--- title: Are IFM’s courses required for certification? description: 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. --- [Skip to content](https://help.ifm.org/are-ifms-courses-required-for-certification#main-content) [![IFM-logo-RGB-RT.png\]](https://help.ifm.org/hs-fs/hubfs/IFM%20Logos/IFM-logo-RGB-RT.png?height=41&name=IFM-logo-RGB-RT.png)](https://www.ifm.org/) Open main navigation Close main navigation Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center Home](https://help.ifm.org/?hsLang=en) 2. [Certification](https://help.ifm.org/certification?hsLang=en) 3. [Eligibility Requirements](https://help.ifm.org/certification?hsLang=en#eligibility-requirements) # Are IFM’s courses required for certification? Candidates for certification must complete accredited functional medicine training that encompasses all of the [FMCPTM or FMCP-MTM competencies](https://www.ifm.org/certification/competencies), in alignment with the respective credential based on their eligibility.   Educational programs are recognized for meeting quality standards that are designed to prepare candidates for certification. These programs must: 1. Teach to all of the FMCP or FMCP-M functional medicine competencies in their entirety. 2. Provide a minimum of 100 hours\* of instruction in alignment with the competency domains. 3. Be provided by one of the following\*\*: 1. An accredited college or university academic program. 2. An organization that holds direct accreditation or joint providership from at least one of the following: 1. [Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE).](https://jointaccreditation.org/) 2. A founding accreditation organization or collaborating accreditor for Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education. 3. An accreditation organization that [ACCME has recognized](https://accme.org/about-accreditation/colleague-accreditors/international-accreditors/) as “substantively equivalent” to the ACCME accreditation system. 4. European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME). 5. Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) PACE program.   *\*Candidates may acquire more than 100 hours while completing training that encompasses all of the functional medicine competencies**. Effective January 2027**, the minimum number of functional medicine training hours will be 150. Training completed before January 2027 will apply under the 100-hour minimum requirement.* *\*\*Education provided by companies or organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, reselling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients is not eligible for meeting the functional medicine training requirement.*    At this time, [The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)’s core functional medicine curriculum](https://www.ifm.org/education/core-curriculum)is the only education that meets all three essential functional medicine training requirements of the Functional Medicine Certification ProgramTM . 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. ---     - [Website Troubleshooting](https://help.ifm.org/website-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Solutions to Common Website Troubles](https://help.ifm.org/website-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#solutions-to-common-website-troubles) - [Most common account questions](https://help.ifm.org/website-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#most-common-account-questions) - [Courses, Conferences, and Products](https://help.ifm.org/courses-conferences-and-products?hsLang=en#main-content) - [AIC In Person](https://help.ifm.org/courses-conferences-and-products?hsLang=en#aic-in-person) - [Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP)](https://help.ifm.org/courses-conferences-and-products?hsLang=en#applying-functional-medicine-in-clinical-practice-afmcp) - 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