Professional Co-op Placement

Professional Co-op Placement is IHN’s exclusive, mandatory minimum 100-hour Co-op component designed to give students real-world experience and professional momentum as they transition into the field. Unique to IHN, PP002 is structured to help students explore a practice niche or area of interest through direct observation, immersive work/learn exchange, and guided professional discovery. IHN’s Co-op team supports students both in groups and individually to secure placements aligned with each student’s goals, opening doors across a wide variety of natural health and wellness settings. Placements can be completed anywhere in the world, either virtually or in-person.

Learning Objectives:

• Complete a minimum of 100 Co-op hours through one or more approved placements, in-person or virtual, local or international
• Identify a preferred practice niche or area of interest and pursue a placement aligned with personal and career goals
• Demonstrate professional conduct, communication, and reliability within real workplace environments (e.g., clinical, wellness, retail, culinary, fitness, sustainability)
• Apply holistic nutrition principles in practice-based contexts through observation, support tasks, project contribution, and/or supervised client-facing exposure (where appropriate to the placement)
• Build industry confidence through hands-on experience, mentorship exposure, and real-world accountability
• Develop professional relationships and expand career opportunities through networking, collaboration, and potential employment pathways supported by placement experience
• Complete required documentation and reflective components to demonstrate learning, integration, and professional growth

Professional Co-op Placement provides students with a distinctive and transformative capstone experience that bridges classroom learning into real-world application. By completing PP002 near the end of the program, students gain clarity, confidence, and practical exposure that supports their transition into professional work, entrepreneurship, or further specialization within the natural health and wellness field.