FAQ

 

Is it possible to take courses for personal interest only?

Yes, NHC offers numerous courses for personal growth and development. Consult our website under Admissions or contact the office for more details on personal interest study.

 

When can I visit the school?

For a tour of the facilities and to meet some of the staff, please call the NHC office and book an appointment with the Academic Advisor. Alternately, you are welcome to drop into the Institute’s office for assistance and information.

 

When can I start?

Today! The NHC accepts Personal Interest students throughout the school year.  Courses and workshops are offered year round.  Diploma and/or Certificate students must apply to their program of interest in advance.  Starting dates are September, January and April.  Please contact the Academic Advisor for further information or consult our website under Admissions.

 

What is the difference between a diploma & certificate?

For students of Naturopathy and Bodywork, a Diploma option is available.  Both diplomas are a minimum of four years study. All of our certificates (with the exception of Reiki) meet and surpass the curriculum requirements set by our affiliated associations.  Graduating diploma and certificate students are prepared to move into professional practice.

 

How much will a diploma/certificate cost?

Presently, all courses and programs are calculated at the rate of $13.00 per hour of in class instruction.  Example: the 485 hour Massage Practitioner program can be calculated by multiplying the total number of in class instructional hours (385 hours by $13.00.  There is no charge for case studies.   This cost includes all taxes.  Added fees are as follows: a $5 administration fee for each class and a $30 student fee.  Textbooks are extra.

Certificate	Total In Class Hours	Total Cost including course and student fees (Text books extra)
Massage Practitioner (one year full time OR two years part time)	385 x $13.00	$2502.5 (per year part time) $5005 (one year full time)

Do you have correspondence courses?

At this time we do not.  However, we do offer online courses that combine online study with monthly workshops at the Institute. We also offer one course (biology) that is entirely given online.  Call the office for further details or consult our website.

 

What jobs can I get once I complete a certificate/diploma?

The market for complimentary health practitioners is growing and expanding in various new directions.  The motivated and committed graduate can access these new areas – such as integrated health centers, various segments of public health, holistic spas, outreach programs, retreat centers, etc. Many of our graduates move into a private or combined practice with other CAM specialists.  Many also compliment their private practice with teaching and consulting.

What is the history of the NHC?

Institute NHC was founded in 1991 by Nancy Hamilton. When Nancy was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she began a quest to heal herself and discovered that with the help of complementary medicine she could be symptom free.

The Institute’s goal is to offer holistic-based training for therapists wishing to specialize in complimentary and alternative medicine. Professional certification is offered in Naturopathy, Massage, Acupressure, Reflexology, Vibrational Medicine and Naturotherapy. Ongoing professional development courses are available as well.

Over the years the school has remained committed to personal exploration and self development courses as well, joyfully offering a holistic educational experience that facilitates and empowers students to look within.

 

How many students study at NHC?

We have a total of approximately 275 students of which 100 students are in Professional Development and Certification streams

The Personal Development population including course and workshop students is 150+ annually.

 

How is the Institute recognized?

Both the federal and provincial governments recognize institute NHC as a non-profitable, charitable educational institution and tax receipts are available at the end of each calendar year.

 

Is the training given by Institute NHC officially recognized?

Québec is one of the 13 members of the Canadian federation, a British- style constitutional monarchy. Under the 1867 CanadianConstitution, Québec, along with the other Canadian provinces and territories, has the exclusive right to make its own laws in matters of education.

There is no ministry responsible for education at the federal level; ministries of education exist only at the provincial and territorial levels. InQuébec, the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport is the government body responsible for promoting access to specific forms of education.

It has four levels of education: elementary (which also includes preschool), secondary, college and university.

Like all other schools in Quebec of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NHC is not recognized under this umbrella. The reason for this is that CAM field of study is considered fairly new in comparison to other forms of health care practices. Though the natural approach to healing is in fact older than what is deemed as traditional medicine, it has not had a formal education until the past 30 years. This subject is under considerable review.

 

Are there grants or loans available to study at NHC?  Can I claim my tuition when filing my annual taxes?

Since the NHC Institute is a recognized educational institute both federally and provincially, tuition tax receipts are provided to students for both Revenue Canada and the Ministère du revenue.

NHC Institute is also recognized by Immigration Canada, the Canadian Tax and Revenue Agency, and Statistics Canada as a private training institution. 

The NHC is not recognized by the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (MELS), therefore government loans and bursaries are not available.  Personal bank loans, part-time study and flexible payment plans are options to aid students.

What is the legal recognition of Naturopaths in Quebec?

In Quebec, there are four categories of professionals. The first is for those with a professional title such as a psychologist. The second is for those with both a professional title and order such as doctors or acupuncturist etc. These first two categories fall under the auspices of the l’Office des professions du Québec (OPQ). The third category is for professionals whom no professional title or order exist but whose training and work sector are overseen by the government. Such is the case for teachers who are regulated by the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport. Finally, there are “emerging” professionals who find themselves in a kind of jurisdictional void which is not overseen by any governmental body. It is in this last category that we find most alternative practices with the exception of (Note that there are professional orders for alternative practices such as chiropractics, acupuncturists and midwives, all of whom are recognized by the OPQ).

In a report published in 1993, the OPQ concluded that Naturopathy was harmless and did not require the creation of a professional order, nor recognition from the government. It was recommended that this practice should be overseen by credible independent professional associations.  It is for this reason that associations were formed.

The benefits of being part of an association is that it allows practitioners of natural therapies to be recognized by a professional organization who informs and directs audiences to natural therapy practitioners who have proper credentials from recognized schools of natural therapies such as the NHC.

NHC prides itself to be recognized by associations with high educational standards. These associations have a code of conduct, a disciplinary committee, internal regulations and criteria for training.