Nutrition courses (not dietitian) advice needed please :)

whirlpool

Simple question really.

I'm about to do a personal trainer course, at the end of which I will be a fully qualified personal trainer.

As a personal trainer, I would also like to be able to advise my clients on their nutrition. I've heard that to be able to do this legally, a nutrition qualification is required (and obviously if you're going to advise customers on nutrition you should probably have a nutrition qualification!)

So, the situation is this: I want to study for a qualification in nutrition that will allow me to (legally) advise my clients on their nutrition.

At the moment, I don't want to study dietetics. Right now, it would take time, money and dedication that I just don't have at the moment, and I'm also not MAJORLY interested in dietetics.

I simply want a substantial nutrition qualification that would compliment my personal trainer qualification, so that I can (legally) give clients informed advice on the correct foods to help them lose weight, stay healthy, increase energy levels, etc...

Ideally it would be distance-learning/home-study because I feel I learn better that way. Right now, I would like to earn a substantial qualification in as short a space as possible, so that I can start advising clients as soon as possible. But the long-term plan is to then study for a higher qualification, and to carry on studying further nutrition/diet courses.

Sorry for the long thread!!

Any advice??

corkcomp

whirlpool wrote: »

I'm also not MAJORLY interested in dietetics.

I simply want a substantial nutrition qualification

I would like to earn a substantial qualification in as short a space as possible, so that I can start advising clients as soon as possible.

I will probably get banned for this, but I really dont envy your first client

whirlpool

corkcomp wrote: »

I will probably get banned for this, but I really dont envy your first client

Well yeah that does seem unnecessarily nasty of you. Is this the type of response people should expect on this forum?

I can only assume that you took from what I said that I want to only study the bare minimum so that I can practice asap, and therefore that means I will be giving clients advice on topics I'm not educated in. Is that how you interpreted it?

I would never give anybody advice on topics in which I do not hold qualifications.

I want to get a nutrition qualification from a short course because I am interested in nutrition and I want to be able to begin using knowledge of nutrition as soon as possible. However I would only use what I have been taught. I wouldn't pretend to know more than I have been taught, and I wouldn't advise any clients on topics which I do not have qualifications to teach. And as I continue to study nutrition and gain more qualifications, the more I topics I can advise my clients about. I don't see the problem with that.

And I don't see why you felt such a need to make that nasty comment. You could have instead questioned my motives or asked me things. But each to their own I suppose.

Sapsorrow

Do you have a primary degree in anything like science or health science? You can do an Ma in nutrition or dietetics through a college or university in Cork, Dublin or Coleraine that way.
As far as correspondance courses go I think king johns in London might do one so have a google around and see what you can find. Maybe try open university? American uni's offer a lot of correspondance courses but it's kinda hard to tell how credible they are, also they call nutritionists dieticians over there so it's a bit blurry.
Also you might like to know that there are no legal restrictions reventing any joe so off the street working as a nutritionist, sure on this forum we're all practically at it on a volunteer basis anyway! That being said obviously it's not very ethical if you don't have a few years training at least. You're not allowed work as a dietician in a clinical setting without a qualification is what you're thinking of.
There's also CNM ireland and some other crowd that teach naturotathic nutrition on weekends but it's fairly pricey.
Found these links: http://www.ntc.ie/course.php?id=1239202976
http://instituteofhealthsciences.com/ (they do a sports nutrition diploma)
http://www.nta.ie/career/sports.html
Obviosuly the credibility of some of these might be questionable but you'll still learn a lot I'm sure.
Hope that helps somewhat!

