1. How many years has alive Academy been in operation?
2. Why distance education?
3. Do I need a computer?
4. Are your courses recognized?
5. How do I register and enroll?
6. What is your admissions policy?
7. I don't live in Canada. Can I still enroll?
8. Once I register, how long will it take to receive my course?
9. What methods of payment do you accept?
10. Is government funding available?
11. Do you issue receipts for income tax purposes?
12. Are the textbooks included in the cost of the course?
13. Who will help me if I need assistance during my studies?
14. What are the programs offered?
15. Will alive Academy give me credits for courses I have already taken?
16. What is the length of a course?
17. How many hours will I spend studying per week?
18. How long do I have to complete my program?
19. Can I complete a course or program sooner?
20. What if I can't complete my course/program on time?
21. How long does it take to receive my test/exam results?
22. I’ve finished my lesson tests. How do I register for the final exam?
23. How are final exams conducted?
24. What can I expect for the final exam?
25. What happens if I fail the final exam?
26. Where can I read your policies?
27. Can I take a course for general interest?
28. What credentials will I receive when I graduate?
29. Do you provide your graduates with job placement opportunities?
30. What career options are available to your graduates?
31. What kind of salary range can be expected in this field of study?
32. What are the differences between a Nutritionist, Nutritional Consultant, and Dietician?
33. Are my services covered by insurance plans/providers?

1. How many years has alive Academy been in operation?

alive Academy has been educating the public since 1992.

2. Why distance education?

Distance education and online learning give you the flexibility to create your own learning environment, study at your own pace, and self-manage your personal, professional, and educational goals without the restrictions of traditional schooling.

3. Do I need a computer?

Yes. You must have a computer to write and submit your tests and exams. You must also have a valid email address.

4. Are your courses recognized?

Yes. Our courses and programs are recognized by the following:

Federal Government: We are certified by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) which enables us to issue legal tuition tax receipts (Federal and Provincial).

Provincial Government: We are registered with the Private Career Training Institutions Agency of British Columbia established under the Private Institutions and Developmental Programs branch of the Ministry of Advanced Education of BC.

Professionals of the trade: We are accredited by the International Organization of Nutritional Consultants (IONC) (accreditation is pending for the new edition of our Nutritional Consulting diploma program), the American Association of Nutritional Consultants (AANC), and the Canadian Examining Board of Health Care Practitioners (CEBHCP).

Other accreditations and affiliations: National Association of Career Colleges (NACC), Health Action Network Society (HANS), BC’s Career Colleges Association (BCCCA), College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC), Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba (MTAM), British Columbia Recreation & Parks Association (BCRPA), Massage Therapists’ Association of Nova Scotia (MTANS), Canadian Acupressure College (CAC), American Holistic Health Association (AHHA).

5. How do I register and enroll?

You can purchase courses directly on our Courses + Programs page and start learning right away. It’s that easy! You can also email, fax, or mail an Enrollment Form(s) along with payment. Enrollment forms can be downloaded from our website in the Admission and Courses + Programs sections.

6. What is your admissions policy?

Admission to alive Academy is open throughout the year, allowing you to begin your studies at any time if you are 17 years of age or older. It is strongly recommended that you have a high school diploma or equivalency. An excellent command of the English language is also required.

Students are enrolled once the completed and signed student enrollment form(s) is returned to alive Academy and/or payment (full or partial) has been received.

7. I don't live in Canada. Can I still enroll?

Yes. That’s precisely the point of distance learning: you can study from anywhere in the world! Your courses are sent to you by postal mail, while help and support are provided by phone or email. Shipping is also free within North America. alive Academy is also accredited and endorsed by many internation organizations.

For all international students, tuition and other fees are to be paid in US dollars.

8. Once I register, how long will it take to receive my course?

Generally, we advise students to allow 1 to 2 weeks for delivery—2 to 6 weeks for international shipping addresses. Paying by credit card is fastest as courses are not shipped until payment is received. We can also expedite shipping at an additional cost.

9. What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept Visa, Mastercard, personal cheques, and money orders.

10. Is government funding available?

alive Academy does not accept student loans at this time. However, we are certified by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) which enables us to issue legal tuition tax receipts (T2202A), so students and employers can claim a portion or all of their tuition fees back as a tax deduction.

11. Do you issue receipts for income tax purposes?

Yes. alive Academy is certified by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) which enables us to issue legal tuition tax receipts (T2202A) so students and employers can claim a portion or all of their tuition fees back as a tax deduction.

12. Are the textbooks included in the cost of the course?

Yes. All required texts and materials are included in the course fees.

