Holistic Nutrition Coach Certification
Coach one of the most important parts of your clients' health: what they eat every day. Learn how the body's systems work together, how diet, gut health and stress connect, and the coaching skills to assess clients and guide lasting change.
- Lifetime certification
- 100% online and self-paced
- Open-book online exam
- AADP accredited
Or 6 monthly payments of $104 with our in-house plan, no credit check. Everything you need to study and certify.
Enroll now- Two manuals, video lessons and Notes Pack
- Assessment, questionnaire and intake forms
- Food log and Holistic Anatomy guide
- Digital and printed certificate
- Coaching Business Builder included free
Secure checkout through NESTA, the parent company of the Spencer Institute.
See the whole client, not just the plate
Eating habits are shaped by generations of cultural and commercial change, and clients come to a coach with a wide range of concerns. Holistic nutrition coaching looks at the whole person: their body, their lifestyle, their stress and their emotional well-being, not just their food choices.
As a Certified Holistic Nutrition Coach, you'll learn how the body's systems work together, assess how holistically each client lives, and use the skills of great coaching to build trust and guide personalized, lasting change.
Built for anyone who wants to coach nutrition holistically
Open to all levels, with no prerequisites. Add holistic nutrition to the coaching, fitness or wellness work you already do.
Health and wellness coaches
Coaches who want a whole-person approach to their clients' nutrition.
Personal trainers
Trainers who want to connect exercise and nutrition for better client results.
Wellness professionals
Practitioners who want to add nutrition coaching and client assessment tools to their services.
New coaches
Career changers who want to turn a passion for healthy eating into a coaching career.
What you'll learn
- The body's systems and how they work together, from the skeletal and muscular systems to the organs and their functions
- How to view clients holistically, across their physical, mental, emotional and social dimensions
- How eating habits have been shaped by cultural, commercial and political influences on the food industry
- How exercise and nutrition work together, and the global trends that affect nutrition
- How diet, the gut and the immune system connect, including the gut barrier, intestinal permeability and probiotic-rich fermented foods
- How the HPA axis guides the body's stress response, and lifestyle strategies for stress, sleep, nutrition and mindful exercise
- Digestion and how the body assimilates food
- Macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein and lipids
- How to assess clients with an assessment form, client questionnaire, intake form and food logs
- The skills of great coaching, your coaching presence, and how to build powerful interactions with clients
- What the research says on herbs and supplements, heart disease, soy, seaweed, chia and flaxseed, and fermented foods
- How to use the International Coaching Federation (ICF) guidelines in your practice
Inside the course: 4 parts
- 1Part 1: Foundations of Holistic Nutrition
The body's systems and a holistic view of clients, with the CHNC Manual, Notes Pack, client forms, three video lessons and a non-graded quiz.
- 2Part 2: Holistic Nutrition Today
How we've evolved to eat, exercise and nutrition synergy, and global trends, plus a feature on diet, gut health and the immune system.
- 3Part 3: Coaching Skill Building
The Holistic Coaching Skills Handbook, with video lessons on assessing clients, being a coach and coaching presence, plus a feature on the HPA axis and stress.
- 4Part 4: Nutrition and Digestion
Video lessons on digestion, carbohydrates, protein and lipids, with a client food log and the Holistic Anatomy guide.
- 5Bonus Articles
Research articles on supplements, naturopaths, heart disease, holistic nutrition, soy, seaweed, chia and flaxseed, and fermented foods, plus the ICF guidelines.
- 6Final Exam
An open-book online exam covering the manuals, videos and research articles, to earn your Certified Holistic Nutrition Coach credential.
Nutrition science for coaches
The topics behind every client conversation:
- Body systems
- Digestion
- Carbohydrates, protein and lipids
- Gut health
- Fermented foods
- The immune system
- The HPA axis and stress
- Herbs and supplements research
Coaches educate and support. They don't diagnose, treat or prescribe, and they refer clients to licensed healthcare professionals for medical conditions, diet changes for a health condition, and supplement questions.
Coach with confidence
Tools and skills for real client sessions:
- Assessment form
- Client questionnaire
- Client intake form
- Food logs
- Holistic Anatomy guide
- Coaching presence
- Assessing clients
- ICF guidelines
Client forms can be branded with your own company logo.
Build your coaching career
The Spencer Institute has introduced the Coaching Business Builder, included free with your certification to help you launch and grow your practice.
