How can I unsubscribe from SAFM emails?
Active students or Practioner Incubator Program members should email admin@schoolafm.com and list which types of emails you would like to unsubscribe from (i.e., Monday morning emails, semester schedule reminders, etc.). Please keep in mind that SAFM is a virtual program and thus uses email as a primary method of communication with students. Unsubscribing from a list may prevent you from receiving information you need in a timely manner.
If you are not an active SAFM member, we’re sorry to see you go. Please use the UNSUBSCRIBE link at the bottom of any email you receive from SAFM. You can unsubscribe from ALL emails or from the specific categories of emails we send.
How can I present a case during an Open Coaching Call (OCC)?
Presenters for the OCCs are chosen on a lottery basis. An email request is sent to random semester participants when openings become available. Those who respond early have a higher chance of participating. Presenters are scheduled months in advance.
How long do I have access to my course materials?
As long as you maintain active enrollment at SAFM, you will have ongoing access to your course materials (including any updates and revisions) via your Student Dashboard. This supports your ability to revisit prior coursework for reinforcement at any time, as you progress through all SAFM programs, earn AFMC certification, and then pursue continuous learning and support throughout your career.
- Full access status allows you to continue to progress to new coursework and programs.
- Basic access status allows you to continue to access courses that you have already begun (except Open Coaching Calls, Mastermind sessions, AFMC certification activities, and (if applicable) Activator sessions) while you are pausing your Full Access. Learn full details here. Basic Access will be available starting in January 2025.
How do I get access to the SAFM Practitioner Forum?
You will be invited to this private forum about three months after your program has begun. You must have a Facebook account to participate. This resource is only available as part of our semester or Practitioner Incubator programs.
Where do I find the school’s Facebook page?
You may find our Facebook page here. We also manage a private Facebook area, the SAFM Practitioner’s Forum, for actively enrolled students or Practitioner Incubator Program members only.
Does SAFM offer a referral program?
Yes! Thank you for your generous enthusiasm about SAFM and wanting to share your experience and the opportunity with your colleagues.
Our student referral program is limited to current (already enrolled) students whose referrals enroll and matriculate in our Functional Medicine training. Just make sure the new student you referred shares your name during the enrollment process (in a special “referred by” field); all designations after the point enrollment are ineligible.
You will earn a $600 referral commission (or $900 if you are AFMC-certified at the time of the referred practitioner’s enrollment submission). It’s our way of sharing our gratitude! There is no limit to how many new students you can refer for a commission. You are rewarded for each one. In the event a new student lists multiple referrer names, the commission will be awarded to the first name listed.
Commissions are paid monthly ($150/month) over 4 or 6 months. Referred students must remain enrolled for the required six month minimum to qualify for all commission payments.
You may find all student referral program details and terms here.
How are continuing education (CE) credits tracked and reported?
Continuing education opportunities at SAFM are aligned with completion of each semester. Upon successful completion of each AFMC exam, detailed instructions are emailed to the petitioning student. CE eligibility documentation is then provided to each student upon request. Like with any other CE credits, students should maintain a personal record of their own to report them appropriately.
What is Student Connect and how do I opt-in?
Student Connect is SAFM’s online directory for active students. It provides those who opt into the tool the opportunity to connect, via email, with fellow SAFM peers to support the student experience as both a student and as a professional.
You can use Student Connect to:
- Search students with a specific licensure or certification, by local region or country, or a combination of the two.
- Find an Accountability Buddy.
- Set up or join a Study Group.
- Set up or join an AFMC Exam Study Group for the Level 1, Level 2 or Recertification Exams.
- Reach out to practitioners in your area and plan a meet up.
- Connect with other SAFM students to share more about what they do, how they’re using functional medicine to take their practice to the next level, and how you might support each other to change the world of health care.
- Search for hiring and collaborative opportunities with other SAFM practitioners.
- Post a hiring or collaborative opportunity of your own.
- And more …..
To be listed in Student Connect you must opt into the tool via your student profile. To do this, please follow the instructions below:
- Select Edit Profile in the blue tool bar at the top of your Dashboard home screen.
- Once at the Edit Profile screen, check the opt-in box at the bottom of the page. Select the Student Connect features you wish to choose, and Save Updates.
- Refresh your screen and select Student Connect from the blue tool bar to use the directory.
If you’re still having trouble, please submit a ticket to our Technical Support team by clicking here.
Do I have to follow the suggested timing in the sample study schedule?
No. Students have flexibility to complete the program at their own pace. To support your success and minimize overwhelm, we recommend you thoughtfully consider (before a semester begins) how much time you can consistently dedicate to your education.
