Curriculum Overview of the FMCA Health Coach Certification Program
The Functional Medicine Coaching Academy (FMCA) represents the gold standard in health coaching education and certification. Our innovative, interactive online curriculum fully prepares you with the training, experience, tools, and expertise to become a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach (FMCHC) in 12 months.
Your Learning Environment
Learn cutting-edge research and techniques from our industry’s most influential experts. Learn to connect meaningfully with clients and collaborate with practitioners, and transform lives as a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach.
Online Learning
Coursework is designed specifically for adult online learning; receiving the United States Distance Learning Association’s Excellence in Teaching/Training Award 2020.
Time Commitment
The time commitment for our FMCA Health Coach Certification Program is 8-12 hours of estimated time per week.
Interactive Learning
Each module provides a Coaching in Action (CIA) that shows the practical application of the content presented. You will then practice and hone your skills during the Live Training Sessions (LTS).
Office Hours with Dr. Sandi and Elyse
Go right to the experts in virtual office hours with Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum, Founder & CEO, and Elyse Wagner, Co-Founder and Chief Wellness Officer. Get expert guidance and mentorship straight from the source.
Course Facilitators
You can also go to your Course Facilitator to ask questions and deepen your understanding of the concepts you’re learning in your coursework.
We’re here to answer your questions!
Talk to our knowledgeable Admissions Team of alumni about becoming a Functional Medicine Health Coach! We’re here to answer your questions, talk things through, offer resources, and help troubleshoot challenges. Our A-Team is here for you!
Curriculum Modules
1. Foundational Coaching Skills
Explore the transformative power of Functional Medicine Health Coaching. Get an introduction to core concepts like Functional Medicine and Positive Psychology. Build a strong foundation as you develop an understanding of fundamental coaching skills.
2. Principles of Functional Medicine Health Coaching
Learn the coach approach, how to build rapport, motivational interviewing, and other essential coaching techniques. By strengthening and honing your coaching skills, you can be the most effective coach possible for your future clients.
3. Guiding Clients Toward Change
Functional Medicine Certified Health Coaches are behavior-change specialists! Discover how to facilitate meaningful change for your clients. Gain an in-depth understanding of the principles of Functional Nutrition, IFM Food Plans, and how to apply Positive Psychology to guide your clients toward change.
4. Digestion and Immunity
Learn digestion and immune fundamentals, stress response, and Mind-Body practices. Gain an in-depth understanding of The Elimination Diet, and how to successfully coach clients through it.
5. Hormone Balance and Communication
Learn the fundamentals and key lifestyle habits for improving hormone and cardiometabolic health. Become an expert in behavior change, and how to communicate effectively with your clients so that they can achieve healthy, lasting change in their lives.
6. Energy and Resiliency
Uncover the basics of energy production, and how to improve energy through Functional Nutrition. Learn how to effectively coach your clients on sleep, exercise, and movement.
7. Integrating Environmental Health
Discover how to integrate environmental health into Functional Medicine Health Coaching. Learn detoxification fundamentals, and how to support detox through Functional Nutrition and lifestyle choices. Explore the psychology of eating, and how to promote behavior change.
8. Coaching Chronic Conditions
Build your knowledge of the chronic disease pathways, and how to uncover sources of inflammation. Learn essential principles of Functional Nutrition, and lifestyle changes to promote healing and lower inflammation. Discover how to use positive psychology and Mind-body Medicine for resiliency.
9. Mental Health and Emotional Wellness
Discover the Coach Approach to mental health, and how to develop resilience through Positive Psychology. Gain an understanding of mental health from a Functional Medicine perspective, and learn mind-body practices for improving mental health.
10. Group Coaching and Remote Monitoring
Tap into the power of the group process, for you as a coach and for your future clients! Learn how to structure and facilitate group coaching visits, and how to partner with practitioners for group medical visits. Discover the capabilities of remote health monitoring, and how coaches can make remote health monitoring more effective.
11. Navigating Coaching Challenges
Prepare for the challenges you will face as a coach, so you can take on the coaching world with confidence after graduation. Explore the impact of biases and stereotypes, and how to coach for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Learn how to navigate moral and ethical challenges as a coach, and discover the importance of caring for yourself as the coach.
12. Your Coaching Future
It’s time to bring together all the concepts that have prepared you to become a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach. You will synthesize the principles of Functional Medicine, Functional Nutrition, Positive Psychology, Mind-Body Medicine, the FMCA Career Navigator, and the Art and Science of Coaching. Reflect on how you’ve grown personally and professionally in your transformative year of learning, and prepare to step into your future as a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach.
Core Curriculum Concepts
- Fundamental coaching competencies, including legal, professional and ethical standards as set forth by the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC)
- Positive psychology principles and coaching tools to engage clients and inspire them to initiate and sustain lifestyle changes
- Concepts and tools of Functional Medicine
- Concepts and tools of Functional Nutrition and the other modifiable lifestyle factors
- Mind-body techniques and other self-regulation strategies
- Protocols for working with medical care teams
- Strategies for establishing a career as a health coach
Expand your community. Enhance your skills.
Build your career. Grow your impact.
Come for the Functional Medicine. Stay for the Health Coaching.
There is SOMETHING CALLING YOU to explore a new approach to health and well-being.
The world needs health coaches. QUESTIONS? Schedule a call.