Will this course convey a certification in gut health or functional medicine?

No. The course does not convey certification, title, or change in modality of any kind.

Will completion of this course make me eligible for SAFM’s functional medicine training program?

No. While the course will, certainly, enhance each participant’s foundational knowledge of functional medicine, each must still demonstrate that they meet the eligibility requirements of SAFM’s functional medicine training program at the time of enrollment.

How do I address inappropriate or unsolicited messages through the Student Connect tool?

All Student Connect users agree to abide by the associated Terms of Use upon opting into the directory. Any misuse of Student Connect will not be tolerated and should be reported, immediately, to support@schoolafm.com.

In the meantime, you can block the offending email address(es) using the same functionality you use today through your select email service (e.g., Yahoo!, Gmail, Outlook, etc.).

Can I apply this course toward my tuition for SAFM’s full training program?

Yes! If you meet program entry requirements as part of the SAFM application process, you have one year (i.e., two enrollment cycles) to apply the purchase price to the cost of tuition. A tuition discount code will be provided following your course purchase.

The Essential Gut Deep Dive is an excellent opportunity for those considering the full certification program to have a rich experience with SAFM’s functional medicine principles, curriculum, and teaching approach.

Is a refund available if I’m not satisfied with the this course?

No. Given that much of the course material is available, immediately, upon purchase and that participants can complete content as quickly as they choose, refunds are not available for any reason.

Are there payment plans available?

Yes. You may either pay in full or in two payments, the first due at purchase and the second due 30 days later.

How can I be sure I won’t get spammed by opting into the Student Connect directory?

There is no guarantee that you will not receive spam email. By opting into Student Connect, students agree to give users of the tool access to their email address. In an effort to protect student contact information, however, our team has taken targeted measures to reduce the likelihood of any misuse.

First, upon opting into the directory, each student agrees to adhere to the associated Terms of Use. This strictly prohibits directory information from being used for any purpose other than professional networking with other students. Second, a five-person limit has been imposed on the tool’s emailing function. Third, messages sent from the tool will be delivered to individual students even if the message is sent to a five- person group. This allows every participant the opportunity to choose to respond or not respond to a sender and to opt in or out of a group email exchange. As well, it also enables them to maintain the ability to block a specific email address using the same functionality they use today through their select email service (e.g., Yahoo!, Gmail, Outlook, etc.).

Misuse of the directory for any reason is unacceptable and will result in an immediate investigation and possible removal of the offending student’s access to the tool. Issues of this sort should be reported, immediately, to support@schoolafm.com.

Are CMEs available for this course? How can I claim them?

Yes. This course is eligible for 10 Continuing Education (i.e., CME/CE) credits. Upon submission of the course learning evaluation survey, participants will receive detailed instructions via email for requesting Continuing Education credits from SAFM. Please visit our website to see the organizations through which SAFM is accredited today.

How to search using Student Connect and contact students?

To access the Student Connect search tool, use the purple quick link to the left of your dashboard.

• You may choose to filter your search by Licensure or Certification, and Country / State, but you may also leave this blank to broaden the search.
• You can choose only one option from the “What are you looking to do today?” choices.
• If you select “Search for hiring opportunities / collaborative opportunities”, you will see an Opportunity Details column in the search results that you can click on to see the posting.
• Search results will only show a list of students who meet the search criteria you selected.
• Search results will list the student, as well as their location, and their current level of completion.
• Below the Highest Level Completed you will see icons that help you quickly identify all areas the student is looking to connect with others regarding.

To connect with students that come up in your search, you can select up to a maximum of 10 students to reach out to at a time. Once you have selected the student you wish to connect with, click ‘send message to selected contacts’.

Please remember to white-list the address StudentConnect@sitemail.schoolafm.com so that you are able to receive messages from the directory.

Still having trouble, please submit a ticket to our Technical Support team by clicking here.

Which self-tests are required for each of the AFMC exams?

Please check your personal AFMC Journey Map regularly for a quick and easy progress update. You can find this tool on your Dashboard under the “My Account” menu option in the blue navigation bar at the top of the page.

You must submit the following self-tests to be eligible to register for the corresponding AFMC exams.