Edit: I can totally empathise with your not wanting to do dietetics it's a sh*t course and not practical for helping people who aren't already fairly seriously unwell. You're looking to work with people who want to achieve otimal health resumably so nutrition or sports nutrition would be much more appropriate.

whirlpool

khrystyna100 wrote: »

Do you have a primary degree in anything like science or health science? You can do an Ma in nutrition or dietetics through a college or university in Cork, Dublin or Coleraine that way.
As far as correspondance courses go I think king johns in London might do one so have a google around and see what you can find. Maybe try open university? American uni's offer a lot of correspondance courses but it's kinda hard to tell how credible they are, also they call nutritionists dieticians over there so it's a bit blurry.
Also you might like to know that there are no legal restrictions reventing any joe so off the street working as a nutritionist, sure on this forum we're all practically at it on a volunteer basis anyway! That being said obviously it's not very ethical if you don't have a few years training at least. You're not allowed work as a dietician in a clinical setting without a qualification is what you're thinking of.
There's also CNM ireland and some other crowd that teach naturotathic nutrition on weekends but it's fairly pricey.
Found these links: http://www.ntc.ie/course.php?id=1239202976
http://instituteofhealthsciences.com/ (they do a sports nutrition diploma)
http://www.nta.ie/career/sports.html
Obviosuly the credibility of some of these might be questionable but you'll still learn a lot I'm sure.
Hope that helps somewhat!

Thanks a million for all that! Much appreciated!!

I don't have a science degree unfortunately, I've a degree in business.

Yeah I actually thought it was illegal to charge people for nutritional advice unless you were sufficiently qualified, however I also knew that anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, so what I knew already is contradictory!! I guess I'm a bit confused now. But thanks for clearing that up! :cool:

I want to be able to offer nutritional advice, but it won't be my main field by any means, it'll only be an aside, a minor one at that.

It's proving difficult to find info on the accreditation of nutrition courses, mainly because there's no standard awarding body in Ireland (or the UK, and I think the US either) so I'll have to go on recommendations and maybe ask around a few different employers to see what courses they prefer potential employees to have.

I will check out those colleges and courses you mentioned khrystyna100! Thanks again!

Sapsorrow

Cool sure if you need anything clarified just ask!
It's good that you're taking an interest it's the flip side of the health coin (exercise being the other of course )
I wouldn't get too stressed about accreditation as you'll be working as a personal trainer so theres no legal barriers to your working in England or Ireland anyway.

Doolee

Whirlpool!

I was soooo jealous of you after reading your post; starting a personal training course and looking for a nutritionist course all at once! I have a half established career in film and since I have been going to a personal trainer for the last 3 months or so and the fact I'm obsessed with nutrition I've been half thinking of doing exactly what you are doing. My trainer is amazing and his job is so worthwhile, helping people get results and giving great nutrition advice that has been such an eyeopener to me. I thought I knew everything about nutrition but his angle is of course from a sports/weights/protein p.o.v. Its just all so interesting.
Do you mind me asking where you are doing your personal training course and some details about it?
also, I think you may have already been given the link by another poster but I have heard wonderful things about Michael? I think who runs a nutrition course in Bray which runs for 12 weeks of the year at weekends. It started in Sept so obviously its too late but it was one I was thinking of doing...maybe next year.

Good luck with it though...very jealous!

nathealthstar

Hi guys,

I know this post comes a few years late but I am looking for a course in holistic nutrition in the Dublin area. Can you tell me which course you went with in the end and if it met your expectations?

Besides the schools you mentioned above I am also looking at the Nutrition Course from CNM Ireland

A friend of mine studied with CNM UK in London and said she really liked the experience and hands-on approach.

Does anyone know if CNM Ireland offers the same courses?

If anyone knows of any other training providers in the area any input would be highly appreciated.

bouncyball

There's a 1 year dietary counsellor course with the institute of health sciences in Harold's Cross and you can add in another 2.5 yrs to be a nutritional therapist if you were interested in taking it further. You attend one weekend per month. The Dc course would allow you to offer basic advise and would tie in nicely. Sports Nutrition also an option. I've been to their open day and have a great range of courses a tying in with another so is easy to tailor something to suit you. Best of luck

KMarieC

Hi there,

Im looking for advice, I am finding it very difficult in choosing between the IINH course and the IHS course, they stat in a few weeks so I need to make a decision ASAP, any help greatly appreciated.