Are you just starting out in the nutrition space and having trouble deciding on the right online nutrition certification for you?
Or are you looking to expand your professional opportunities by completing a new nutrition certification?
Look no further; this article is for you!
Whatever the case and wherever you lie on the spectrum, you must know that you are about to embark on a most enlightening journey.
This decision will change your life and help you make your mark in the health and nutrition space while having a significant impact on the clients you decide to support once you get started with equipping yourself with evidence-based nutrition science knowledge.
So how do you decide on what nutrition certification to complete?
Nutrition science has many facets and various nutrition science areas you can specialise in.
A client would typically seek out a nutrition professional when they are wondering how to resolve their eating to meet their specific health goals or achieve a desired health outcome.
This desired health outcome could be fat loss, fitness, fertility, gut health, mental health, sleep, stress, dietary supplements, or anything in between. Once you have acquired the knowledge to help them achieve their desired outcome, you can begin putting this knowledge into practice. But before you can take the step to start acquiring the necessary skills and education, you must ask yourself:
“What kind of support do I want to provide to people?”
To help you make this decision, consider the following questions:
What are your interests? And what would do you think you would enjoy doing?
Once you can confidently answer these questions, you can then begin to map out what path to pursue and decide on the best nutrition certifications for you.
How do you begin to answer these questions? Let’s explore some important factors you must consider before you settle on the right certification for you.
Top factors to consider before settling on the right nutrition certification
1 – Choosing the right online educational institution
Identify the right online institution that is equipped to provide you with the knowledge to give impactful nutrition recommendations and provide you with the tools to start and grow your business. For this reason (and many others we would explore shortly) is why The Health Science Academy continues to be the preferred online education institution.
Why Us?
With over a decade of experience in training and shaping over 150,000 nutrition professionals in different parts of the world, we have the proven experience to help you start or even grow your nutrition business. Your entire learning experience is online, and because we understand you may have other obligations, you can study at your own pace and in the most convenient way possible.
- You will also gain evidence-based knowledge that is both foundational and advanced, heavily packed with personalised nutrition science and recommendations.
- You are provided with toolkits and client-getting bundles to help you kickstart your business.
- You have lifetime access to your certification, so you can refer to them whenever you like in the future.
- You can request beautifully designed printed packs of your certification modules so you can physically carry them anywhere.
- Access to complete 14+university-level Internationally accredited nutrition certifications that are CPD certified as well. Our CPD accredited certifications can be used to meet professional registration requirements, such as the maintenance of a licence to practise, and to ensure that professionals can evidence their skills and remain proficient.
- You will be trained by established scientists who will provide you with expert advice on business growth.
2 – Pricing
Online nutrition certifications run into hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars, creating an access barrier into the nutrition space. Here at The Health Sciences Academy, we are playing our part to increase access into the world of nutrition with our Nutrition Accelerator Scholarship for 1000 students from around the world.
This scholarship will make it very easy for you to complete one university-level certification that will help you become specialised in an area of nutrition science so you can immediately begin to grow your business.
You can go here to check your eligibility and apply for the scholarship immediately. Remember, seats are limited.
Also, if you are not sure which certification to choose, then take advantage of our 7-day free trial and start the certification of your choice without paying immediately.
You will enjoy 24/7 access to over 35 science-based lessons across 14 certifications, videos, and more!
You can go here to learn more about the 7-day Free Trial.
3 – Are there prerequisites to overcome?
There are no prerequisites for completing any of the certifications that we offer. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a previous degree or didn’t complete your education. You do not even need a nutrition background. Our certifications are advanced but also provide you with the foundational knowledge you need to become specialised
4 – Navigating your choice of online nutrition certifications to complete and possible career paths
Here are some professional career opportunities you could explore to start or grow your nutrition business:
Become a Clinical Weight Loss Specialist
As a Clinical Weight Loss Specialist, you’re focused on one of the most lucrative niches in the nutrition industry. Not only do you help people achieve their weight loss goals, but you can also advise them on the changes necessary to maintain these goals.
In 2020, the global weight loss market was valued at USD 192 billion in 2019 and was projected to reach a whopping USD 427 billion by 2027. With the right knowledge and expertise, you too could make a dent in the industry and effectively support those clients who need your help.
This is also an excellent choice for anyone who wants to branch out from personal training or those working in the food industry as chefs or restaurant owners.
You can shed light on deficiencies as a Dietary Supplements Specialist
With a practice focusing on Dietary Supplements, you’d be in a unique position to help clients make informed decisions about what they put into their bodies.
The global nutritional supplement market is projected to reach global revenue of USD 245.43Bn by 2023. With our Advanced Dietary Supplements Advisor certification, you would learn the basics of dietary supplements and discover how to build a supplement programme for your existing and would-be clients.
Become a Nutritional therapist
As a Nutritional Therapist, you would help your clients eat healthy by building personalised food plans that they can follow. You would also help them understand how their genetic makeup can be adapted to nutrition and how food can change their DNA. If you are looking for a certification that lays a strong foundation for your future as a nutrition professional, this is a great place to start.
Work with clients in preventing cancer and promoting longevity
As a Cancer Risk Reduction and Longevity Specialist, you would have the knowledge needed to make a real difference in the lives of people who want to reduce cancer risks and improve the ageing process through proper nutrition.
