Are IFM’s courses required for certification?

Candidates for certification must complete a minimum of 100 hours* of accredited education or training in functional medicine that teach to all of the functional medicine competencies.

*Candidates may acquire more than 100 hours while completing training to encompass all of the functional medicine competencies.

At this time, The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)’s core functional medicine curriculum is the only education that teaches all of the functional medicine competencies. The core curriculum consists of the following 7 programs: Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP), Cardiometabolic Advanced Practice Module (APM), Immune APM, Hormone APM, Bioenergetics APM, Environmental Health APM, and Gastrointestinal APM.

In the future, additional providers may offer or develop education that could be eligible toward the certification training requirement.