Course Mentors play an important role in the classroom:

• They provide invaluable support to instruction teams.
• They help students solidify their understanding of concepts, especially the Client Consultation process.
• They answer questions, facilitate discussions, and help build community.
•They share their experience and expertise to inspire students on their journeys.

Course Mentor participation is reserved for applicants who:

• Commit to the NTA’s mission of delivering a science-based education that fosters a community of confident holistic nutrition professionals who harness the power of real food and empower people to reconnect with the innate wisdom and unique needs of their bodies, thereby supporting lasting wellness.
• Have deep knowledge of the program curriculum and a willingness to review it continuously.
• Are dedicated to helping students succeed.
• Are current in their NTA certification requirements.
•Exhibit a willingness to prepare, engage, and connect with students in ways that advance their education and enhance their classroom experience.

Selection of Course Mentors is determined in collaboration by the NTA’s academic and instruction teams. Applications will be reviewed and the applicant’s former instructor may be interviewed if further information is needed. Not everyone who applies will be selected and the review team is not required to provide an explanation as to why someone was or was not chosen for this session.

You will be notified of your selection status via email by the selection team at least one week prior to the start of class. If selected, you will be provided with access to the online classroom and will receive instruction and training from both the academic team and the classroom instructors.

This NTP Online session will start February 7, 2022 and end November 28, 2022.

To earn the benefits of service, Course Mentors must fulfill their duties for the entire duration of the program. There are no partial benefits for incomplete participation.

Course Mentors (CMs) are expected to adhere to the following standards of conduct to maintain the integrity of the NTA and the NTP Online program, provide an effective educational environment for all program participants, and ensure student safety in an online learning experience. Please carefully review each criterion below. Submission of the application indicates you understand and agree to uphold these expectations.

• CMs shall complete the training required by the selection team in a timely fashion.

• The primary role of a CM is to help students connect and collaborate to better understand the curriculum.

• CMs are required to conduct a monthly Zoom meeting with their assigned student cohort. Predetermined topics will be provided. Mentors will be supporting small groups of 8-10 students.

• CMs shall direct student questions, concerns, or frustrations to the instruction team when appropriate.

• CMs must always keep all information shared of a private nature strictly confidential on the discussion forums and during any Zoom meeting.

• CMs should limit questions to instructors on the discussion forums and during any Zoom meeting to prioritize student learning time.

• CMs must review all relevant reading, videos, etc. prior to the class Zoom meetings as well prior to the monthly mentor Zoom meetings with assigned cohorts.

• CMs are prohibited from teaching or discussing clinical skills outside of the NTP Scope of Practice (see below).

• CMs are prohibited from promoting any products or services (for profit) to students.

• CMs are prohibited from sharing or selling student contact information to any outside parties.

• CM performance will be reviewed by the instruction team and students after each term.

• In the rare event a conflict arises, the instruction team has complete authority and discretion to dismiss a Course Mentor.

• CMs are expected to commit about 10 hours a month to their class and cohort.

• CMs shall fully commit to the aforementioned criterion in order to maintain CM status throughout the course and to receive all CM benefits. No benefits are awarded for partial service.

Course Mentoring is a volunteer position, but has extensive benefits. During the NTPO Program, Course Mentors receive:

• Access to the latest curriculum with instructor support as available

• Training and support from the NTA to develop your skills as an educator on holistic nutrition topics

• Experience in fostering a community of collaboration and facilitating effective small group meetings

• The opportunity to cultivate your leadership skills with the guidance of seasoned experts in the field

After the NTP Program concludes in July 2022, Course Mentors who fulfill their responsibilities and uphold all expectations for the entirety of the program will receive the following benefits:

• 2 free years of NTA Membership --$99 value

• 1 free year subscription to Nutri-Q--$180 value

• Discounts to events and educational opportunities offered by the NTA in July 2022 - July 2023 (not transferable to future years)

• Course Mentor participation will be considered should a CM show interest in becoming a future member of the NTA
        Instruction Team.


*Please note that there are no benefits for partial service.

The Nutritional Therapy Association, Inc. prohibits any and all types of harassment, sexual harassment, or discrimination of its instructors, students, Course Mentors, or staff by other instructors, students, Course Mentors, staff, or outside parties. Harassment or discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, disability, veteran status, or other protected status, negatively affects morale, motivation, and job performance. It is inappropriate, offensive, and will not be tolerated.

Any instructor, student, Course Mentor, or staff who is aware of any concern with the individuals involved should report the alleged act immediately to the CEO of the NTA. If the instructor, student, Course Mentor, or staff is uncomfortable discussing the matter with the CEO, they should report the alleged act immediately to any member of the Nutritional Therapy Association, Inc.’s Board of Directors. Course Mentors are responsible for their own actions during classroom related activities. Course Mentors are expected to strictly adhere to the requirements in this application. Any signs of aggression, hostility, discrimination, harassment, or any other negative treatment towards students, the NTA, instructors, or guest speakers will not be tolerated.