Will I have access to Deep Dive Clinical Courses I have purchased if the course has been revised?
Yes. Active students will always have access to the latest version of any course assets or materials via their student Dashboard.
I am a new SAFM student. When do I get access to all the content?
Newly enrolled students may access their dashboard as soon as they set up their account. Access to course content begins upon completion of all orientation steps.
Course curriculum is delivered on a cadence designed to help students lock in foundational concepts and learning as they progress through the curriculum. Students access courses sequentially as they complete the requirements aligned to each course. Successful completion of a course self-test, for example, will “open” the next course or set of courses.
How do I change my funding source through PayPal?
There is, indeed, a simple way for our students to change their funding source for subscriptions via their PayPal accounts.
- Log in to your PayPal account.
- Click the Settings icon next to “Log out.” Click Payments.
- Click Manage pre-approved payments.
- Click the merchant whose agreement you want to change under “Merchant.”
- Click Change next to “Backup Funding Source.”
- Choose the payment method(s) for your pre-approved payment.
- Click Save at the bottom of the page.
Do you send 1098-T Tax Forms to students?
We are currently not recognized by the IRS through a national organization as a post-secondary educational institution, so we are not eligible to participate in the Title IV federal student aid programs to provide 1098-T forms to our students. However, we will provide you with a statement of payments you’ve made upon request.
Can I change the date that my monthly payment comes out of my account?
Unfortunately, a change to a payment cycle schedule cannot be made as all payments begin on the first of the month.
How can I review the financial / payment status of my account?
To review your payment status, balance, and financial history, please contact SAFM Support who can provide you with that information. To issue a request, visit your student Dashboard, click the “Get Help” menu option in the blue navigation, select “Contact SAFM Support”, and then choose “Manage Tuition Payments and Receipts” in the dropdown menu. Draft your message and click “Submit”. One of our team members will be in touch.
Do you offer any tuition assistance?
At this time, SAFM does not offer financial aid for tuition.
How long does AFMC certification take?
This is largely up to you, with some program components being fully self-paced and others being time-bound. Certification is an important milestone but just one of many in each practitioner’s overall journey to clinical mastery.
You have freedom to go at the pace you prefer in experiencing all of our courses – and modify it as needed for your unique work/life over time. Beyond courses, required case practice sessions in our Open Coaching Calls happen on a near-monthly basis and add a time-bound element to your experience to ensure your learning is rich and retained. Plus we encourage you to galvanize your learning by applying it in your clinical practice as you progress through the programs.
The number of study hours required is highly dependent upon the individual student’s educational background, professional experience, study habits, and native language. On average, students devote 8-12 hrs/week to their SAFM studies. Some more, some less. The three AFMC certification level exams are offered three times a year.
The typical student completes all AFMC certification requirements to earn certification within 2 -3 years
- Level 1 curriculum and AFMC exam (minimum of 9-12 months).
- Level 2 curriculum and AFMC exam (minimum of 9-12 months)
- Level 3 (3-12 months preparation for and completion of AFMC Level 3 exam).
While you have the flexibility to progress through the curriculum content at your own pace, your individual time to completion of the AFMC certification will depend on several factors (e.g. your enrollment timing, availability and schedule of Live calls (eligible to claim credits for), timing of the AFMC exam windows, amount of time and pace you can commit to).
Full AFMC certification requires completion of the Level 1 and Level 2 Functional Medicine programs, one of the two tracts in the Ignite Your Clinical Practice program, and three levels of AFMC examinations. Programs are completed in succession, but it is not uncommon for students to take time to reinforce prior coursework before diving into the next AFMC exam or program. This can be helpful for locking in concepts before moving forward on your certification journey and/or to practice applying recent learning in your clinical work with patients/clients.
SAFM’s Practitioner Activator program provides ongoing education and mentoring – even after AFMC certification – for career-long support in creating your greatest impact and career success.
What is the significance of the “Mark Complete” buttons on my SAFM Dashboard?
The “Mark Complete” buttons are provided as an optional way for you to keep track of your individual progress through the material. SAFM does not utilize or track these.
How long does it take to get certified?
This is up to you! The curriculum is self-paced, so students can work at a pace that suits their unique work/life situation as it evolves. Plus we encourage you to galvanize your learning by applying it in your clinical practice as you progress through the curriculum. On average, students devote 8-12 hrs/week to their SAFM studies. Some more, some less.
The typical student completes all AFMC certification requirements within 2.5-3 years. The number of study hours required weekly is highly dependent upon the individual student’s educational background, professional experience, study habits, and native language.
