After the launch of the IFM Certification Program in 2009, functional medicine continued to evolve. In 2021, IFM initiated a significant multi-year program evaluation which included external credentialing consultants, clinicians, subject matter experts, and collaboration with additional internal and external stakeholders. The goal of this evaluation was to better understand how changes in functional medicine practice and the certification program should evolve to better serve the needs of practitioners, patients, and the public. Functional medicine was not new anymore, and to ensure the ongoing credibility of functional medicine, the certification program matured to elevate the program.
Using professional certification program accreditation standards and best practices to guide the work of developing a fair and valid certification, the new Functional Medicine Certification Program™:
- Was informed by a comprehensive, formal review of the certification program over several years.
- Better reflects the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are necessary to competently practice functional medicine within individual licensures and across different disciplines.
- Ensures separation between medical education and certification testing to maintain the integrity of the functional medicine credentials.
IFM is proud of the history and achievements of the IFM Certification Program and is excited to continue offering the industry standard of certification through the updated Functional Medicine Certification Program™.