Requirements

Certification is a three level credentialing process, which requires successful completion of the previous level before advancing to the next level: Only individuals with active, professional practices qualify to pursue and complete the AFMC certification process.

LEVEL 1

• Completion of the Core 101 semester.
  • This includes completion of the following four courses and submission of the Self-Tests for each of the four courses prior to registration for the Level 1 AFMC examination:  Disease 101, Supplements/Nutrients 101, Labwork 101, and Disease Begins in the Gut 101.
  • Candidates are also required to Experience a minimum of 6 All Levels Open Coaching Calls during their Core 101 semester year access prior to registering for the Level 1 examination.
• Passing grade on the Level 1 AFMC certification exam.

LEVEL 2

• Completion of the Advanced 202 semester.
  • This includes completion of the following four courses and submission of the Self-Tests for each of the four courses prior to registration for the Level 2 AFMC examination: Disease 202, Supplements/Nutrients 202, Labwork 202 and Cellular Metabolism.
  • Candidates are also required to Experience a minimum of 6 All Levels Open Coaching Calls during their Advanced 202 semester year access prior to registering for the Level 2 examination.
• Passing grade on the Level 2 AFMC certification exam.

LEVEL 3

• Submission of a patient/client Case Study and Assessment that successfully demonstrates your strong competence and thorough understanding of relevant functional medicine interconnectedness and principles (more details below).
• Passing grade on both the Level 1 and Level 2 AFMC certification exams is required prior to registration for the final Level 3 certification process.  Level 2 and Level 3 cannot be pursued within the same AFMC examination window.

RECERTIFICATION

• All credible licenses and professional certifications require continuing education.  Ongoing practice in case assessment using functional medicine science and evidence of skills retention are both necessary for a practitioner to retain active AFMC certification status. Recertification is required every 3 years.
• The Recertification exam is free of charge when taken *prior* to certification expiration. If a certification exam is not taken or does not receive a passing grade prior to the current certification expiration date, then a $300 exam fee will be required to pursue Recertification.
• Ongoing participation in SAFM All Levels Open Coaching Calls is a powerful tool for continuing education in functional medicine science as well as a way to maintain well-honed practitioner skills in case assessment. To qualify for the Recertification exam, a practitioner must participate in at least 6 All Levels Open Coaching Calls over the time period since their original Certification (or most recent Recertification).  You may choose to experience these Calls in a live format or via recording.
• You must earn a passing grade on the recertification exam (85% or better) which will involve questions related to the assessment of an actual client case. Recertification exams will have the same format as that of the Level 1 and Level 2 AFMC exams (a mixture of multiple choice and essay questions, conducted online in an open-book format over a timed two-hour window).
• The AFMC board will maintain an online publicly-accessible roster of AFMC certified practitioners and their current certification status. Practitioners who do not achieve Recertification every three years will be listed as having an Expired certification status.
• Upon Recertification, a practitioner will receive via mail a new seal to place on their AFMC certificate, indicating their ongoing education and current validation of skills competency.

For a detailed webinar about these requirements, please click here.