For the AFMC Level 1 Exam*:

• Disease 101
• Nutrition & Supplements 101
• Labwork 101
• Disease Begins in the Gut
• Adrenal-Thyroid Balance and Dysfunction and the HPATG Axis
• Reversing Metabolic Dysfunction
  

*Students must also complete all assignments for Disease 101 and Puzzle Piecing Fundamentals as well as submit credit for 6 Level 1 Open Coaching Calls.

For the AFMC Level 2 Exam*:

• Disease 202: Autoimmune Interconnectedness
• Nutrition & Supplements 202
• Labwork 202
• Immune Function, Loss of Tolerance, & Hypervigilance
• Toxicity, Detoxification, & Heavy Metals
• Mitochondrial Function & Cellular Metabolism
  

*Students must also complete all assignments for Disease Dynamics and Interconnectedness and Puzzle Piecing Fundamentals as well as submit credit for 6 All Levels Open Coaching Calls.

 

How do I update my Student Connect Profile?

Your Student Connect directory information is directly connected to your student profile.   You can update this data at any time by selecting Edit Profile in the blue tool bar at the top of your screen, entering any changes into the form and clicking Save Updates.

Still having trouble? Please submit a ticket to our Technical Support team by clicking here.

Are students who are not medical practitioners able to order labs for clients or do they need a physician requisition?

Depending upon your scope of practice, licensure, and your state, you may or may not be able to order labs yourself to supprt your patients or clients.

While an SAFM student and prior to certification, you may use SAFM’s account with Evexia Diagnostics or Nordic Labs for labs you run on yourself for experiential learning only (panels which correspond to each Deep Dive Clinical Course you own). Details of these are contained within each specific course page on your dashboard. Additional functional lab opportunities are included with some courses as well.

Once you become a Certified AFMC practitioner, you will be able to open a professional account with Evexia (US, except NY, NJ, RI) and/or with Nordic Labs (International and excluded US states), which will allow you a convenient way to order a variety of labs for your clients yourself (if allowed as above) or under the requisition of a lab staff physician.

Please click here to check out this page for more details.

What are the rules/guidelines regarding students use of Evexia Diagnostics for lab work?

Prior to certification, you may use Evexia Diagnostics for labs for yourself only. Once you become a Certified AFMC practitioner, you will be able to open a professional account which will allow you to order labs for clients under the supervision of an Evexia physician.

As a benefit of certification (one of many), that account will be available at a discounted rate ($250 enrollment fee waived, $50 annual account fee only.)

NOTE: Due to state laws, this offer currently excludes practitioners and patients in NY, NJ or RI. Please click here to checkout this page for more details.

How do I prepare for the Competency Case Study (AFMC Level 3 exam)?

Please visit this link to learn more about the requirements of the competency case study: https://schoolafm.com/afmc-level-3-overview/.

Who oversees the exam process?

This certification exam process and content is overseen and accredited by our SAFM Scientific Review Council.

May I begin the Level 2 curriculum before passing the Level 1 exam?

No. Passing the Level 1 AFMC exam is a requirement to commence the Level 2 curriculum.

What are the requirements for passing the AFMC certification exams?

Successful completion of both the AFMC Level 1 and Level 2 exams require a minimum passing grade of 85%. Exam pass or fail determination are communicated to each student via email within 48 business hours of exam submission.

The Level 3 Competency Case Study exam is graded on a Pass/Fail basis.

What can I expect with the Level 1 and Level 2 exams?

The Level 1 and Level 2 exams are delivered via an automated, online exam tool. They are two-hour, open-book assessments comprised of a mixture of fill-in-the-blank and open discussion questions. You may choose the specific day and time that works best for you to complete the exam during the designated exam window.

What are the annual AFMC exam windows?

February Exam Window: February 15-24
June Exam Window: June 7-16
September Exam Window: September 7-16

Are the self-tests timed?

Self-tests are not timed. We encourage you to spend as much time as you need to be sure you are confident in your responses and to maximize your learning experience.

Are students permitted to share clinical references and SAFM slides with clients? May I use course content on my own social media page or website?

Per your Program Agreement, students are welcome to share SAFM content* with their own active patients or clients in their healthcare practice provided that it is used, strictly, for educational purposes, and communicated as being delivered from their chosen approach to care and not that of SAFM. In no case, however, may an SAFM student use/share SAFM content with other healthcare practitioners, in any venue for any purpose, whether or not for profit. Students also do not have the right to reuse content shared by others on the SAFM Community Hub.

