The Natural Wellness Academy
What is the history of the Academy?
Founded by Dr. LJ Rose, a pioneering natural wellness expert and hypnotherapist, the Natural Wellness Academy began as The Raw Food Fairy and Raw Fusion Living companies in 2010, which offered raw foods products and educational services in hopes of creating a healthier America, when we realized we could impact exponentially more lives if we empowered coaching professionals to utilize our approach worldwide. The Academy officially began offering its keynote professional program, the Holistic Health and Life Coaching (originally Natural Wellness Coaching) Certification, in 2013. Following that initial cohort, we have enrolled and graduated numerous students representing almost 20 nations, grown our course offerings, expanded our faculty, and gained named recognition with various leading holistic health communities. We maintain a close relationship with our graduates, who have went on to open thriving coaching practices, start their own specialty certification programs at the Academy, publish acclaimed books and receive accolades, expand their original businesses to include a new revenue stream, and above all, change lives. You can read our full story here.
Who can enroll in courses?
Some of our longer and more intensive programs feature competitive admissions processes to ensure that students are prepared and able to complete a rigorous natural wellness education program (check a program’s individual page to see its requirements). Our consumer and continuing education courses feature open admissions and are available to anybody with payment of tuition.
Are your instructors qualified?
Our instructors undergo a strict vetting process that includes a thorough and holistic review of their educational, professional, and personal backgrounds to ensure that they can offer top-notch technical and practical expertise to our students. Generally speaking, we look for a combination of a master’s degree in a related field (e.g. nutrition, counseling, health science, biology), two years of related experience (e.g. healthcare, lifestyle coaching, fitness, alternative medicine, education), demonstrated expertise (e.g. publications, presentations, awards, peer recognition, certifications) in at least one area of natural wellness, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Our instructors are more than happy to personally discuss our programs with prospective students, so contact us if you have any questions. You can meet our instructors here.
How do I become an instructor?
We are always open to collaborating with leading natural wellness professionals to develop partnerships and curricula that provide the best possible value to our students. Generally speaking, we look for a combination of a master’s degree in a related field (e.g. nutrition, counseling, health science, biology), two years of related experience (e.g. healthcare, lifestyle coaching, fitness, alternative medicine, education), demonstrated expertise (e.g. publications, presentations, awards, peer recognition, certifications) in at least one area of natural wellness, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Individuals lacking the appropriate background but committed to the field should consider completing one of our certifications as a first step to becoming an Academy instructor. Feel free to contact us if you feel would like to discuss the possibilities. You can also check our careers page to view current and ongoing opportunities.
Are you accredited?
The Natural Wellness Academy is accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Additionally, we are approved by the National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWC) as a continuing education provider, so selected courses can be used as continuing education hours toward NBC-HWC recertification (see individual course pages for details on course eligibility). We are not currently accredited by an agency recognized by the Department of Education and therefore are not eligible to administer federal financial aid in the United States. However, accreditation is not necessary to practice as a coach, and the goal of our certification programs is to tie the benefits of our education directly to the job market. Many of our graduates have used the practical skills and experience they gained from our certification to launch successful careers and practices as health coaches and wellness specialists. We’d love to tell you more about what we can offer, so feel free to reach out with questions.
Do you offer continuing education credits?
We are approved by the National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWC) as a continuing education provider, so selected courses can be used as continuing education hours toward NBC-HWC recertification (see individual course pages for details on course eligibility). Other certifying bodies may allow you to petition to use our courses for credit.
Do you offer an affiliates program?
Yes, the Academy is pleased to offer an affiliates program. Click here to learn more and sign up for our affiliates program.
General Certification Questions
What are your admissions requirements?
The Academy accepts applications on a rolling basis. Students must be able to read and write fluent English. We consider each applicant on a case-by-case basis, utilizing a holistic admissions approach. Our review process is designed to gauge whether the student can perform the high level demanded by Academy standards, to understand the unique strengths that the student could bring to bear as a coach or guide, and to determine if the program aligns with the student’s background and goals.
What will I be prepared to do with this certification?
Each program focuses on a different sub-field of natural wellness. To learn more about what a specific program will prepare you to do, we suggest reading its course page and syllabus; you can also contact us for more information.
Generally, once you complete your certification, you can advertise yourself as a coach/guide and charge appropriate fees for guiding your clients to their goals, leading specific activities, serving as a supportive shoulder, and providing access to informational resources. You can offer your services to individuals, corporations, health clubs, integrative medicine wellness centers, hospitals, weight loss clinics, and more. In the coaching module integrated with most of our professional certifications, you will also learn practical aspects of the profession, such as contracts, fees and scheduling. Excellent graduates could be invited to the Academy as adjuncts to mentor students or even develop their own courses.
Our graduates have successfully launched wellness careers all over the globe, representing a diverse range of interests and approaches, ranging from helping individuals to working with the local Y or healthcare facilities to providing services to corporations as large as Google. We’d love to tell you about them, so feel free to reach out with questions.
Will the program satisfactorily prepare me to enter the field?
The requirements needed to obtain our certifications are competitive with those for other allied health certifications. Importantly, our graduates actual must demonstrate mastery—not simply rote memorization—of the subject material by submitting a final project, which requires the student to synthesize and apply concepts in an innovative manner. We emphasize real-world applications and results, so our most important mark of success is the success of our graduates (and their clients). Our graduates have successfully launched wellness careers all over the globe, representing a diverse range of interests and approaches, ranging from helping individuals to working with the local Y or healthcare facilities to providing services to corporations as large as Google (to name just a few). We’d love to tell you about them, so feel free to reach out with questions.