13. Who will help me if I need assistance during my studies?

A toll-free help line and a Student Services team are available to assist students during the course of their studies. Please allow a minimum of 2 business days for alive Academy to respond to your inquiries. If your questions are pertaining to specific course content, they may be forwarded to an Academic Advisor(s). Please allow a minimum of 5 business days to respond to those questions.

You can also interact with other students for support. Read, respond, and post messages via email or online forums. Share your discoveries with others, and learn from them.

14. What are the programs offered?

alive Academy has 2 diploma programs:

1. Advanced Nutrition
2. Nutritional Consulting

Each diploma program is comprised of our certificate courses. Visit the
Courses + Programs section for more information.

We are in the process of expanding our curriculum and will have additional programs available in the near future. Check back on our website for updates.

15. Will alive Academy give me credits for courses I have already taken?

Yes. Students may be eligible to receive a transfer credit at the alive Academy for courses completed at other academic institutions. The alive Academy normally accepts, as eligible for transfer credit, all courses successfully completed at recognized academic institutions within the past ten years if a satisfactory grade has been achieved. The alive Academy will credit such courses toward satisfying requirements of the program to which the student is enrolled.

If you feel that you are eligible to receive a transfer credit, please download the Transcript Review Request form and return the completed form along with payment to alive Academy. Please note that photocopies and faxed copies of official transcripts, as well as statements of grades issued to students, will not be accepted. All out-of-country transcripts must be accompanied by a current resum and course outline, with relevant courses highlighted on accompanying documentation.

Transfer credits are not accepted for the Natural Health Fundamentals certificate course.

16. What is the length of a course?

Courses range from 4 months to 8 months in length. An additional month is provided to register for and write final exams (for applicable courses).

17. How many hours will I spend studying per week?

Approximately 10 hours or more should be devoted to study each week to successfully complete a course. This is dependent on the pace and aptitude of each student.

18. How long do I have to complete my program?

If you have paid upfront for courses in a diploma program, you are required to finish the program within the maximum number of months provided for each course in that program. If you are taking courses one at a time on an individual basis, you can earn your diploma as soon as all of the applicable courses of that program have been successfully completed. There are no time constraints for these students other than the allotted time provided for each course.

19. Can I complete a course or program sooner?

Yes. This depends on the pace and aptitude of each individual student. Some students are able to complete the course or program sooner than the allotted time.

20. What if I can't complete my course/program on time?

Students may request extensions, in writing, to alive Academy if additional time is required to complete a course. Extension requests must outline the circumstances preventing the student from completing the course on time and the length of extension requested.

Extension requests will only be approved for students with extenuating circumstances such as a medical emergency or death in the family. Appropriate documentation must be submitted for approval.

If an extension is requested without extenuating circumstances, the maximum extension length will be 2 months for courses with a duration of 5 months and 4 months for courses with a duration of 9 months. The student will be required to pay $100.00 plus GST/HST (if applicable).

Approvals and time limits for extensions will be evaluated on an individual basis and are up to the discretion of alive Academy.

Students who have commenced their course/program and have failed to submit assignments on time are given “non-complete” status if an extension request is not submitted. “Non-complete” status will be removed only if the extension request is approved. If the extension is not approved, “non-complete” status will be removed if the student decides to re-enroll into the course/program at full price.

All fees are to be paid in US dollars for international students.

21. How long does it take to receive my test/exam results?

Since tests and exams are written online, your results are available immediately after submitting the test/exam.

22. I’ve finished my lesson tests. How do I register for the final exam?

Upon completion of all lesson tests with an overall mark of 80 percent or higher, complete and submit the final exam registration form found on the Online Leaning Centre to alive Academy.

Please allow a minimum of 10 business days for alive Academy to prepare and send the final exam or final exam enrollment key to your proctor. We recommend that you confirm the date and time of the exam with your proctor before the scheduled exam date. Final exams will not be returned to students.

23. How are final exams conducted?

To ensure valid test results, alive Academy requires students to locate a suitable proctor—a registered member of a profession—to supervise you while you write the final exam. Registered professions include: educator, librarian, faith leader, doctor, nurse, hospital technologist, accountant, and/or professional engineer. Family members are not eligible to supervise final exams. Final exams must be completed at public institutions. alive Academy reserves the right to refuse proctors and/or final exam locations deemed unsuitable.

A proctor ensures that all examination procedures and criteria set by alive Academy are adhered to, a process that is often referred to as invigilation. Your examination and instructions will be made available to your proctor who will then invigilate you for the period of the examination, verify invigilation criteria, and return/submit your examination to alive Academy of  for marking. Final exams can be taken online, but must also be supervised.

24. What can I expect for the final exam?

All final exams are open-book, three-hour exams consisting of 100 true or false and multiple choice questions. Final exam questions are based on the information covered in the lesson notes (iff applicable), required readings, and lesson quiz/test questions.

