CNELM offers a comprehensive package for nutritional therapy practitioners of NTEC accredited courses to return to practice. The package will vary depending on the length of time since the practitioner last practised and is in alignment with the requirements of BANT. 

The RTPP you would be enrolled on at CNELM is designed to meet BANT requirements for practitioners returning to practice. 

You are eligible to apply to us if you fit into one of the following:

1. Completed a nutritional therapy training course accredited by the Nutritional Therapy Education Commission (NTEC). Different levels of Return to Practice Requirements will depend on whether you have been out of practice between 2-3 years, between 3-7 years or more than 7 years. 
2. Completed a non-NTEC accredited course. You may be eligible to apply through the development of a Portfolio of Evidence to meet the requirements of BANT membership. 

In many instances applicants will be required to complete BANT Learning Modules prior to commencing supervised clinical practice at CNELM. BANT Learning Modules include with estimated learning hours:

• Practice Governance (10 hours)
• Functional Medicine Approach in Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine Clinical Practice (10 hours)
• Functional Testing (35 hours)

The minimum CNELM would provide to allow an applicant to Return to Practice would be:

• Provide clinical practice training to include an initial and follow-up appointment with 3 clients.
• Review and receive feedback on 2 of 3 Case Studies
• Provide a Certificate of Completion

• Students can enrol throughout the academic year
• Anticipated time for completion is 6 months inclusive of Preliminary Refresher
• Following successful completion graduates of the RTP programme can apply to BANT for full professional membership and if practising within the UK to register with the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).

• Completed an NTEC accredited course leading to nutritional therapy practice
• Not practised for 2-7 years
• Eligible on completion to become a professional practising member of BANT

Return to Practice students can combine BANT Learning Modules with CNELM’s preliminary refresher for preparing to see clients in our Supervised Teaching Clinic.

Preliminary Refresher includes: review of recorded consultations; IT Software used in the Teaching Clinic including data storage, client confidentiality, encryption of documents; GDPR and data control; Stakeholders and Professional Bodies, Fitness to Practice, Ethics and National Occupational Standards: consultation formats; clinic documents and clinic procedure; research for clinical practice, ‘safe’ use of nutritional supplements and drug-food-supplement interactions; laboratory testing; communicating with health professionals; use of language and health claims; RTP student; client, supervisor relationship; online consultations; booking clients in the Teaching Clinic. Review of case based assessment requirements.

Combining the BANT Learning Modules with the Preliminary Refresher enables RTP students to book clients at the earliest opportunity. As soon as the Refresher is started you will meet with the RTP course tutor who will guide you through the process.

The Clinic Manager, who is also Programme Leader of our Personalised Nutrition Practice Diploma will also meet with you and confirm bookings for clients. Consultations are via 2 or 3-way Zoom. 2-way Zoom is when the student and the client are in the same approved location and the clinic supervisor joins from their location. 3-way Zoom is when the RTP student, client and clinic supervisor are all in their own locations.

Following successful completion of the RTP programme you will receive a Certificate of Completion.

• Key Policies & Statements

Please review our Key Policies including the Payment, Charges and Refund Policy.

• Student Finance Options

The RTP programme is not open to Bursary Support. Healthcare professionals advised to review if tax considerations apply to them.

From the point of application to graduation we aim to provide you with robust support.

Dedicated members from our clinical team are there to support and guide you through the RTP process.

Clinic Supervisors will help you to develop the skills and competencies for returning to professional personalised nutritional therapy practice.

If you need to review your study plan you can meet with the Study Plan Manager. You can request to slow down your pace of study, or increase your pace of study. The Study Plan Manager would meet with you if you need to pause your studies for a period of time. Please note that lengthening study beyond 12 months will incur a continuation fee of £300 .

Our Student Support Manager is there to provide pastoral support, RTP students can schedule a time to throughout the academic year to discuss concerns they might have that are impacting upon their studies.

RTP students may also be referred to meet with our Coach Mentor, if considered an appropriate means of support for a student.

Applicants with a diagnosed learning need, or students that develop a learning need can meet with the Student Support Manager and our Learning Needs Support Manager.

IT and Administrative support is ongoing throughout studies.

Students that might meet a financial challenge can arrange to speak with our Finance Team.