- 90-Day Career Starter Workbook
- Comprehensive Coach Pricing Guide
- Marketing strategies to attract clients
- Additional growth tools and ongoing updates
Everything you need to know
| Format | 100% online training and exam. Study on any device, at your own pace. |
|---|---|
| Study time | Self-paced. Most students finish in 3–4 weeks. We recommend finishing within a year, but it's not required. |
| Prerequisites | None. |
| Course materials | Two manuals (the CHNC Manual and the Holistic Coaching Skills Handbook), Notes Pack, video lessons, client forms (assessment form, client questionnaire and client intake form), food log, Holistic Anatomy guide, research articles and the ICF guidelines, plus non-graded quizzes. |
| Exam | 75 multiple-choice questions, taken online and non-proctored, with up to 3 hours per attempt. Open book and open note: use your digital manuals. You need 70% or higher to pass. Three attempts included, with instant results. A $95 retest fee applies if all three attempts are used. |
| Certificate | Digital certificate as soon as you pass. A printed certificate with an official seal is mailed free within North America in 2–4 weeks. International students are welcome; additional shipping fees apply. |
| Certification term | Lifetime. No renewal required. |
| Course access | Lifetime access to your training materials. |
| Continuing education | Approved for 2.0 CEUs. |
| Accreditation | Accredited by The Certification and Accreditation Board of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). See our accreditations. |
Become a Certified Holistic Nutrition Coach
Everything is included: online training, exam, digital certificate, printed certificate and the Coaching Business Builder.
- Pay once, start today
- Lifetime certification
- Digital certificate as soon as you pass
- 6 payments of $104
- Payments are 30 days apart
- Includes a one-time $30 processing fee ($624 total)
- No credit check
3-day money-back guarantee. If the course isn't right for you, let us know within 3 days, subject to our policy guidelines.
Secure checkout through NESTA. NESTA is the parent company of the Spencer Institute, so your order is processed on NESTA's secure online store.
Results we've helped create
I love the unique course offerings from the Spencer Institute. For example, Brain Fitness Coaching, Holistic Nutrition, and their latest, Integrative Health Coach. No one else offers these unique courses that directly impact health outside of the weight room.
The Spencer Institute has been around for years. I love the videos and format in which the program is delivered. If you are looking for an affordable but knowledgeable way to increase your skills, the Spencer Institute is the way to go.
If you are looking to add to your credentials, the Spencer Institute is the place to go! The ease of the self-paced study fit perfectly with my professional and family life. The material is very educational, and the exam is appropriately challenging. Also, the customer service is AMAZING! Someone was always there to address any concerns that I had.
Questions about the Holistic Nutrition Coach Certification
Is this program accredited?
Yes. All Spencer Institute courses are accredited by The Certification and Accreditation Board of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). The course is also approved for continuing education by NESTA, MMACA and ITCA. See our accreditations.
What does a holistic nutrition coach do?
A holistic nutrition coach looks at the whole client: their body, lifestyle, stress and emotional well-being, as well as what they eat. You assess how your client lives, help them set goals, and use coaching skills to guide personalized, lasting changes to their daily nutrition.
Can I give medical or supplement advice?
No. Coaches don't diagnose, treat or prescribe. You educate and support your clients, and you refer them to a licensed healthcare professional for medical conditions, diet changes for a health condition, and supplement questions.
Do I need any experience or prerequisites?
No. The course is open to all levels, whether you're new to coaching or adding a specialty to your current work.
How long does it take?
The course is self-paced, and most students finish in 3–4 weeks. We recommend finishing within a year, but it's not required, and you keep lifetime access to your training materials.
How does the exam work?
The exam is 75 multiple-choice questions, taken online, with up to 3 hours per attempt. It covers the manuals, videos and research articles, and it's open book and open note, so keep your digital manuals handy to search. You need 70% to pass, you get three attempts, and you see your results instantly. If all three attempts are used, a $95 retest fee applies.
Does the certification expire?
No. The Holistic Nutrition Coach Certification is a lifetime credential with no renewal required, and you keep lifetime access to your training materials.
What are my career options?
Coach clients one-on-one or in groups, in person or online. Many graduates add holistic nutrition coaching to an existing coaching, training or wellness business, or share their expertise as an author, podcast host, course creator or online content provider.
Can I pay monthly?
Yes. Choose our in-house 6-month payment plan at $104/mo (6 payments, including a one-time $30 processing fee, for $624 total) with no credit check, or pay over time with Affirm at checkout. All payments must be complete before you take the exam.
Can international students enroll?
Yes. The course and exam are 100% online. Your digital certificate is issued as soon as you pass, and your printed certificate is mailed free within North America. International students are welcome; additional shipping fees apply.
Why does checkout say NESTA?
NESTA is the parent company of the Spencer Institute. All Spencer Institute courses are sold through NESTA's secure online store, so you'll see the NESTA name at checkout. Your training, exam and certification all come from the Spencer Institute.
What if the course isn't right for me?
Every course comes with a 3-day money-back guarantee, subject to our policy guidelines.
Ready to coach clients toward holistic health?
Start today and study at your own pace, with lifetime access to your training materials.
Questions? Call 1-877-348-6692 or send us a message.