Full AFMC certification requires completion of two semesters, a Clinical Skills Inter-Semester experience, and three levels of AFMC examinations. Semesters are completed in succession, but it is not uncommon for students to take a short break between each semester and exam level. This can be helpful to allow additional time for locking in concepts before attempting an AFMC exam and/or to practice applying recent learning in your clinical work with patients/clients.
Note: The first 42 months following the student’s registration date are included in the initial price of tuition. Additional time to complete certification or to receive continuous learning benefits may be purchased on a month-to-month basis via our continued access subscription.
What does the evaluation/testing process look like for AFMC certification?
For the most up-to-date information about AFMC certification and examination, please refer to the All About Certification page found under Student Support.
Is there is a way to mark a Q&A Treasure Chest post as read, so it doesn’t show up anymore in my feed?
This happens automatically. Articles that you have read will not show up in the 10 that are visible at the bottom of your dashboard. The articles that you’ve read will still be accessible to you and can be found in a search.
How do I log out of my account?
While logged into your Dashboard, locate the blue toolbar at the top of your screen and select the Logout functionality.
What do I do if I can’t log into my SAFM account?
Here is a list of suggestions to try.
- Make sure you are using your SAFM username and not your email (unless the email is your username).
- Try resetting your SAFM password through the “Lost Password” option on the login screen.
- Wait 15 minutes and try again. Some software systems will lock you out after too many attempts, especially from a new device.
If after 15 minutes you are still unable to log in, Please submit a ticket to our Technical Support team by clicking here with the public IP address of the device you are trying to use. You can find your public IP address by using this link (https://whatismyipaddress.com/). Note that your IPv4 address is the one SAFM staff needs to reset your account (you can copy if off the IP screen and paste it into the email).
How can I get assistance to access a media file?
Here are steps you can take if you are having issues accessing a course media file:
- Try accessing the course in a different browser.
- Try again from a home computer. Content may also be blocked if you are accessing the course from a public or work computer.
- Select the “refresh” button in your browser to reload the page.
- Ensure your software is up-to-date i.e., Flash player plug-in, JavaScript, Adobe Acrobat.
- Check to ensure cookies are enabled in your browser settings.
- Clear your browser cache. Steps to do this will vary depending upon your web browser.
How can I be sure to receive SAFM emails?
What is a whitelist email?
A whitelist is a list of approved or safe email addresses to help a spam filter determine whether it should allow delivery. If you are on your recipient’s whitelist, you can guarantee your emails will be received. If you want to make sure you receive messages from a certain person or company, you simply need to manually add them as a contact.
Please white-list our email addresses, which are as follows: Tracy@SchoolAFM.com, Support@SchoolAFM.com, SupportTeam@SchoolAFM.com, StudentConnect@sitemail.schoolafm.com, Eddie@SchoolAFM.com and Admin@SchoolAFM.com
How to Whitelist in Gmail
How to Whitelist an Email in Outlook
How to Whitelist an Email in Yahoo
How can I fix a technology issue I’m having with the program tools?
Sometimes resolving the issue requires a simple fix. First, check that you meet the following technical requirements for accessing the SAFM program.
- Access to a high-speed internet connection: 3.5 Mbps download speed or higher
- Use of a supported operating system: Windows 7 or newer, Mac OS 10.7 or newer
- Use of a supported browser: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer 11, Android (Tablet/Mobile) or Safari5 (macOS/iOS)
- Use of functional internal or external speakers
If you’ve confirmed all technical requirements are met and are still having trouble, try one of the following troubleshooting options. If you still need assistance, please submit a help ticket through the Customer Support tab located under Get Help in the blue navigation bar of your Dashboard.
Sometimes, when changes are made to the website, they don’t register immediately due to caching. Many issues can be resolved by completing a hard refresh of your webpage. A hard refresh is a way of clearing the browser’s cache for a specific page, to force it to load the most recent version of a page. If you are still unable to resolve the issue after a hard refresh, move on to the following troubleshooting steps.
Internet browsers may update on their own, but other times you may have to do it manually. If you’re experiencing problems, we recommend checking if your browser is up to date by visiting What’s My Browser.
TIP: We recommend using an updated version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
Update Google Chrome by selecting the menu and clicking Update Google Chrome. If the button isn’t there, that means you’re already on the latest version. For more information on updating Chrome, continue here.
By default, Firefox is set to update automatically. However, it may be done manually by selecting Menu > About Firefox > Restart Firefox to Update. For more information on updating Firefox, continue here.