*However, at no time are images or graphics used in SAFM content approved for reuse in any manner. SAFM does not own all images and graphics used and, therefore, does not possess the right to extend the associated licenses.

What is the purpose of Open Coaching Calls (OCC)?

Open Coaching Calls (OCCs) are live calls with Tracy that take place once a month. You can participate via web based video or dial in through your phone.

Two types of OCCs will be available to you as part of your program: Level 1 OCCs for the Level 1 program participants only and All Levels OCCs open to SAFM students in Level 2 program and beyond. Each call features Tracy and one of your peers reviewing a specific patient/client case.

OCCs are actual cases of actual people from your fellow SAFM practitioners. Along with the science behind the practice of functional medicine, the calls will be full of practical knowledge relevant to engaging with a patient/client. Client materials will be posted approximately four days prior to the call to allow you extra time for an optional review.

A minimum of six OCCs are required to register for the AFMC Level 1 and AFMC Level 2 exams, and are required for recertification. Individual OCCs may be submitted for credit via the OCC course page whether attended live or viewed via recording.

SAFM LIVE calls and courses are scheduled at a time that is not convenient for me. Are they recorded?

We record all live SAFM events and strive to make those recordings available on your student portal within the 24 hours following them. SAFM students hail from countries around the world and have active practices involving diverse work schedules.  As such, it would be impossible to hold live courses/calls at a time that is convenient for everyone.

I love that SAFM is always revising our courses, but what if a course is updated after I’ve completed it but before I take the AFMC exam? Am I responsible for the new information covered in the revision?

The AFMC exams will always be based on the now-current version of all the required courses for that exam level. This is why we guide AFMC exam candidates through a six-week study and preparation period prior to the exam window. During that preparation process, it’s Very important that students re-experience all of the main course webinars (as we guide them to do, week-by-week) based on the content that is currently posted on the course pages in their student account (and not prior, earlier versions they may have downloaded).

Why are there only nine All Level Open Coaching Calls available on my dashboard for review or to request credit?

It is SAFM’s practice to make only the most recent nine All Level OCCs available at a time. The oldest recording is removed when a new recording is posted.

How do I get participation credit for OCCs (Open Coaching Calls)?

Are subjects of the purchasable Deep Dive Clinical Courses (DDCC) covered anywhere else in the curriculum?

Deep Dive Clinical Courses are designed to provide in-depth exploration of a specific subject area (such as Advanced Gut Disease, Sex Hormones or Mood Imbalances).

The curriculum may touch on one or more of these topics in the course of discussion, but in much less detail. The Q&A Treasure Chest and Open Coaching Calls are other program resources in which you may experience information on one or more of these course topics.

Will I receive a physical certificate for achieving the AFMC certification ?

Yes. Upon successful completion of all three levels of the AFMC credentialing process, you will be awarded an official certificate from SAFM, validated by SAFM’s Scientific Review Council. With the confirmation of your AFMC credential, you will also be granted access to an official seal you may use on your website for marketing purposes. Both the certificate and seal verify that you have met the rigorous requirements of the AFMC designation. You will also be listed in the AFMC Certified Practitioners directory: https://afmccertification.com/. 

How do I get notified of new content in the Course Q&A area?

To subscribe to Q&A notifications for a particular course, to the following:

• Select a course from your Dashboard.
• On the course introduction page, scroll to the Q&A area and click on Subscribe (just above the first posted question).
• Choose the notification option you want and click on the arrow to the right of the selection box.

You are now subscribed and should receive email notifications corresponding to the Q&A notification option you chose. To unsubscribe, go to the same area and click the Unsubscribe link.

Is this program suitable for international students?

Absolutely! Today SAFM is proud to be a diverse, virtual community with practitioners from over 70 countries.  Functional medicine is needed everywhere, as are smart, capable practitioners confident in the savvy application know-how that is so valuable to helping their patients/clients get well and stay well. 

We recognize that each country differs in terms of healthcare regulations/practices, access to labs/supplements, typical clinical tools, practitioner roles/scope of practice, and even overall awareness of or access to functional medicine. We understand that these topics are important considerations as international applicants explore what SAFM offers.  We also know that functional medicine foundations and principles are key to positive transformation of healthcare outcomes, no matter the geography.

Does SAFM offer continuing education credits (CE/CME)?

