Nutrition Coaching Code of Conduct & Scope of Practice
Before diving into building your nutrition business it is important to know what a coach can and cannot do within the confines of the law and ethics under the Natural Nutrition Coach’s Scope of Practice. If you have taken a nutrition program offered outside of the Health Coach Collaborative’s Natural Nutrition Coach Certificate, please refer to your program’s Scope of Practice for further details on legalities and code of ethics.
The Scope of Practice sets out standards, limits, and conditions related to services offered by
the Health Coach Collaborative program. A graduate of the Natural Nutrition Coach® certificate
program:
1. Assumes accountability and responsibility in the provision of competent, safe, ethical,
and professional practice.
2. Recognizes that each person has unique nutritional needs.
3. Understands the meaning of natural nutrition, and as such, promotes a diet of natural, whole, locally grown, and organic foods, and sustainable farming practices.
4. Educates clients about the principles of prevention and self-responsibility as fundamental to any successful health care program.
5. Supports their clients to reach their personal wellness objectives.
6. Does not diagnose, does not make claims, and refrains from using words and terms such as diagnose, prevent, treat, cure, and heal.
7. Does not prescribe medication, directly order lab tests, or invasive procedures, as these
activities are reserved for licensed health care practitioners.
8. Does not advise clients to stop taking medications prescribed by licensed health care
practitioners.
9. Recognizes that supplementation with nutritional supplements and herbs may be helpful. Only supplements with an NPN number should be recommended to clients.
10. Recognizes when it is necessary to refer a client to their primary care physician for
treatment and/or diagnosis, or to another health care professional when deemed
appropriate.
11. The main services provided by a graduate of the Natural Nutrition Coach® Certification is:
a. Document the client’s goals, needs, and plans
b. Evaluate the client’s food choices, preparation, and intake.
c. Evaluate the client’s lifestyle and overall feeling of well-being.
d. Evaluate the client’s use of dietary supplements
e. Identify the client’s nutritional imbalance(s) and lifestyle habits without directly ordering lab tests, as this activity is reserved for licensed health care practitioners.
f. Support the progress of the client’s health goals by creating an individualized wellness program, which will include the use of whole, nutrient-dense foods; menu plans; nutritional and herbal supplements; and lifestyle modifications – including the use of non-toxic, environmentally friendly household/personal products
g. Provide further guidance to the client, if necessary, by explaining food labels, and by offering food preparation techniques and shopping tips.
h. Guide the client in the implementation of a long-term personal health plan, provide education when necessary, and offer ongoing assessments.
i. Monitor the client’s personal health plan in order to reinforce participation in the achievement of the health goals.
j. Act as a community educator to the public and to other health care professionals, developing curriculum, preparing manuals, writing articles, publishing books, and teaching.
k. Promote health discussions in schools, workplaces, and community agencies.