Am I able to do all of the course online?
For the most part, all of our courses consist of reading provided materials, watching assigned videos, participating in webinars, partaking in individual (distance) mentoring sessions with your instructor, responding to digitally-delivered self-study assignments, and completing a final project that should reflect the direction you plan to take with your certification. So, most of the program is done in your own time, in your own home (or wherever you choose!).
How long will it take me to complete the course?
Program length varies by course. Please check each program’s page or contact us for specific information about that course. Generally, students have twelve months from registration to complete the program, with a recommended minimum of six months. For most of our programs, a typical student takes 9-12 months.
What if I need more time?
Part of the process of becoming a wellness professional is performing at a high level while meeting deadlines. The Academy has an ethical responsibility to certify only qualified professionals, and students who are not fully committed to their studies will have a difficult time fulfilling that criterion. However, under extenuating circumstances, students may apply for an extension. Extensions are approved at the sole discretion of the Academy and typically require an additional tuition fee. Students who consistently turn in low quality work, do not submit work for an extend period of time without contacting an instructor, or submit work or behave in a manner that violates the rules of conduct discussed in our Terms of Use can be expelled from the program and the Academy.
Are there limitations to how one can represent themselves in various states?
Many states regulate the usage of certain professional titles, such as Dietitian, Nutritionist, Therapist, or Counselor. As our programs DO NOT train you to tell people what they should or not eat or to make medical recommendations, you should not use these titles, anyway. Coaching is more about holding a vision for your client, based on the input they have given you about their specific goals. You help them map out a plan of action and you hold them accountable for completing the steps that you have both agreed upon. You can also point them to information resources. Thus, after receiving your certification, you can accurately call yourself a coach or guide, with a specialization in your field of study. You can further protect yourself by utilizing a disclaimer and by working with the client’s physician. Additionally, avoid blanket statements like “this will heal you” and never offer to diagnose or prescribe. As a coach or guide, you educate and share inspiration and information.
Will I be able to practice hypnotherapy with this certification?
For students interested in practicing as a hypnotherapist, we offer a special program, Clinical Hypnotherapy, that prepares you to enter that field. Although some of our other courses cover hypnosis-like techniques, it would not be proper to represent yourself as a hypnotherapist; for those courses, you will learn basic tools for behavioral modification and stress relief and be able to help your clients by teaching them to tap into their subconscious minds.
Are there further certifications beyond this one?
The Academy offers numerous programs covering a diversity of natural wellness subfields. Please click here to see our latest course catalog.
Tuition and Finances
Do you offer scholarships/discounts for a program?
The Academy is proud to offer a limited number of need- and merit-based scholarships/discounts that reduce tuition expenses for qualified individuals. All applicants are automatically considered for scholarships based on the information they provide on their applications and during the onboarding process. You can also contact us to see what discounts might be available for specific program.
Do you offer financing options or payment plans for a program?
While the Academy prides itself on offering among the lowest tuition among peer institutions for comparable certifications, we understand that tuition can still be a concern for some students. Therefore, we are happy to offer a no-credit check, interest-free, monthly payment option with an initial down payment. Note that we cannot release diplomas until the completion of the payment plan. To inquire about a payment plan, please email support@naturalwellnessacademy.org or use our contact form.
As an additional way to make our programs more affordable, you can receive a referral fee for any new enrolling students you refer (click here to learn more).
What is your refund policy?
As noted in the Student Agreement, refunds may be allowed prior to course access, less any expenses incurred to the date of withdrawal. No refunds may be issued after course access has been granted. When students enroll through our online registration process, access is immediately granted, so if you have any questions, please contact us to speak to one of our student advisors before you enroll.
How can I make a payment?
Students with an approved payment plan will have received instructions on their payment arrangements and schedule during the onboarding process. Typically, the payment plan involves a recurring credit/debit card charge that occurs once each month until the tuition balance is zeroed out. Please contact us or email support@naturalwellnessacademy.org to inquire about a payment plan. Students with approved arrangements can also submit a payment by clicking here.
E-Book Purchases
How do I download my e-book purchase?
After you checkout, you’ll be redirected to a confirmation page. Click the link there to download instantly after purchase. (Click here to see a screenshot.) You’ll also receive an email receipt with the link. You can also find the link in your account using the email address you signed up with. If you have trouble, feel free to contact us.
Website and Technical Questions
How do I access my courses?
After you log in to your account, you can visit your course dashboard to see a list of courses in which you are enrolled.
How do I change my password?
You can change your password in your profile if you are logged in. If you have forgotten your password and cannot log in, use the forgot password form to reset it using your email address. If you do not have access to the email address you originally used to register, you will need to contact us.
Can I change my account's email address?
After you log in to your account, you can visit your profile in the dashboard to change your email address or password.
I'm having a problem not addressed here.
We apologize for any issues you are having. Please contact us with a description of your problem, and we will try to resolve it as soon as possible.
What happens to my course access after I graduate?
Enrolling in a paid course or program typically grants you lifetime access to the course materials provided, including access to online materials as long as the website is open. However, access policies vary by course. We encourage you to keep a copy of all of your materials for you own use by printing them or saving them on your computer (in accordance with the Student NDA). Access your course dashboard to see which courses are tied to your account. Graduates that need help accessing their coursework or materials can contact us.
How can I get technical support?
We apologize for any issues you are having. Please contact us for support.