If you are seeking a nutritional therapist that has graduated from CNELM you can request confirmation from the practitioner that they have completed one of the course/s listed below.
Courses completed by graduates of CNELM that are accredited as routes to practice as a nutritional therapist by the Nutritional Therapy Education Commission (NTEC) are:
- BSc (Hons) Nutritional Science + CNELM Nutritional Therapy Practice Diploma (CNELM NTPD) or the Personalised Nutrition Practice Diploma (PNPD)
- MSc Personalised Nutrition + CNELM Nutritional Therapy Practice Diploma (CNELM NTPD) or the Personalised Nutrition Practice Diploma (PNPD)
- Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) Personalised Nutrition + CNELM Nutritional Therapy Practice Diploma (CNELM NTPD) or the Personalised Nutrition Practice Diploma (PNPD)
- BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy (inclusive of clinical practice)
- Advanced Learner (Fast Track) + Postgraduate Certificate Personalised Nutrition + Practitioner Development
Please Note: The ‘BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy’ and the ‘Advanced Learner (Fast Track) + Postgraduate Certificate Personalised Nutrition + Practitioner Development’ are courses that have now closed.
The BSc (Hons) Nutritional Science, MSc and Postgraduate Diploma in Personalised Nutrition are standalone programmes validated by Middlesex University. Not all CNELM graduates have taken or completed the additional CNELM NTPD or PNPD as a route to becoming a nutritional therapist.
Some CNELM graduates of the BSc (Hons) Nutritional Science, MSc and Postgraduate Diploma in Personalised Nutrition completed a nutritional therapy course with another training provider whose courses are accredited by the NTEC and subsequently continued their studies with CNELM to gain a degree level qualification in nutrition. In this instance it is likely that the practitioner on their promotional literature will state their combined qualifications in nutrition.
Some CNELM graduates of the MSc and Postgraduate Diploma Personalised Nutrition are qualified healthcare practitioners in another discipline and do not automatically take the additional CNELM NTPD or PNPD to become a nutritional therapist and instead seek to integrate sound nutrition principles within their existing practice. As such this group of CNELM graduates are not nutritional therapists and are not eligible to apply to become a member of the professional body BANT or apply to register with the CNHC as a nutritional therapist. They will not have been clinically assessed against the full Core Curriculum and National Occupational Standards set for Nutritional Therapy.
Graduates of the BSc (Hons) Nutritional Science only have mostly completed the course so that they can work in other areas of the nutrition industry including: research, teaching, working within governmental and non-governmental organisations, nutrition laboratories, product companies, and community work.
CNELM is committed to the voluntary regulation of nutritional therapists to enhance the public perception and confidence when selecting a practitioner. Graduates that have completed NTEC accredited courses leading to nutritional therapy practice are able to apply to become a member of the British Associate for Nutritional Therapy and Applied Nutrition (BANT) as a nutritional therapist, and apply to register as a nutritional therapist with the voluntary regulator the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), subject to having met all requirements for registration and membership.
The term Nutritional Therapist is not a protected title. However, BANT encourage graduate members who have completed an NTEC accredited route to practice to adopt the title ‘Qualified Nutritional Therapist’ to enhance public understanding of the role of a nutritional therapist. Various other titles are used which can make it difficult for the public to differentiate but is providing a very similar service. CNELM recommends at this stage that the public check qualifications rather than titles against those accredited by the NTEC.
Use the following LINKS to find a practitioner registered with the British Association for Nutritional Therapy and Applied Nutrition (BANT) and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)
BANT – http://www.bant.org.uk/bant/jsp/practitionerSearch.faces
CNHC is UK voluntary regulator for complementary therapists – http://www.cnhc.org.uk/
CNHC’s register has been approved as an Accredited Voluntary Register by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care.
NTEC website – http://www.nteducationcommission.org.uk/training.html
Link for Training Providers – Core Curriculum and National Occupational Standards for NT – http://www.nteducationcommission.org.uk/trainers.html