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How to Choose the Best Natural Health Course for You: A Complete Guide

Written by Endeavour College of Natural Health | Monday, 5 May 2025

If you're searching for the best online natural health courses in Australia, Endeavour offers accredited programs designed for career changers, health professionals, and wellness enthusiasts.

We provide fully accredited online natural health programs designed to give you the certification you need – whether you're pursuing further education or looking to embark on a new career path.

There is a growing demand for alternative health practitioners in Australia, which makes our natural health diplomas and degrees so valuable right across society. The alternative health market is currently valued at $4.2 billion, and is growing at a CAGR of 0.4% year-on-year.

There's a genuine need here, and this need must be filled by well-trained, fully-qualified practitioners. It can also be a lucrative career path. On average, naturopaths in Australia earn between $70,000 and $85,000 – significantly above the median Australian salary of $65,000. And there are real opportunities for growth and development beyond this as you build your experience.

But course selection can still be tricky. To assist you, we've created this straightforward guide so you can choose the course that best suits your needs.

What Careers Can a Natural Health Qualification Lead To?

Are you wondering what jobs you can get with a natural health diploma or degree? Whether you’re interested in naturopathy, clinical nutrition, or acupuncture, the right course can open doors to rewarding career paths.

This will help you clarify your career goals and choose the best natural health course—whether you want to work in holistic wellness, herbal medicine, or clinical practice.

For example, if you're looking for practical, hands-on skills you can apply in a clinical environment, you may consider natural health certifications in acupuncture or Chinese massage. If you're in search of medicinal and nutritional knowledge to deliver to your clients, a program in clinical nutrition or Chinese medicine may offer what you need.

If your objectives are more general, and you are seeking a broader grounding in natural healing and complementary therapy, a course related to health science or naturopathy may be ideal. Explore our full list of accredited courses here.

Do You Need a Qualification to Work in Natural Health?

All of the courses we offer at Endeavour are accredited online natural health courses, designed to help you do more for your clients and set you on track for a fulfilling career in natural health.

However, not all the natural health courses we offer have the same outcome.

Some are standalone courses, providing you with a complete and comprehensive understanding of your chosen subject. Others are single-subject modules, which do not provide a standalone qualification but can be used as credit towards one of our other courses.

While the single-subject course does not result in a qualification, it will deliver valuable knowledge that you can use in a clinical setting. If you decide to take a full course later on, you may be able to use your completed single-subject study history as credit towards this qualification.

Some of our single-subject study options include:

  • Introduction to Human Biology
  • Naturopathic Philosophy, Principles and Practice
  • Communication and Counselling in Practice
  • Developing Cultural Competence in Healthcare
  • Wellness and Mindfulness Practices
  • Herbal Botany and Manufacturing
  • Among other single-subject course options.

This is just a taster of the single-subject courses we provide. Download our free course guide to see where a natural health qualification can take you.

Diploma vs. Bachelor's in Natural Health: Which is Right for You?

If you decide to pursue a comprehensive course to become a certified natural health practitioner, there are two main options available: a diploma or a bachelor's degree.

The main differences here relate to the time commitment and the level of the qualification.

Bachelor's degrees typically take longer to complete than a diploma. For instance, our Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture Therapies) program will take 3 years of full-time study before the course is complete. On the other hand, our Bachelor of Health Science (Chinese Medicine) program requires 4 years of full-time study.

Diplomas do not require the same sort of time commitment. A Diploma of Health Science can be

completed in a single year of full-time study. A Diploma of Health Science focusing on Remedial Chinese Massage will take 18 months of full-time study before it is complete.

The time taken to complete each course is reflected in the level of the qualification you will receive. Longer courses, comprising several years of study, are more comprehensive, more in-depth, and offer a more complete understanding of the subject matter.

As with all our courses, our natural health diplomas and bachelor programs are designed to integrate with all aspects of conventional medicine. Natural health is a holistic discipline, and this interaction with other forms of medical practice is key as you develop your knowledge and skills as a practitioner.

Study at Your Own Pace: Full-Time, Part-Time & Online Learning

Most of the courses we offer are provided on a full-time and a part-time basis. We recognise that not everyone can take time away from work and other commitments to study on a full-time basis, so we aim to provide students with a degree of flexibility with a range of study options.

Contact time for our courses typically starts at 6 hours per week. This essentially means there is a minimum time commitment for each of our study programs. You may be able to set your own study schedule somewhere between the 6-hour minimum and full-time.

Educational Background

The final thing to consider as you select your natural health course is your educational background. As an example, if you are an international student, you may not be able to begin the Clinical Nutrition course in the first year. Instead, you can join from the second year onwards, provided you have the required accreditation from another course.

This may influence your course decision, or it may lead you to gain additional credits or certification before you begin your bachelor's course with Endeavour. Our admissions advisors can offer more information on what you may need and what your options are.

Begin Your Journey with Endeavour

If you're looking for online natural health courses, Endeavour is perfectly positioned to give you what you need. We have spent years helping our students pursue accredited natural health programs and embark on rewarding careers in natural health.

Whether you are considering your next steps in education or you are thinking about a change from your current career, our programs offer the knowledge and grounding you need. On top of this, we also offer practical internships and opportunities for hands-on learning, delivering the experience you will need when you begin your professional practice.

Throughout your time with us, you'll benefit from our exceptional student support services, such as career guidance and mentorship programs. Everything is geared towards readying you for your first steps into a new career, providing the natural health services that Australians need.

Here's what our students have to say about us:

"Endeavour has exceeded my expectations in its course content and delivery. The tutorials and support and forums are so valuable, I’ve found if you have a question, reach out. It will always get answered."

Rachel Dhanjal – Nutrition student

"I chose Endeavour because of their course structure and because I could study some of the course online! When I contacted Endeavour, I knew it was for me. I felt comfortable, and the team addressed my concerns."

Clare Lucas – Acupuncture student.

Join the Endeavour family and begin your journey to study natural health in Australia today.

Download our free course guide and apply for one of our programs to take the next step toward your career in natural health. If you're ready to begin, apply for one of our programs today.


Endeavour College of Natural Health

Endeavour College of Natural Health is Australia's largest Higher Education provider of natural medicine courses.

The College is known as the centre of excellence for natural medicine and is respected for its internationally recognised academic teams and high calibre graduates. Endeavour offers higher education Diplomas in Health Science and Bachelor of Health Science degrees in Naturopathy, Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine, Acupuncture Therapies and Chinese Medicine.

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