Last reviewed on 11 September 2026.
NNWA publishes the name and qualifications of everyone who writes and checks its material. You can see the full teaching team on the faculty page.
This guide lists the questions worth asking and how to judge the answers. NNWA has admissions counsellors too, and every question here applies to NNWA's counsellors as much as anyone's.
Why does the counselling call matter so much?
Because it is often the only chance to get specific answers before money changes hands. Websites describe courses in general terms. Counsellors can tell you the exact fee, the next start date, the timetable and the payment options. They can also, under time pressure, leave out the refund terms or blur the difference between a certificate and a degree. Going in with your questions written down turns a sales call into an information session that serves you.
How to run the call so it works for you
A counselling call is a sales conversation and an information session at the same time. Structure decides which of the two you get.
Write the questions down first
Fee, awarding body, refunds, timetable, teachers, assessment and payment terms. A list keeps a friendly, fast call from moving past the things you need.
Ask for names and amounts, not descriptions
The exact total, the name of the awarding body, the next start date, and the lender behind any instalment plan.
Ask for it in writing, on the call
Email or WhatsApp, while you are still talking. Nothing else you take away from the conversation is worth as much.
Check the answers yourself
Look the awarding body up on its own website rather than accepting the claim, and compare what you were told with what the written confirmation says.
Sleep on it, then decide
Compare at least one other course using the same questions. A course that suits you today will still suit you next week.
What is the total amount I will pay?
Ask for the complete amount, including taxes, exam fees, certificate fees, study material and any registration charge. Ask whether anything is charged separately later, such as retakes or a printed certificate. Then ask the counsellor to send that total to you in writing, by email or WhatsApp. A written total protects both sides and is the single most useful thing you can take away from the call. The guide to nutrition course fees lists the hidden costs to ask about.
Who awards the certificate, and at what level?
Ask for the name of the awarding body, not only the provider. Ask whether the qualification sits at a level in a national framework such as NSQF or NCrF, and how many hours it represents. Then check the answer yourself on the awarding body's website. NNWA's counsellors should tell you that its four flagship qualifications are awarded in partnership with Medhavi Skills University, Sikkim, while its short courses carry NNWA's own certificate. Our explainer on NCVET certification shows how to check any such claim.
What will this qualification let me do?
Ask the counsellor to describe, in plain words, what you will be able to do professionally after the course, and what you will not. A good answer includes limits: for example, that a skill qualification is not a degree and does not lead to Registered Dietitian status. Be cautious if the answer promises a job, a salary or a clinical title. Our guide to what you can legally do with a nutrition certificate helps you judge the answer.
What are the refund and transfer terms?
Ask directly whether any part of the fee is refundable, under what conditions, and whether you can transfer to a later batch if your circumstances change. Many online education providers, including NNWA, state that fees are generally non-refundable once paid, with exceptions such as duplicate payments or a batch cancelled by the provider. Knowing this before you pay changes how carefully you decide. Our article on nutrition course refund policies goes through what to look for.
When are the classes, and are they live?
Ask for the exact days and times of live sessions for your batch, how many learners attend a session, and whether sessions are recorded. Ask what happens if you miss several classes because of work or family. A counsellor for a genuinely live course can answer this immediately. Our guide to live versus recorded classes explains why the answer matters.
Who teaches the course?
Ask for the names and qualifications of the teachers or mentors, and check them. A reputable provider publishes this. NNWA lists its faculty and their credentials, and you should expect the same from any course you are considering. Ask who answers your questions between classes and how quickly.
How am I assessed?
Ask what work is marked, who marks it, and what feedback you receive. Ask whether there is a final exam, practical assessment, case studies or projects, and what happens if you fail a part. Assessment is where a certificate gets its meaning. A course where you receive a certificate simply for completing videos is very different from one where a qualified person has assessed your work.
Can I pay in instalments, and what are the exact terms?
Ask whether an EMI or loan is interest-free, whether there are processing fees, who the lender is, and what happens to the instalments if you stop studying. An EMI that continues after you have left a course is a common source of distress. At NNWA, the Diploma is offered with EMI from 4,999 rupees a month and interest-free education loan options; the counsellor should explain the lender's terms before you sign. The guide to paying in instalments covers the questions in more detail.
How should you respond to urgency?
Calmly. Counsellors often mention a batch deadline, limited seats or a discount ending soon. These can be genuine, and NNWA's own course pages show a registration deadline and seats remaining for each batch. The sensible response is to ask when the next batch starts and what the fee will be then. If the difference is small, take the time you need. If a counsellor becomes impatient when you ask for details in writing, that tells you something about how questions will be handled after you pay.
Can I speak to a past learner or see a sample lesson?
Ask. Many providers can arrange a conversation with a past learner or share a recording of a real session. Hearing from someone who finished the course is more informative than any brochure. NNWA's reviews page explains how to judge what past learners say, including on NNWA's own site.
What should you do after the call?
Write down what you were told, compare it with the written confirmation the counsellor sends, and check the awarding body yourself. Sleep on it if the decision is large. Compare with at least one other course using the same questions. Then decide. A course that is right for you will still be right tomorrow, and the few days you spend checking are small beside the months you will spend studying.
What does a good counsellor sound like?
Patient, specific and honest about limits. A good counsellor asks about your goals before recommending a course, suggests a shorter or cheaper option if it suits you better, answers every question plainly, and is happy to put the details in writing. They also tell you when a course is not right for you, which is the clearest sign they are working in your interest. If you finish the call feeling informed rather than pressured, you have probably met a good one.
The honest summary
The counselling call is valuable if you arrive prepared. Ask about the total fee, the awarding body, what the qualification allows, refunds, timetable, teachers, assessment and payment terms, and get the key answers in writing. A course worth joining can answer every one of these without hesitation.