SAFM offers a variety of Continuing education (CE) credits opportunities to support active students, AFMC certified graduates, and even our online community.

Visit our Continuing Education web page to see if our list of accreditation partners extends to your modality’s governing organization.

*Active students may be eligible to claim CEs for SAFM’s internal retreat offering (“The Gathering”).

May I purchase Deep Dive Clinical Courses in addition to my program?

Additional Deep Dive Clinical Courses (DDCC), beyond those included in each of the programs, may be purchased. Level 1 program students may purchase DDCCs beginning in month four and after completion of the Disease Begins In the Gut Self-Test. Level 2 program students may purchase DDCCs at any time.

How do I post a question related to a specific course?

Each course page has a Course Q&A section to which you may post questions specifically regarding course content clarification (please understand that we are not able to accommodate detailed case inquiries in this tool, as the volume across the student base would be untenable). The course pages are monitored by the SAFM Clinical Education team. Please allow up to 2 weeks for specific questions to be answered. Response time can vary dramatically given how many questions are posted at once.

When you write a post and click “Submit”, you will not see your entry right away. Questions will post along with their answers once they are completed. Please be aware that response time to your posted Questions will vary significantly. We strive for quick replies, but realistically, this depends on the number of questions posted coincidentally (e.g., 2 days to 2+ weeks). As such, please do not post any urgent questions in these threads; we recommend you use the Practitioner Forum for urgent needs.

May I download some of the course materials?

Yes. Each course page on your dashboard holds a variety of materials. As a courtesy, you may download all slides and documents bundled into a ZIP archive. To do this, go to the specific course homepage, select the “Materials” tab, and click the button to begin the download.

What is a KIP (Key Interconnectedness Pearls)? Which courses have a KIP?

A KIP (Key Interconnectedness Pearls) is a short summary of the key practical and clinical application concepts discussed in the associated Deep Dive Clinical Course. This document is not a course summary but rather a learning tool designed to help students synthesize complex information and reinforce the interconnectedness style of thinking so foundational to the SAFM approach.

Upon successful completion of the respective Deep Dive Clinical Course (DDCC) and associated self-test, the KIP will be emailed with the self-test answer key and will also be provided on that specific course page.

Are slides available for all SAFM webinars?

Each SAFM course includes two version of slides in PDF format (1 slide per page and 3 slides per page). These are available via each respective course on your Student Dashboard. Slides for LIVE Q&As calls or other special / surprise webinars will be made available in specific areas of the Dashboard. You will receive an email the day after those unique webinars notifying you where to find them.

What is the most effective way to utilize or organize course materials to support my learning?

Learning styles differ. Some learn best while watching the videos and taking online notes. Some are visual learners and may wish to print out slides to highlight key points and take notes manually. Others are auditory learners and prefer to listen to the audio files of classes again and again for reinforcement. still others use note-taking aids such as Evernote or Scrivener to combine notes with screen shots and the PDF files of the slides.

You may have to try a variety of ways to figure out which one works best for you. Consider checking in with your Tribe Mastermind peers to see what others are doing to gain suggestions and ideas.

What tips can you offer on how to organize or setup our Personal Pearls Notebook for easy reference later?

This topic is covered in detail during your semester Orientation webinar.  Given that we each absorb and retain information differently, the method you choose will be unique to how your brain organizes and sources data when you need it.

Past experience has shown that some students prefer to use a basic tool such as a Google Doc or a Google Spreadsheet. Other students like note taking applications such as Evernote. Keep in mind that writing notes on printed materials or in a physical notebook will be handy (easy to take anywhere) but will generally not let you search for keywords easily, something you may wish to do as your aggregate note expand over time. Consider what has worked well for you in other programs.

Keep in mind that this is a great question to ask in your Tribe Mastermind group, your meetings with your Accountability Buddy, or in your exchanges on the Practitioner Forum or through Student Connect with new network connections.

What program components are offered beyond the courses in my student Dashboard?

We offer a variety of resources to support your education, engagement with other students, and overall experience.  Please check out your SAFM Student Guide to learn about each of them in more detail.

Are Deep Dive Clinical Courses available for purchase separately?

These clinical courses are not available for purchase by the public. However, Deep Dive Clinical Courses (DDCC) are available to purchase for active SAFM students (in the comprehensive functional medicine program) only.