1. What is the difference between your programs and other evidence-based, integrated nutrition, health coaching and holistic health practitioner programs?

The NIWH professional programs are ONLY available to licensed, credentialed and educated medical, allied health, mental health, health education, nutrition, wellness and fitness professionals. As the pioneers of Whole Health, our evidence-based, integrated nutrition and natural health progams are the most comprehensive on-line, evidence-based health science programs available. Each program contains as part of the patient health education course work, health andd wellness coaching competencies and cutting edge holistic health information.

Our programs are offered on-line through video streaming and include downloadable hard copy course materials. The Whole Health programs are nationally accredited, integrative health and nutrition curriculums for medical, allied health, mental health, nutrition and health education professionals who work in medical or health care settings, or conduct their own private practice or business in health care focused services.

Established in 1977, the National Institute of Whole Health's Whole Health Education® and Behavioral Engagement ™, is the first patient education and behavioral change model developed and utilized in clinical settings.

NIWH is the only program of its kind that provides enrollment into national insurance networks upon completion. In 2006, John Reed, MD, then Chief Medical Officer of the Health Support division of Healthways, Inc., one of the country's largest health insurance networks, worked with NIWH to establish criteria for acceptance of Whole Health Advocates and Health and Wellness Coaches into their national networks. As a result, all qualified NIWH professionals are eligible to be registered into the Healthway’s national networks. 

Whole Health Educators and Whole Health Coaches are medical, allied health, wellness, nutrition and health education professionals trained in a Whole Person Health™ model of patient education and behavioral change; this model invites individuals to understand how the physical, emotional, nutritional, environmental and spiritual aspects of their lifestyle affect their health and well being or impact disease states.

2. Are your programs accredited by national health organizations?

 NIWH is professionally accredited by major national health care organizations. NIWH is an accredited, approved and endorsed provider of professional continuing education for over a dozen health professional organizations. NIWH is the only nationally, professionally accredited provider in the field of Whole Health programs and courses.

3. Other programs do not require pre-requisites, why does NIWH?

As the pioneer and leader of the national Whole Health movement, the pre-requisites NIWH requires will allow its professionals to qualify for and participate in national insurance networks. This also allows for their patient education services to qualify for reimbursement in medical practices and health care environments. NIWH provides an up-to-date billing and coding manual, prepared by a nationally certified coding and billing expert, who is also the Director of Billing and Coding Compliance at a leading Boston Hospital. The billing manual is provided free of charge to medical and health care employers of NIWH Whole Health professionals.

In addition, pending national certifications and licensure will soon be required to work in the fields of health and wellness coaching. The pre-requisites to qualify for registration in NIWH and our professionally accredited, evidence-based programs have positioned NIWH to be recognized by national health education and health care leaders as one of the best evidence-based, Whole Health and wellness coaching  programs in the country.

The successful completion of an NIWH Whole Health program allows professionals to successfully achieve mainstream job placement in this exciting health care specialty.The entrance requirements and professional accreditation of the NIWH Whole Health programs are in keeping with national guidelines for the practice of and employment in the fields of wellness, medicine, patient health education and health coaching.

NIWH cautions those seeking to enter the fields of integrative health care, evidence-based, integrated nutrition or health and wellness coaching, to thoroughly evaluate the quality and authenticity of any training program they are considering. In addition, identify how the particular training translates into real credentials and credibility when seeking  mainstream job placement or employment.

Please read our free, downloadable Career Guide for some straight forward tips on finding the program that is right for you.

4. As a nurse professional, what are the benefits of taking one of the NIWH Whole Health programs?

There are many benefits for all nurse professionals in the NIWH Whole Health for Nurses program:

• NIWH provides ANCC approved on-line continuing education for nurses
• Nurses can use their approved contact hours for nurses to qualify for the national Holistic Nurse Certification examination
• Nurse professionals receive AHNA member discounts on program fees
• NIWH is an endorsed AHNA program
• NIWH is a Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing, endorsed program
• NIWH professionals are automatically enrolled as a Whole Health Patient Advocates and Health and Wellness Coaches in the Healthways national insurance network.