Policies

Limited Professional Use of Materials Policy

Trademark and Licensing Policy

Last Updated: June 21, 2023

Several publicly recognizable symbols (herein referred to as “trademarks”) are associated with the The School of Applied Functional Medicine™ (“SAFM”) name, program credential, and reputation as a functional medicine training program. These logos, marks, images, and designs are protected to maintain their integrity, and so must be used in accordance with policy and procedure administered by SAFM. Operations in partnership with SAFM’s legal counsel.

SAFM requires that all individuals, organizations, departments, and companies, both internal and external, obtain prior approval from SAFM Operations before using the trademarks of SAFM for any purpose including, but not limited to, product or service promotion, advertising, etc. Unauthorized use of SAFM trademarks is subject to civil and criminal penalties. SAFM reserves the right to take appropriate action when confronted with unauthorized use of its trademarks. Such actions may include financial penalties and legal action.

For questions on this policy and/or use of SAFM trademarks or content, please contact operations@schoolafm.com.

Remote Testing Policy

Last Updated: April 4, 2024

Academic integrity speaks to the reputation of The School of Applied Functional Medicine™ and every student candidate seeking to achieve the Applied Functional Medicine Certification (AFMC) credential. Ensuring academic integrity in a virtual learning environment presents a unique challenge, but SAFM believes strongly that taking measures to protect this integrity is in the best interests of both the school and its students, graduates, and professional community.

SAFM uses online testing software to conduct competency evaluations (i.e., examinations) for Level 1 and Level 2 of the AFMC certification process. This secure, web-based tool allows SAFM access to industry best practices in remote testing, while offering our students a convenient online examination option.

To ensure a high-integrity and authentic examination process for each certification candidate, SAFM students must agree tor the school’s Integrity Clause upon registration for each examination, which includes all of the following:

A commitment to disclose no details, whatsoever, about the AFMC examinations (including but not limited to, the number of questions, content, scope, question sourcing, recommendations on what to study, course codes, etc.) to any other person, including peers, friends, or colleagues.
A commitment to maintain confidentiality extends beyond current students or graduates to any person as he or she may be a future student.
An agreement that all of your exam has been completed entirely on your own and without consulting any other person or AI-generated content in any way.
SAFM does permit open access to the SAFM learning portal (i.e., course content), notes, and other web-based references to complete an exam, However, each candidate’s exam submission must be entirely original.
- Furthermore, the Level 3 Competency Standard Case Study submission must contain no content whatsoever (even a phrase) that is plagiarized or copied from any other source, including SAFM curriculum transcripts/slides, AFMC sample exam and exam preparation materials, textbooks, published journal articles, or third-party resources, any example of which will be considered as plagiarism and an overt violation of this policy.
Study groups are encouraged in preparation for the AFMC Level 1 and Level 2 exams. For the AFMC Level 3 exam, however, candidates must certify that all preparation for and work on the Competency Case Study has been completed entirely by the candidate on their own and with no guidance from or involvement of any other individual.
Cheating at any level – to any degree – within SAFM’s exam process is unacceptable and in violation of this agreement and SAFM Code of Conduct.

Any discovered exception to the above requirements and restrictions will result in immediate candidate notification of suspected violation. Parties will be given a one-time opportunity to speak for their actions and clarify any misunderstanding. Confirmed violations, in the sole judgment of the AFMC review committee, whether at the time of examination or at any time in the future, will result in the removal of the student from eligibility to earn the AFMC certification both in the current exam window and at any time in the future, without compensation. The AFMC review committee’s decision will be final.

The examination process is overseen by SAFM’s AFMC Scientific Review Council composed of experts in the fields of functional medicine, clinical practice, and health coaching, and health and wellness entrepreneurship. The Council applies a rigorous exam development process to ensure the accuracy, clarity, relevance, and objectivity of every AFMC exam.

Questions regarding this policy should be directed to support@schoolafm.com .

Limited Professional Use of Materials Policy

Last Updated: May 14, 2022

We are committed to providing educational material that can be repurposed by our students and graduates within a limited scope.

While an active SAFM member or AFMC certified graduate, the Participant, has a non-exclusive right, license, and privilege to use but not to sublicense the SAFM trademark and registered logo, the official AFMC seal and emblem, copyrighted materials, and program content (all herein referred to as “Registered Brand, Marks & Content”, “Licensed Marks and Content”, and “Content”) under the following guidelines.

The Participant acknowledges and agrees that:

Best efforts will be made to use SAFM Licensed Marks & Content in a manner that protects the company, Purpose Inc., and its brand name, SAFM, in all professional representations and endeavors;
SAFM Registered Brand, Marks & Content will be used in an ethical manner and in accordance with the terms and intent of this Agreement, and in compliance with all applicable government laws, regulations, and industry standards;
All SAFM branding will be duly credited in SAFM Content before being used for any purpose. Specific SAFM Content designated as permitted for use without SAFM branding may be modified, reproduced, or reused per usage policy guidelines outlined by Purpose Inc.;
SAFM trademarks and copyright protections noted on designated materials will be preserved;
SAFM Content will be used, solely and explicitly, for the education of the Participant’s clients and patients (i.e., individuals and groups) for the purpose of supporting the personal wellness of the client or patient;
The information contained in SAFM Content is strictly for educational purposes and does not purport to be, nor should it be construed as, specific advice or protocol. Therefore, if the Participant wishes to apply ideas from the Content, he or she assumes full responsibility for the Participant’s actions and will clearly communicate to any client(s) or patient(s) that all information is being communicated from the Participant’s own perspective and not that of SAFM;
Images and graphics used in SAFM Content are not approved for use in any manner as SAFM does not guarantee that it is licensed to provide such images and graphics used and, therefore, Participant use may violate third party rights. Purpose Inc. reserves the right (without limitation) to seek legal and financial compensation from the Participant for each material use by the Participant that violates this restriction (with or without their prior or current knowledge) and/or for any third-party claims made against Purpose Inc. as a result of the Participant’s representations to third parties;
SAFM Content will not be used in any format for the purposes of marketing or educating prospective clients or patients regardless of whether the opportunity has any potential to generate profit;
SAFM Content will not be used in any format or venue to instruct, teach, or otherwise educate other health professionals;
SAFM assumes no responsibility for any publicly published documents which may be made available to the Participant during the program but do not belong to SAFM, and so the Participant is advised to conduct the Participant’s own due diligence before using third party resources or research;
Use of SAFM’s school logo is strictly prohibited without written permission from SAFM;
Use of SAFM’s official AFMC credential seal or emblem to support business marketing efforts will adhere, strictly, to usage policy guidelines outlined by Purpose Inc;
All posts and/or exchanges posted to any of SAFM’s internal program forums are the confidential intellectual property of SAFM and may not be copied or shared to any other platform or third party for any purpose;
All content, materials, slide presentations, or handouts made available by guest instructors, outside speakers, or any other source are for personal use in conjunction with this training program only, unless otherwise designated in writing, and may not be shared outside of this training program.
SAFM assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions that may appear in any program Content;
Withdrawal or expulsion from SAFM for any reason will result in immediate removal of any and all rights of the Participant to use SAFM Licensed Marks & Content for any purpose.

See also the Purpose Inc Terms of Use and Trademark & Licensing Policy.