When browsing online, web browsers store, or “cache”, website data (like images and scripts) as a way to improve your experience. Clearing your web browser’s cache removes these stored assets, and this may help resolve issues on your school’s website.
To clear your cache in Google Chrome, click the menu and select More tools. Then click Clear browsing data. Make sure that the Cached image and files box is checked. See more details on clearing your cache in Chrome here.
To clear your cache in Mozilla Firefox, go to your Preferences and then find the Advanced panel. From there, click Clear Now in the Cached Web Content section. See more details on clearing your cache in Firefox here.
Disable Third-Party Browser Extensions
While third-party browsers can be extremely useful, some have been known to cause problems on school websites.
Before doing anything, use another browser to test the web page experiencing problems. Ideally, use one that does not have any third-party extensions installed. If the issue still occurs, an extension is probably not the cause. However, if the issue does not occur, an installed extension in your other browser may be to blame.
Once you know that an extension may be responsible for the problems, test it by disabling it and reloading the page. If disabling the extension stops the issue, you can pinpoint the extension as the culprit and either remove it, or keep it disabled while using your dashboard. Disabling an extension will turn it off without removing it, while deleting an extension will remove it entirely.
Follow these links to learn more about managing extensions in Chrome and Mozilla.
A few popular extensions that have caused issues in the past for some users include the following:
- Adblock
- Security extensions (like HTTPS Everywhere)
- Grammarly
- Dingo
TIP: Research online to see if there are any known conflicts/issues with extensions that you have installed in your web browser. If you have a lot of extensions, this can save you some time.
Sometimes a slow internet speed can cause problems on your dashboard tool. There are several ways to test your internet speed. We recommend going to www.speedtest.net. Click the Begin Test button and the site will show your connection’s…
- Ping Speed – the speed of your connection’s response time after you send out a request.
- Download Speed – how fast data moves from the server to you. In most cases, download speed will be much faster than upload speed.
- Upload Speed – how fast you can send data to others — e.g., sending files via email, uploading photos, etc.
If your internet connection is to blame, consider restarting your modem, upgrading your internet plan, or going somewhere with a better connection.
Computers should be restarted frequently to optimize performance and system health. “Turn it off and on again” is often tech support’s favorite piece of advice.
To restart a Mac/MacBook, select the Apple menu and click Restart. To restart a PC using Windows 10, open the start menu and then click Power. From there, select the Restart option from the submenu.
If you’re using a mobile device to access your dashboard, try switching to a desktop or laptop device. While you can view your dashboard or course on a mobile device, we recommend using a desktop or laptop for the optimal experience.
If you’ve completed all of the troubleshooting steps above and are still unable to resolve the issue, contact Customer Support through your Dashboard.
Do I have to enroll during a specific time period or is enrollment accepted at any time?
SAFM enrolls new practitioner cohorts seasonally – four times a year. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see if enrollment is currently open.
If not, you may stay tuned to our website, weekly emails, and social media sites for registration announcements or sign up for notifications here.
What are the technical requirements for accessing the program?
The computer or mobile device you’re using to access SAFM’s program should meet the following technology requirements:
- Access to a high-speed internet connection: 3.5 Mbps download speed or higher
- Use of a supported operating system: Windows 7 or newer, Mac OS 10.7 or newer
- Use of a supported browser: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer 11, Android (Tablet/Mobile) or Safari5 (macOS/iOS)
- Use of functional internal or external speakers
What access do I have to the SAFM community or other SAFM practitioners?
Promoting community within our family of practitioners is an important value here at SAFM! As a student, your access to other practitioners ranges from small and intimate (via your Tribe Mastermind) to broad and diverse (via the SAFM Practitioner Forum, Open Coaching Calls, or Student Connect).
Your Tribe Mastermind will commence following the semester kick-off and serve as your primary support network in your first semester. At the same time, you have access to our student networking tool, Student Connect, right from your student Dashboard. You can use this tool to search your SAFM peers to learn about others within and across different healthcare modalities, regional locations, or a combination of the two. Around week 13, you will be given access to the SAFM Practitioner Forum which is open to active SAFM practitioners from varying backgrounds and experience levels including those who have already achieved their AFMC.
To protect student confidentiality, we do not publish student rosters and cannot give out student contact information. However, students may decide to message one another after introduction via the Tribe Masterminds, Practitioners Forum, or Student Connect directory to connect professionally.
How do I maintain or renew my SAFM certification (the AFMC credential)?
The AFMC certification, once attained, is valid for three years. In order to maintain this credential, the recertification process requires 34 AFMC Learning Credits every three years.
These credits can be claimed via select AFMC learning opportunities (e.g. Open Coaching Calls and current, purchaseable Deep Dive Clinical Courses) anytime within each 3-year time period. Full access SAFM enrollment is required to access these educational opportunities that qualify for credits to enable recertification.
If a practitioner has not successfully submitted their recertification requirements by the 3-year recertification date, their AFMC certification status will be changed to “inactive”.*
If recertification has not been achieved within one year of the three-year AFMC certification date, the practitioner must complete required re-activation steps.* Visit the Recertification Overview page here to review more details about these opportunities and the recertification process.
* Effective March 2024 changes have been issued to SAFM’s recertification process. Be sure to reference and review the complete SAFM AFMC Practitioner Certification Terms and Conditions here.
Who will benefit from this course?
This course is designed for medical and wellness professionals seeking to improve their clinical outcomes whether working in a managed or entrepreneurial (i.e., private practice) care setting.
There are two groups of practitioners who can benefit most from this learning experience.
- Practitioners relatively new to functional medicine who have sampled enough of the science (and perhaps inspired testimonials from your colleagues) to know just how powerful it will be to add this clinical know-how to your practice. You’re ready to turn your curiosity into capability and feel the gut is a great place to dive into!
- Practitioners already educated in functional medicine and the power it holds to improve clinical outcomes. This course offers an opportunity for some intensive focus on often overlooked factors at play in stubborn and/or recurrent gut dysfunction. It’s the devil-in-the-detail that’s missing from the vast majority of functional medicine education.
Does my accountability buddy have to be an SAFM student?
The Accountability Buddy is a suggestion from SAFM staff and past students. It can be helpful if both of you are experiencing the same program. Ultimately, it is your choice; just choose someone who can help you stay on track with your studies and in building your practice.
Who can purchase this program?
This course was designed as advanced, continuing education to support licensed and certified practitioners interested in exploring the value of functional medicine to their practice as a health professional.
While no license or certification is required for purchase, participants who benefit most from this learning experience will be actively practicing in a health care setting that provides them an opportunity to apply concepts and principles taught throughout the course to their work with patients or clients, as appropriate for their modality.
Should I attend if I’m already enrolled in SAFM’s Functional Medicine training?
No. If you’re currently enrolled in our full training program and/or are AFMC-certified, then you already have access to this amazing content and more. For your benefit, the recording of the Essential Gut Case Exploration included in this course (as well as all associated case documents) will be made available within the core course, Disease Begins in the Gut, via your student Dashboard.
What is the purpose of an Accountability Partner?
An Accountability Partner is another SAFM student. He/She is not required to be enrolled in your same program. The two of you can help each other stay on track with your SAFM education, your business building and beyond.
We leave the logistics to you, but what often works is two 15-minute meetings at a preset time each week. Keep these meetings short and focused on school and your business. If you want to socialize, schedule a separate time.
Past experience has shown that having an Accountability Partner throughout the program can make a dramatic difference in how much you achieve. While SAFM does not offer a formalized matching function, you should start looking for a partner in a Tribe Mastermind group by posting on your community page or by speaking out at one of the live sessions.
How much does the program cost?
Medical and wellness practitioners may join the Essential Gut Program for $39/month for a minimum of three months. You may cancel your program at any time afterward, so another three-month commitment will be required upon resumption of enrollment.
How long will I have access to the course?
Participants have access for six weeks from the date of purchase.
Is this course live or interactive?
All instruction is delivered online via self-paced, recorded content that enables you to plan this study around your unique schedule. A live call with an SAFM advisor is included in the course in order to support each practitioner’s assessment of how they intend to optimize their clinical impact.
I am not a physician, medical practitioner, or health coach; can I use these credits for continuing education license requirements in my modality?
You will need to check with your accrediting body to apply for determination of equivalency and CE fulfillment. Non-physician health professionals who complete a CME or other continuing education (CE) designated activity such as ours are provided a Certificate of Participation which verifies that they participated in an ACCME-accredited activity with the stated number of CME credits. The non-physician participant can then take that certificate to their accrediting body for evaluation.
At any given time, SAFM’s student body, typically, represents 14-17 different healthcare modalities. We want to support each of these students in their continuing education efforts, and so will be working diligently in the coming months to become directly recognized by accrediting bodies for other healthcare modalities.
Will this course count toward my curriculum requirements if I enroll in SAFM’s training program?
No, but it should make completion of the full course from which it is excerpted, Disease Begins in the Gut, easier. This course is a required element of SAFM’s AFMC Level 1 semester curriculum.
