This content was published: September 5, 2011. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Nutritional Therapy earns national accreditation, starts this fall
Photos and story by James Hill
A new program at Portland Community College designed to teach diet, nutrition and lifestyle-wellness skills has been accredited by a national nutrition organization.
The Nutritional Therapy Program at the CLIMB Center (1626 S.E. Water Ave.) will start fall term on Monday, Sept. 26. It recently was accredited by the National Association of Nutrition Professionals, which will allow graduates of the program to take the organization’s board exam in holistic nutrition.
“The career options are numerous. They can freelance, set up their own consulting business as a nutritional therapist, work for one of the health food stores, a chiropractor, a naturopathic physician, or start teaching. There are really lots of options once they finish,” said Sharmila Bose, coordinator of the Nutritional Therapy Program at CLIMB.
“Once they pass their exam they have to complete 500 hours of practicum and then they will become truly certified,” said Sharmila Bose, coordinator of Nutritional Therapy. “The career options are numerous. They can freelance, set up their own consulting business as a nutritional therapist, work for one of the health food stores, a chiropractor, a naturopathic physician, or start teaching. There are really lots of options once they finish.”
CLIMB’s Nutritional Therapy courses are taught over the duration of four terms. Most courses are on Saturdays and Sundays for a total of 16 hours. Classes are designed so that participants can enter this series of study any term. While designed as a term course, each monthly, second-weekend offering can be taken individually if the student’s interest is in a particular area of study. In alternating terms, online Biochemical Foundations/Nutrients and Anatomy and Physiology courses will be offered.
“This course is designed specifically for the adult learner, and the schedule accommodates those with busy lives,” said instructor K.P. Khalsa, who teaches nutritional assessment and food therapy. “Nutritional Therapy is an emerging profession, and there is no clearly defined career path, so graduates will need to be able to carve out their respective professional niche in the field. The type of person who does best in this course is a self-motivated entrepreneur. That said, there are numerous positions in industry for people with this credential, and graduates will have numerous opportunities to compete at a high level for employment in many areas, including retail, quality control, regulation, food policy and the import sector.”
Classes in the program will cover such topics as assessment, physical health and fitness, biochemical foundations and pathophysiology, Ayurveda (a form of
K.P. Khalsa, PCC nutritional therapy instructor.
traditional medicine found in India), traditional Chinese medicine and herbalism, business practice and ethics, nutritional research and resources, nutritional counseling, and buying, cooking and storing food. Once students complete the program and achieve certification, they will have the skills to offer personal and clinical nutrition counseling, manage their careers and businesses, collaborate with health provider colleagues and maximize a client’s physical and behavioral outcomes.
“This is an innovative and cutting edge program,” added Khalsa. “PCC CLIMB is a leader in this field and always presents quality education in a modern atmosphere with high quality facilities and resources. I am a licensed dietitian-nutritionist, and have been in the natural-healing field for 40 years, so I have taught very many nutritional therapy classes, in many venues. Holistic health careers are near the top of the 10 most promising careers for the next generation. This will be a great opportunity for students to enter a rapidly developing field and embark on a career with tremendous current and future potential.”
For more information on the Nutritional Therapy classes, visit: www.pcc.edu/climb/health/nutritional-therapy
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »