Diplomas
Diploma in Naturopathy
Naturopathy is not a therapy but a philosophy of health, combining vitalistic principles with biological sciences. All civilisations have used natural means to assist the body’s natural healing processes. Naturopathic medicine today draws on these ancient understandings and integrates it with modern day scientific knowledge. The scope of practice of Naturopaths includes a large range of healing modalities such as nutrition, homeopathy, herbal medicine, hydrotherapy, body work and stress management techniques.
The central approach is always to address the underlying causes of disease and to treat the person – not their symptoms. The focus is to facilitate and promote the body’s self-healing mechanisms, restoring harmony in the mind, body and spirit.
"The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease."- Thomas A. Edison
Course Outline
This qualification provides core knowledge and skills for clinical practice as a professional Naturopath.
Subjects studied include:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Practice
- Nutrition
- Iridology
- Relaxing massage
- Therapeutic massage
- Aromatherapy
- Zone therapy
- Lymphatic drainage
- Flower essences
- Tissue salts
- Herbs
- Homeobotanicals
- Homeopathy
- First Aid - this is not included in your fees. It is the responsibility of the student to undertake a First Aid course to complete the Diploma in Naturopathy.
At the successful completion of year one, students will have a firm understanding of the principles and philosophies of naturopathy, and will gain a National Certificate of Relaxation Massage and a Certificate of Natural Therapies. By the completion of year two a National Certificate of Complementary Therapies is awarded. Upon final graduation of year three students can register with the NZ Society of Naturopaths and Naturopaths of New Zealand as registered naturopathic practitioners.
Course Duration
This diploma is 3 years full time (approximately 30 hours per week) or 6 years part time (approximately 15 hours per week).
Workshop Requirements
Workshops are a compulsory and essential part of training, offering students the opportunity to expand and develop their skills, network with fellow students and benefit from the knowledge of our tutors. The workshops are very interactive with lots of practical skills both taught and assessed.
For Naturopathic students it is compulsory to attend a workshop for each year of study. You are required to attend a 5 day workshop for Year 1 and Year 2, and a workshop of two weeks duration during Year 3.
Effective 2009 the year three workshop has been extended to two weeks duration. The second week supports the development of clinical skills through supervised Clinical Practice and case discussions, as well as covering additional modalities such as Ayurveda for Naturopaths, External Therapeutic Applications, Natural Fertility, Relaxation and Stress Management Techniques and presentations by guest speakers.
Students who apply for accredited prior learning of certain units will be required to attend a year one workshop for refresher and assessment prior to receiving a Certificate in Natural Therapies.
Students must not confirm any travel arrangements until workshop bookings are scheduled and confirmed by the Student Support Officer. The College reserves the right to cancel workshops where, in rare cases, the minimum number of students required is not met. Students must consider this when making travel arrangements. It is therefore recommended that ‘flexi options’ be considered when confirming travel arrangements.
Portfolio of Evidence
Throughout the course of the Diploma, students are required to gain practical experience to support their learning. Before proceeding each year and prior to final graduation being awarded, a Portfolio of Evidence must be submitted to the College. This is a clinical record of all practical work completed throughout your training.
The minimum requirement over the three years is 500 hours, including 150 hours of massage practical, 150 hours of naturopathic consultations and 200 miscellaneous hours. It is the student's responsibility to gain these hours. This practical experience greatly enhances the student's advancement as a professional practitioner. Diploma of Naturopathy students are required to submit a copy of their Portfolio of Evidence to the College at the end of each year of study.
Entry Criteria
Applicants must have completed Year 11 or equivalent secondary school education, must be at least aged 18, able to read, speak and comprehend English language (for international non-English speaking applicants a level 6.5 IELTS).
Intakes
There are five intakes per year in January, March, May, July and September. For more information go to the enrolment section.
Fees
Course fees are $2400 per year. Text book costs, medical equipment and administration fees are in addition to this. For detailed information on fees please go to the enrolment section.
Career Pathways
- Private clinical practice
- Integrative practice with doctors, nurses, physiotherapists or other complementary therapists
- Natural health product company representatives and product consultant
- Working along side midwives in pre conceptual, pregnancy and post natal health care
- Teaching workshops and community education
- Working with businesses on Staff Wellness programmes
- Owning and managing health, whole food and organic stores
- Working as an advisor or consultant to health stores, herbal dispensaries or pharmacies
- Growing medicinal herbs and manufacturing herbal products
- Working in specialist areas
Course Curriculum
Please note that the following curriculum is new for 2010. If you are an existing student please contact us for details on your next years curriculum.
YEAR 1
MODULE 1
| Unit | Module 1 |
|---|---|
| AN1 | Introduction to Naturopathy |
| 6418 | Demonstrate knowledge of normal human structure and function in a health context |
| 12725 | Describe the organisational structure and functional characteristics of the human body |
| 12702 | Describe cells and tissues of the human body |
| NS01 | Factors Influencing Nutrition |
| 12713 | Describe the Integumentary system of the human body |
| 12719 | Describe the human musculoskeletal system |
| AN3 | Vibrational Medicine |
| 12699 | Describe blood and its components in the human body |
| 12700 | Describe the human cardiovascular system |
| AN4 | Biochemic Tissue Salts |
| 12715 | Describe the human lymphatic system |
| 12711 | Describe human body defence mechanisms and immunity |
| 14793 | Maintain client health records in complementary therapies practice |
| 14963 | Demonstrate knowledge of and prepare for massage practice |
| 14964 | Select and use massage equipment and materials in clinical practice |
| 14796 | Demonstrate massage relaxation techniques in complementary therapies practice |
| 14969 | Demonstrate massage techniques in a clinical practice setting |
To complete year one and to gain the National Certificate of Relaxation Massage you are required to complete unit 6400, 6401 and 6402 First Aid. The cost of this is not included in your fees and the course is the responsibility of the student.
