of Holistic Nutrition
Professional Holistic Nutritionist Training in Canada
Program Overview
Train to become a holistic nutritionist through one of Canada’s most comprehensive holistic nutrition programs. Pacific Rim College’s Diploma of Holistic Nutrition combines nutrition science, holistic nutrition, clinical training and traditional approaches to health in an extensive professional program offered live online and on campus in Victoria, British Columbia.
Students explore nutritional science and diet therapeutics alongside Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Herbal Medicine, biomedical sciences, cooking and sustainable food practices. The program includes 2,115 hours of education and 360 hours of clinical training, giving graduates extensive practical experience working with clients.
Whether you’re looking for holistic nutritionist training, a comprehensive holistic nutrition course in Canada, or a pathway toward professional practice, PRC’s Diploma of Holistic Nutrition is designed to provide the knowledge, clinical experience and professional skills needed to build a career in holistic nutrition.
Credential: Diploma of Holistic Nutrition
Length: 6 semesters (2-3 years)
Study Options: Live online or on campus in Victoria, BC
Intakes: January, May and September
Financial Aid: Eligible for Canada Student Loans
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
Become a Holistic Nutritionist
Holistic Nutritionists help clients understand how food, nutrition and lifestyle choices can support health and wellbeing. Professional practice requires much more than learning which foods or supplements to recommend. It requires a strong understanding of nutritional science, the human body, client assessment, therapeutic planning, communication and professional practice.
Pacific Rim College’s Diploma of Holistic Nutrition takes students from foundational nutrition principles through advanced diet therapeutics and supervised clinical practice. Students study nutrition alongside anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, biochemistry and other biomedical sciences, while also exploring Western Herbal Medicine, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
A defining component of the program is 360 hours of clinical training. Students have opportunities to develop their skills in a supervised clinical environment, applying what they have learned while gaining practical experience working with clients.
Graduates also receive education in professional practice and business development, helping prepare them for private practice and a variety of opportunities throughout the health, nutrition and wellness sectors.
Looking for more information about becoming a holistic nutritionist?
Explore our complete guide to becoming a holistic nutritionist in Canada, including education, clinical training, career opportunities and what to consider when choosing a nutrition program.
How to Become a Holistic Nutritionist in Canada: Education, Clinical Training, Salary & Career Paths
Why Study Holistic Nutrition at Pacific Rim College?
What You’ll Learn in our Holistic Nutrition program:
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
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, online through our virtual health clinic or can participate in our Clinical Externship Program (CEP). Students must complete at least one-half of all required independent-level clinical training in PRC’s Student Clinic (online or on-campus), and the other half is available to be taken via the CEP.
Admissions
Pacific Rim College is committed to educating the highest quality industry professionals, and we offer priority acceptance to applicants who demonstrate the highest potential for success. Admission into the Diploma of Holistic Nutrition at Pacific Rim College is on a competitive basis, and applicants will be evaluated based on academic achievement, humanitarian activities, community involvement, program-related experience, communication skills, professionalism, emotional maturity, independence, ambition, and passion.
Admissions Criteria and Application Requirements
Admission requires successfully meeting the following minimum criteria:
- Applicants must be 19 years of age or older, or have completed high school or an equivalent, such as the GED or CAEC. Applicants who are 19 or older without a high school diploma or equivalent may be considered for mature student status and will be required to complete an essay provided by the college.
- A minimum grade of 70% in previous coursework. All grades will be taken into consideration with emphasis on related language and science-based courses, such as but not limited to general English, general science, creative and professional writing, biology, and chemistry.
English Language Proficiency Requirements:
Prior to acceptance applicants must meet at least one of the following language proficiency requirements:
- Completion of grades 9-11, including English 11 with a grade of ‘60%’ or higher from a country where English is one of the principal languages, or
- Completion of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction, or
- Provide verified results for one of the English language proficiency tests listed below. Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) – An applicant must earn a score of no less than 16 out of 30 on any of the 4 test sections and a total score of no less than 75 out of 120.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic – An applicant must earn an overall score of 5.5 or higher.
- Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Test – An applicant must earn an overall score of 40 or higher.
- Duolingo English Test – An applicant must earn an overall score of 95 or higher.
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.