Frequently Asked Questions
Are anatomy, physiology and biochemistry included in your course?
The most relevant anatomy, physiology and biochemistry are taught. For instance you won’t have to learn the names of all the bones in the foot, but you will learn about digestion, food absorption, the blood and circulation, nervous and hormonal systems and organs of elimination. Similarly, the biochemistry we teach is primarily that which is most relevant to health and nutrition, such as metabolism, detoxification and energy production. This information is not taught as separate modules but is interwoven into the course material to make it as relevant as possible to the aims of the course.
I am confused by all the different registration bodies. Are you accredited by BANT or the NNA in the UK? How do I get registered after completing your course?
We are accredited by these registration bodies. You can become registered with one of these (depending on your country of residence) after gaining your diploma. This will enable you to practise as a member of a large professional register and to obtain the professional insurance you will require. Some organizations do not choose to accredit distance-learning courses or one-year courses. However the registration bodies which accredit us do understand how well naturopathic nutrition can be taught by distance learning, and have awarded us accreditation in recognition of the quality of our course.
If, after gaining our diploma, you wanted to apply for a job with a supplement company, for instance, it would make little difference where you are registered. It is the quality of your training that is important, and at the School of Modern Naturopathy we aim to help you excel at your work to the extent that everybody will want to work with our graduates. If you are already qualified as a health practitioner you will find that our training takes your understanding of health and nutrition to a new level.
I am in the United States where we have naturopathic physicians, who are equivalent to medical doctors and are allowed to diagnose and treat disease. Does your course provide a similar qualification?
In the United States the 4 year Naturopathic Physician training programs are equivalent to medical training, and their graduates are eligible for a high level of accreditation, as they are allowed to diagnose diseases and prescribe medication. In the United States our course would not qualify you for this type of accreditation unless you are already medically qualified.
After completing your course may I legally call myself a Naturopath?
This depends on the country where you work. In the United States and Canada, the term ‘naturopath’ is protected by law in some states and cannot be used by individuals with a lower level of accreditation. An alternative term such as ‘natural health consultant’ must be used instead.
In the UK and Australia the term ‘naturopath’ is unregulated as the law does not define it as a system of medicine that diagnoses and treats disease. The term is instead viewed as a system which promotes whole body wellness and facilitates self-healing. Accordingly, after completing our course you would be legally entitled to use the word naturopath to describe yourself.
Assignments submitted online can be fabricated. How can you really monitor your students without personal contact?
It would actually be very easy to spot if anything is fabricated, or if a student is not putting in the required number of hours, since throughout the course each student’s comprehension and attention to detail are under constant scrutiny.
I do not live in one of the countries covered by your list. Would I be legally allowed to work here after gaining your qualification?
We are not familiar with the laws in countries not covered by our list, so we suggest that you have conversations with people who are already working in the natural health professions in your country, and ask about their legal requirements.
I live in Australia and it may take some time for me to receive your monthly module books. How is this organized, and do you charge for postage?
Our module books are sent by post and students have four weeks from date of receipt to complete their monthly assignments. Postage costs are included in the course fees.
Must the course be completed in 12 months or can students take a break for holidays, family emergencies and so on?
To allow for contingencies, students can take up to 14 months to complete the course.
Can the course be completed in less than one year?
Our software is programmed to release our module content at the rate of one module per month. This cannot be changed. As this is an intensive course you would in any case struggle to complete it in less than a year unless you already have a degree in nutrition, medicine or biology.
How many hours a week of study are required?
You will need to set aside 10-12 hours a week for study, including assignments.
Will I need to buy additional course books? How much will they cost?
In addition to the module books included in your fees you will need to buy approximately ten course books. These have been chosen to keep down costs and most can be purchased very cheaply second-hand on Amazon websites—some for under 5 USD.
Does the school belong to any schemes allowing me to get help with the fees?
The School of Modern Naturopathy receives no funding from external bodies, so is not able to offer subsidized places. But our fees are very reasonable and affordable compared with most, and you will receive personal attention at all times from your tutor.