We are so excited to announce that The Nutritional Aesthetics® Alliance has received professional accreditation from the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP), and is now recognized as a Higher Learning Institute by their Board.
In today’s virtual world, there are many opportunities to learn online, and there are not many organizations overseeing the quality of education provided outside of traditional colleges and universities.
It can be especially difficult in industries as niche as ours (we literally wrote the textbook on Nutritional Aesthetics®), where each state has different requirements in terms of licensure and hours. While we could have opted for one of the umbrella “distance learning” accreditations, instead, we preferred to seek accreditation from an organization that not only is familiar with the wellness industry, but who has been setting and maintaining high quality standards for many years.
The AADP met those criteria, since they have been overseeing wellness education since 1990–long before the influx of online courses began. They have observed and been part of the transition between traditional learning models and institutions and virtual learning. They have given their stamp of approval to many fine schools such as the Institute for Integrative Nutrition®, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition®, and ASTECC. We are proud to be recognized alongside these institutions.
About the AADP:
The AADP was established in 1990. Its mission is to promote an enhanced professional image and prestige among practitioners of traditional and non-traditional therapies and methodologies. The AADP is recognized by both traditional and non-traditional holistic schools and colleges worldwide as an independent accrediting board for alternative health educational institutions and programs.
What does professional accreditation mean?
It is a long and expensive process for schools and colleges to be approved by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). Many schools that have received accreditation by the DOE sought professional accreditation first. The AADP has provided professional accreditation status to many schools that now are recognized by the DOE and Private Post-Secondary Educational agencies.
Professional accreditation can give the school the prestige and acceptance that many prospective students and graduates seek. Accreditation is offered for a two-year period and is renewable upon further evaluation at the end of the accreditation period. In addition, accredited schools are monitored during the period they are accredited, and may forfeit their accreditation if they do not consistently adhere to the guidelines, rules and regulations of the organization.
Professional accreditation is a process that gives public recognition to educational institutions that meet standards of quality set by the AADP. It is a voluntary, non-governmental means of assessing and certifying institutional quality. In other words, institutions that receive professional accreditation “deliver on what they promise students.”
Voluntary standards the AADP looks at when awarding professional accreditation to an educational institution:
- Have clearly defined and well-stated learning objectives.
- Offer educationally sound and up-to-date courses.
- Provide outstanding educational services to students.
- Have demonstrated student success and satisfaction.
- Have a competent advisory staff.
- Promotes its courses truthfully.
- Have an effective research and self-improvement program.
Professional accreditation is sometimes called “program accreditation,” and is also known as “specialized accreditation.” Professional agencies are voluntary associations that are not covered by federal regulations. This type of accreditation is often associated with national professional associations, such as the American Bar Association which accredits law schools, the American Medical Association which accredits allopathic medical programs and so on.
Professional accreditation promises students that the institution they elected to study with is a reputable one that will provide a quality education.
It is not, however, a guarantee that your course work will be accepted by other educational institutions or state agencies, although this frequently can happen.
What professional accreditation means for CNAP students and graduates:
Graduates of our Certified Nutritional Aesthetics Practitioner® Training Program will be eligible to apply to be board certified holistic health practitioners by the AADP. Being AADP board certified offers benefits such as free client referrals, a nationally published membership listing, connections with licensed laboratories for non-invasive tests(if that’s within your scope of practice), a referral for professional liability insurance, consultations on how to start or increase a practice, state licensing board assistance where applicable, and more.
Whether or not you decide to pursue AADP board certification after earning your CNAP, you can be proud and assured that you received quality education from a professionally accredited institution of higher learning.
We are so proud of our program, our students, and our graduates. We have dedicated a substantial amount of time, money, and resources into creating high quality, unique curriculum, with the opportunities to attend classes live. We are honored to have those efforts recognized, with professional accreditation from the AADP.
Start your CNAP journey today!
Learn more about our program, download our detailed syllabus, and enroll HERE.
We offer open, rolling enrollment, so you can begin your Nutritional Aesthetics® education today!