Course Mentors shall defend, indemnify, and hold the NTA, its officers, officials, employees, independent contractors, guests, invitees, and volunteers harmless from any and all claims, injuries, damages, losses or suits, including attorney fees, arising out of or in connection with the performance of the duties and responsibilities as outlined in this application. Failure to adhere to these expectations may result in immediate dismissal.

The NTA expects all Course Mentors to be fully present and ready to participate effectively in all classroom activities and Zoom meetings. Zoom meetings are an extension of the NTA classroom and appropriate, professional, academic behavior is expected at all times. The use of recreational drugs, alcohol, or other chemical substances is strictly prohibited as they impair learning and cause disruption to the class. Any Course Mentor found to be using or under the influence of drugs or alcohol during a Zoom meeting will be removed from the program.

A Nutritional Therapy Practitioner™ (NTP) is a professional educated by the Nutritional Therapy Association, Inc.® NTPs are trained to evaluate a client’s nutritional needs and make bio-individual recommendations or provide follow-up support for dietary changes, lifestyle choices and nutritional supplementation based on the following:

• Client Interview
• Analysis of Client’s Food Journal
• Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire

All advice and support recommendations made by an NTP should be based on evidence-based, scientific information. An NTP is not trained to provide medical diagnoses, prescriptions, or treatment of any medical or pathological conditions, illnesses, diseases, or injuries. No recommendation or comment made by an NTP should be construed as medical advice or a diagnosis. Practitioners should be knowledgeable of the right to practice nutrition in their place of residence. You may find more legislative information on the NANP website.

Roles Performed by Nutritional Therapy Practitioners:

The role of an NTP is to provide non-biased health and nutrition information to friends, neighbors, associates, and the community. They educate the public on the cost/benefit of eating unprocessed, local, fresh, nutrient dense foods and quality nutritional products that support restoration of chronic nutritional deficiencies as well as lifestyle and environmental factors that contribute to these deficiencies.

NTPs Do:
• Promote a nutrient dense diet
• Focus on foundational nutrition
• Promote active lifestyles
• Teach ancestral eating principles
• Respect biochemical individuality

NTPs Don’t:
• Practice Medical Nutrition
• Diagnose and treat disease
• Make unproven health claims
• Misrepresent training
• Use unproven devices, assessments, or therapies
• Use network marketing or product sales in lieu of individual client education.

Distinguishing Features:
• Fresh, natural-foods basis
• Educational emphasis
• Client based, not method or product-based
• Refers to doctors for medical conditions
• Highest standard of accountability and integrity
• Uses informed consent and full disclosure forms
• Adheres to the NTA Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics of the Nutritional Therapy Association is intended to support the members of the Nutritional Therapy Association individually and collectively in maintaining a high level of ethical conduct. The standards are used to determine the propriety of conduct in relationships with clients, colleagues, members of allied professions, and the public. The purpose and values of the Nutritional Therapy Association guide this Code of Ethics.

• NTA professionals will participate in activities that improve the nutritional well-being of the client and the community.

• NTA professionals will strive continually to improve skill and knowledge, and make their professional attainments available to their clients and colleagues.

• An NTA professional’s services or protocols will be founded on a legal and practical basis. Practitioners will strive to work with others who uphold the highest letter of the law for our profession.

• An NTA professional will not exceed their scope of service or practice, either in abilities or by law.

• An NTA professional will choose whom he or she will serve. Having undertaken a client, however, they may not neglect the client unless discharged. The member may discontinue service only after giving due notice to the client.

• An NTA professional will seek consultation in doubtful or difficult cases, and whenever it appears that the services of other professionals are warranted to provide more complete or better-quality advice.

• An NTA professional will not reveal the confidences entrusted in the course of consultations, unless required to do so by law. NTA professionals will comply with relevant HIPPA guidelines.

• The professional of the Nutritional Therapy Association will guard the public and themselves against any nutritional counselor deficient in moral character or professional competence. They will obey all laws, uphold the dignity and honor of the profession and accept its self-imposed disciplines. They will oppose without hesitation illegal or unethical conduct of fellow members.

• An NTA professional will hold themselves to the highest level of moral and ethical character when interacting with clients and the public. Harassment or misconduct with clients or other professionals will not be tolerated.

• In pursuit of this code and these goals, an NTA professional will vigorously defend our first amendment right of freedom of speech and press to impart truthful information concerning diet and nutrition, and will defend the health freedom right of the public to obtain such data from the sources that they may choose.