Students have one month after their course completion date to register for and write the final exam once all tests and assignments have been successfully completed and graded. Final exams are supervised by a proctor.

Please note that final exams are not returned to students.

25. What happens if I fail the final exam?

You must obtain a grade of at least 80 percent overall to successfully complete a course. Final exams are worth 60 percent of your overall grade. If a grade of 80 percent overall is not achieved, you will be required to rewrite the final exam for a fee of $75.00 CDN plus GST/HST (if applicable). After two failures you will be required to re-enroll and pay the full tuition fees.

26. Where can I read your policies?

Policies can be found on the Online Learning Centre.

27. Can I take a course for general interest?

Yes! alive Academy specializes in training current or prospective natural health professionals, but health and wellness enthusiasts can take courses for personal enrichment and general interest.

28. What credentials will I receive when I graduate?

Certificate Courses:

Herbal Consulting—Certified Herbal Consultant (CHC)
Sports & Fitness Nutrition—Certified Sports Nutrition Consultant (CSNC)

Diploma Programs:

Advanced Nutrition—Certified Holistic Nutritionist (CHN)
Nutritional Consulting—Certified Nutritional Consultant (CNC)

Graduates of our diploma programs are also eligible to apply for additional designations from the following organizations: International Organization of Nutritional Consultants (IONC) (accreditation for the new edition of our Nutritional Consulting diploma program is pending), American Association of Nutritional Consultants (AANC), and the Canadian Examining Board of Health Care Practitioners (CEBHCP).

29. Do you provide your graduates with job placement opportunities?

Graduates have the option of submitting their resumes to alive Academy which can be distributed to our contacts (over 1500) in the natural health and wellness industry.

30. What career options are available to your graduates?

In 2005 natural health product sales reached $44 billion dollars in North America which marked an overall industry growth of 10 percent from 2004. The natural health industry is booming offering numerous employment opportunities such as:

• Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioner (RNCP)
• Registered Nutritional Counsellor (RNC)
• Certified Sports Nutrition Consultant (CSNC)
• Certified Nutritional Consultant (CNC)
• Certified Holistic Nutritionist (CHA)
• Certified Herbal Consultant (CHC)
• Certified Natural Health Practitioner (CNHP)
• Health food retailer/owner/manager
• Health food restaurant owner, cook, or caterer
• Food program coordinator
• Organic farming apprentice
• Natural health promotion and marketing
• Health or medical office receptionist
• Pharmacist assistant
• Health coach
• Supplement manufacturer’s sales representative
• Supplement manufacturer’s lab assistant
• Natural health speaker or writer
• Herbalist or herb cultivator
• Aromatherapist
• Complementary practitioner’s assistant

Please visit the Professional Futures section of our website for additional information.

31. What kind of salary range can be expected in this field of study?

Graduates can earn anywhere from $30,000 to $80,000 annually depending on which designation they have earned. Nutritional Consultants reflect the higher end of this range.

32. What are the differences between a Nutritionist, Nutritional Consultant, and Dietician?

A nutritional consultant has expertise in the natural health and nutrition fields and can offer an unbiased opinion and nutritional advice. In other words, a nutritional consultant teaches a person what he or she needs to do to regain health and vitality. A nutritional consultant does not diagnose, prescribe, or treat disease but offers nutritional information with which to build health or helps a client with dietary changes as recommended by a client’s health professional.

Since each of us is unique biochemically, what works for one person may be of little benefit to another. Very few bodies conform to norms, averages, or standardized “one-size-fits-all” approaches. For this reason, a successful nutritional consultant must have training that combines scientific principles with practical skills of individual assessment. alive Academy teaches a whole foods approach to nutrition—nutrition from a holistic point of view.

Titles such as Nutritionists (in some provinces), Nutritional Consultants, and other similar titles are not protected by law and can be used synonymously with one another as the profession is currently unregulated in North America and many other countries around the world. This is why organizations such as the International Organization of Nutritional Consultants (IONC) are extremely important as they work to regulate and lend credibility to an unregulated profession. They ensure that practitioners meet high educational and ethical standards by issuing their exclusive Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioner (RNCP) professional designation to those who do meet these rigorous standards.

A Dietitian is a health professional who has a Bachelor’s degree, specializing in foods and nutrition, as well as a period of practical training in a hospital or community setting. The title “Registered Dietitian,” “Professional Dietitian,” and “Dietitian” are protected by law through provincial legislation. The title “Nutritionist” is protected for Dietitians in some provinces. Dieticians do not necessarily practice a holistic approach to nutrition.

33. Are my services covered by insurance plans/providers?

Each insurance provider has numerous benefit plans with a wide range of services covered. Your clients should check with their insurance provider to confirm whether or not your services are eligible for reimbursement.