Nutrition Courses and Qualifications

Frequently Asked Nutrition Questions

Listed below are a range of common questions presented by students looking to complete our nutrition courses and qualifications. If you don't find the information you are looking for on this page, please feel free to reach out to our Careers Team who will be ready and willing to assist you.

• How do I become a nutritionist?

  The purpose of our nutrition courses and qualifications is to enhance your knowledge of nutritional and dietary guidelines and best practices. By completing our courses, you’ll be able to offer nutritional advice alongside your existing services as a fitness professional (for example as a personal trainer, Pilates teacher, yoga teacher or GP referral specialist) or operate solely as a nutrition coach.

  With regards to the qualifications themselves, the entry-level course is Level 3 Nutrition to Support Physical Activity. We also have two Level 4 programmes available: Level 4 Sports Nutrition and Level 4 Obesity and Diabetes. Finally, there’s CPD related to eating disorders, supplements and a host of other nutrition courses if you’re looking to specialise.
  Each of our nutrition courses can be completed on a standalone basis, alternatively, they can also be combined to form a comprehensive career package. This is the perfect option if you’re looking to make diet and nutrition a core part of the services you offer to clients.
  If you’re interested in further exploring the world of nutrition and the career path of a nutritionist, we’ve created a comprehensive range of nutrition career articles and guides for you to read.

  The terms nutritionist and dietician do have very specific meanings and the Association for Nutrition (AfN) and the British Dietetic Association (BDA) have clear role descriptors and definitions of these. Unless you have post-graduate qualifications in these fields, it’s best to avoid using these terms.

• Can I complete your nutrition courses online?

  One of the most appealing things about nutrition courses, qualifications and CPD programmes is that they can be completed entirely online, from the comfort of your home. All you’ll need is an internet-connected device and a quiet place to study.

  For applicable courses with theory exams, such as Level 3 Nutrition to Support Physical Activity, these are taken online invigilated by an online proctor. Using your laptop, Macbook or desktop PC’s microphone and webcam, you’ll be monitored very much in the same way as you would if you were sitting the exam in person. One of the biggest benefits is that can choose the time and day you’ll sit the exam and you’ll also get instant access to your provisional result.

  Any workbooks, case studies or other assessments can be completed via LES, the Learner Engagement System, and you’ll have 24/7 access to this bespoke and innovative student portal.

• What learning resources are available?

  From the very moment you enrol onto any of our nutrition courses and qualifications, you’ll be assigned a dedicated Learner Support Tutor. They are on hand Monday – Friday via phone and email to guide your learning, assist with revision and provide invaluable career advice as you embark on your journey to become a fully qualified nutritionist.

  In conjunction with tutor support, you’ll receive instant access to LES, our student portal. It’s here you’ll find a wealth of resources at your fingertips including mock quizzes to test your knowledge, workbooks and hours of video lectures presented by the industry’s leading sports nutritionists and dietitians.

  Each of our nutrition programmes is slightly different from the next and so it’s always best to check on the individual course page with regards to exactly what materials are available. Some of our courses are entirely eLearning, others have eLearning, manuals (print and digital) and online lecture videos. It really does depend on the course in question and the level and complexity of the subject.

• What are my payment options?

  Our pricing model is open and honest and we have a couple of ways that you can pay for your nutrition courses and qualifications. This way, you get the maximum amount of choice.

  If you’re in a position to pay for everything upfront and get it all sorted in one go, we can offer you a 5% discount on any of our nutrition courses and career packages.

  Spreading the cost of your courses is also an option and we offer 6 and 12-month, 0% interest payment plans.

• Do you offer guaranteed interviews?

  This is one of our most frequently asked questions and unfortunately (but perhaps, fortunately) the practice of offering guaranteed interviews and jobs isn’t something we’re involved in.

  If you’re looking to launch a career as a nutritionist or further incorporate nutrition into the services you currently offer clients, we firmly believe you should be able to choose your own destiny, as it were.

  Instead of boxing you in, we want you to have as much choice as possible and that’s why we’ve created CV Connect. This exclusive and innovative system has been built from the ground for HFE graduates. From the moment you complete any of our nutrition courses and qualifications, you’ll gain access to CV Connect through LES, Learner Engagement System. From here, it’s just a matter of uploading your freshly polished CV, selecting employers in your area and submitting your details directly. If someone at the other end likes what they see, they’ll be in touch.

  It really is that straightforward and simple and it’s a direct path to thousands of employment opportunities.

• How long will it take to get qualified?

  This naturally depends on which nutrition courses or career packages you’re doing. If we take something like the Level 3 Nutrition to Support Physical Activity course, this can be completed in as little as 2-4 weeks. Something more advanced like the Level 4 Obesity and Diabetes Certificate can take 10-12 weeks to qualify.

  With each and every one of our nutrition courses, we provide comprehensive study guides to help you structure your learning. Alongside regular contact with your support tutor, we’ll ensure that you’re on track at every stage of your journey.

  What matters most at the end of the day is not how quickly you complete your nutrition qualification, but how much energy and commitment you apply to your studies.