| Unit | First Aid |
|---|---|
| 6400 | Manage first aid in emergency |
| 6401 | Provide Basic First Aid |
| 6402 | Provide basic life support resuscitation level 2 |
MODULE 2
| Unit | Module 2 |
|---|---|
| 12704 | Describe principles of chemistry in the human body for core health |
| 12722 | Describe the nervous system of the human body |
| AN2 | Flower Essences |
| 12730 | Describe the special senses of the human body |
| 12708 | Describe the endocrine system of the human body |
| 12728 | Describe the human respiratory system |
| NS02 | Macronutrients – Water, Proteins, Fats and Carbohydrates |
| 12706 | Describe the human digestive system |
| 12717 | Describe the processes of human metabolism |
| 12731 | Describe the urinary system of the human body |
| 14801 | Demonstrate therapeutic quality of physical body contact in complementary therapies practice |
| 21934 | Massage selected muscles and tissues in a relaxation massage practice |
| 17346 | Apply zone therapy to the feet in a relaxation massage setting |
MODULE 3
| Unit | Module 3 |
|---|---|
| Herbal 1 | Introduction to Herbs |
| 6416 | Comply with regulatory requirements in the health sector |
| 6417 | Maintain safety of client and self in a health care context |
| AN11 | Introduction to Aromatherapy |
| NS03 | Vitamins and Minerals |
| 6421 | Use problem solving approaches in health care |
| 6127 | Describe ethical behaviour in a healthcare context |
| NS04 | Digestion and Metabolism of Nutrients |
| 6419 | Demonstrate knowledge of abnormal human structure in a health context |
| 12726 | Describe the reproductive system of the human body |
YEAR 2
MODULE 4
| Unit | Module 4 |
|---|---|
| N4 | Developing Client Case Taking Sheets |
| AN5 | Introduction to Homeobotanical Therapies |
| 12707 | Demonstrate knowledge of the role and responses of the human digestive system |
| NS05 | Special Health Requirements and Life Stages |
| 12720 | Demonstrate knowledge of bones, muscles and skeletal tissues of the human body |
| 12716 | Demonstrate knowledge of the role and responses of the human lymphatic system |
| 14802 | Use trigger points in complementary therapies |
| 14968 | Use palpation in a massage clinical practice setting |
| Herbal 2 | Herbal Medicine for human body systems |
MODULE 5
| Unit | Module 5 |
|---|---|
| 14794 | Perform general physical examination in complementary therapies practice |
| 14790 | Perform diagnostic tests in complementary therapies practice |
| 14788 | Complete holistic health assessment and treatment objectives in complementary therapies practice |
| 12723 | Demonstrate knowledge of the structure and function of the human nervous system |
| 12724 | Demonstrate knowledge of human neurophysiology |
| 14805 | Manage continuing professional development in complementary therapies practice for client self care |
| 6422 | Act in a culturally sensitive way in health care context |
| 20100 | Maintain communications in a professional manner with clients and their support people in a health care context |
| Herbal 3 | Herbal Medicine for human body systems |
| NS06 | Theoretical approaches to nutrition |
MODULE 6
| Unit | Module 6 |
|---|---|
| 12732 | Demonstrate knowledge of the role and responses of the human urinary system |
| 6413 | Apply knowledge of individuals, groups and communities in a health and wellness context |
| Herbal 4 | Herbal Medicine for human body systems |
| 6420 | Apply knowledge of health environmental factors to the promotion of wellness |
| 14785 | Demonstrate knowledge of diseases and disorders in the human body |
| 14803 | Develop a health care programme in complementary therapies practice for client self care |
| AN6 | Aspects of Naturopathy – Iridology |
| NS07 | Detoxification |
YEAR 3
MODULE 7
| Unit | Module 7 |
|---|---|
| 12710 | Describe maintenance of fluid, electrolyte and acid base balance in the human body |
| 12701 | Demonstrate knowledge of the role and responses of the human cardiovascular system |
| Herbal 5 | New Zealand Native Plants |
| 12712 | Demonstrate knowledge of human immune response and resistance to disease |
| 12727 | Demonstrate knowledge of the role and responses of the human reproductive system |
| 14798 | Use lymphatic drainage techniques in complementary therapies practice |
| 14806 | Demonstrate knowledge of the management of a professional complementary therapies clinical practice |
| 14807 | Provide client care in complementary therapies clinical practice |
| 14786 | Demonstrate knowledge of human pathology |
MODULE 8
| Unit | Module 8 |
|---|---|
| 12729 | Demonstrate knowledge of the role and responses of the human respiratory system |
| AN8 | Counselling skills for Natural Therapies |
| 14792 | Perform diagnostic decision making in complementary therapies practice |
| 14791 | Apply diagnostic data in complementary therapies practice |
| 14789 | Refer client for clinical tests, examinations or opinions in a complementary therapies setting |
| AN7 | Aspects of Naturopathy – Homeopathy |
| 12709 | Demonstrate knowledge of the role and responses of the human endocrine system |
| AN10 | Hydrotherapy |
| 12718 | Biochemistry |
MODULE 9
| Unit | Module 9 |
|---|---|
| 14754 | Describe stress management and relaxation techniques in clinical massage practice setting |
| AN9 | Introduction to Research |
| N1 | Integrated Naturopathic Case Studies |
| N2 | Herb Drug Interactions |
| N3 | Naturopathic Therapeutic Treatment of Disease |
| Case Studies 1 - 50 | |
| Portfolio of Evidence | |
| Theory Examination | |
| Practical Examination |