Cancer is the number 2 cause of death worldwide. Sadly, 1 in 3 of us will be diagnosed with cancer during our lifetime, or 1 in 2 if born after 1960. It could be anyone; your friend, a loved one or even YOU. The odds are too high and need to be lowered.
With the knowledge you gain after completing this certification, you too can make a difference in the world.
Help people sleep better as a Sleep Management Specialist
About 48% of us struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep one or more nights a week. And for those that get many hours of sleep, it’s not just the hours spent in bed that matter, but the quality of sleep as well.
Getting quality sleep every night is essential, and when you complete our Advanced Sleep Management Advisor™ certification, you’d be able to understand the science behind sleep, behind why we sleep, the importance of both sleep quantity and quality, factors that influence if we wake feeling tired, and how to build a personalised sleep program for a client to help them wake well-rested and ready for the day.
And did we mention you are not limited in the types of people you can help? Anyone who has trouble sleeping is your client, and they are everywhere, even around you!
Improve quality of life as a Stress Management Specialist
It’s been estimated that 60-80% of doctor’s appointments are stress-related! Plus, 50% of work absenteeism is thought to be due to being stressed out.
These stats also indicate incredible opportunities for you.
When you acquire the knowledge to become a Stress Management Specialist, you would be able to help your clients build stress resilience so that they can cope/function in times of adversity or challenge.
You’d also be able to assess a client’s stress level. Then, you can make recommendations based on your observations. This is an excellent option for those who want to go into corporate wellness or develop a nutrition practice that can change lives in a meaningful way.
Become a Gut Health Specialist and help people optimise their gut health
Did you know that more than 40% of the population worldwide suffers from digestive symptoms, and some do not understand what contributes to their feeling bloated, stomach discomfort, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal cramps, diarrhoea, or constipation?
This is another opportunity to support and help this group of people once you have acquired the knowledge and skills to become a Gut Health Specialist. You would be able to help clients suffering from digestive issues using practical nutritional advice. You can work with their current routine to help them develop a plan that may improve their quality of life. You would also have the knowledge to help people keep their gut in a balanced state and promotes better living through nutrition.
Help clients optimise their overall health as a Detox Specialist
Do you see yourself becoming a Detox Specialist?
If this is you, then get ready to explore a certification that teaches you everything you need to know about the fields of toxicology and detoxification so that you can help your clients in a safe and personalised way.
You will learn how to advise clients on the proper nutrition to help their bodies operate in the most efficient way possible. This is a great way to focus on your specific niche without limiting the types of people you can help.
Help parents understand the role of nutrition in their child’s intellectual development
Are you a nutritional advisor, schoolteacher, child counsellor, school chef, or sports coach? You can help parents and caregivers establish the strong foundation needed for developing healthy eating habits in their children when you become a Child and Brain Development Nutrition Specialist. This certification will teach you the effects of nutrition on physical, emotional and intellectual development in children
You would also help parents prevent medical conditions that can arise in their children due to poor nutrition and help them reach their full potential by eating right.
Become a Food Allergies and Intolerances Nutritional Advisor
Did you know that 15% to 20% of adults may have a food intolerance?
And many of them may not even know what’s contributing to their upset stomach, bloating, skin rashes, or headaches. Some of them go on to unnecessarily remove entire food groups from their diet out of fear of sensitivity.
You can help them when you become an Advanced Food Allergies and Intolerances Nutritional Advisor! Now, what would this mean for you?
You would be able to build personalised food allergies and intolerances nutritional plans for your clients while minimising nutrient deficiency risk.
This is a fantastic path to consider exploring.
Become a Nutrition Fertility Specialist
Fertility is considered a sensitive topic. If this is where your passion lies, you need to equip yourself with a certification that will teach you how to successfully connect with clients who have reduced fertility odds. By undertaking the Advanced Fertility Nutritional Advisor™ certification, you would discover the science behind ovulation, spermatogenesis, and conception so that you can support a woman and her partner in improving fertility odds through nutrition and lifestyle change.
Each client will be at a different stage in their fertility journey, and based on where they are, they would need unique and extra support from their advisor.
This is a good specialisation, and there are so many types of people you can help.
Learn how to carry out excellent research in nutrition science
Very few people understand the work that goes into doctoral-level research. It involves studying the methods used and carrying out various verification exercises before passing to the public as “true.”
When you complete our Advanced Research Techniques™ certification, you would discover doctorate-level research techniques from our researchers themselves and advance your career. You would learn how to find and use the latest credible scientific studies to benefit your nutrition clients.
Putting it all together and your next steps
Now that we have provided you with an arsenal of information to help you figure out where your interest lies and the area of nutrition you could see yourself specialising in, what are your next steps?
It’s time to choose and complete any of the above certifications that will equip you with the advanced knowledge, tools, and skills to be proficient in your chosen area.
Once you have selected any of the certifications above, head over to our Nutrition Accelerator Scholarship page to check your eligibility and apply for a scholarship!
You have a coveted opportunity here to access one of our 14 nutrition certifications so you can immediately begin to build the nutrition career of your dreams.
There is no better time than now to accomplish your goals and chase your dreams. Your future awaits you, so take that step now!
