Transform Lives
As A Health Coach
FMCA trains and certifies functional medicine health coaches from all over the world. Are you ready to join the movement that is changing the face of healthcare?
4000+
Functional Medicine Coaching Academy Graduates
126,700+
health education specialists and community health workers (health coaches) employed nationwide1
41 million
worldwide die of non communicable chronic illness and could be helped by a coach2
Why FMCA?
Health coaching is a powerful tool for fixing a broken global healthcare system. At FMCA, we provide industry leading instruction, support, and community to produce certified health coaches who are saving lives.
If you’re considering becoming a health coach, read on to discover what sets our program apart.
The Gold Standard in Health Coaching Certification
FMCA offers the only certification program designed and delivered in collaboration with The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) and fully approved by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC).
World-Renowned Educators, Comprehensive Curriculum
Dive deep into positive psychology coaching techniques, functional medicine principles, nutrition and food plans, mind-body medicine, and the psychology of eating, with guidance from leaders across these fields.
Unmatched Community And Alumni Support
FMCA offers career guidance, health coaching resources, and community support for students and alums. We’re always with you!
Hear From FMCA Alumni
The FMCA Alumni Network continues to grow.
Here are just a few stories of transformation and joy after studying functional medicine health coaching.
My Health Coach Certification experience has been nothing short of transformative. It’s a one-year journey of self-discovery-almost like an ongoing retreat. A fantastic space for self-improvement because FMCA has created a space that allows vulnerability.
Philippines
My time with FMCA was truly life-changing. I went into the course thinking I knew most of what there was to know about living well but I soon realized I had so much left to learn. The content was vast, enqaging and presented in easy to digest bite size chunks. My facilitator was amazing and I felt fully supported throughout the process. It has changed the way I approach my health and my interactions with people and feel fully prepared to start life as a FMCA health coach.
USA
I came to FMCA hoping to gain some knowledge for my current job working with kids with special needs in a feeding clinic. What I have gained was far beyond I could have imagined. I have become a more self aware person, better listener, better mother, and better friend.
USA
FMCA’s Health Coach Certification Program reiterated the importance of a holistic approach to health on every level, not just the physical. The program is well-rounded, fit easily into my schedule, and I truly enjoyed it. In addition to the NBHWC-approved curriculum (which allows for board certification from the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching), the most meaningful and enriching aspect of the program is the lifelong friendships I made in my LTS. Before enrolling in FMCA, I knew I had a calling to coach, but I lacked the skill, confidence, and professionalism. I now have what I need!
USA
“I absolutely loved this program! I felt seen, heard, supported, encouraged and now I have a group of friends and colleagues that I know will do great work in the world of health and wellness. Thank you!”
USA
“FMCA is a wonderful wellness coaching program! I already work in the wellness coaching business, and FMCA not only has broadened my knowledge base, but I’ve made so many lifelong connections to support my continued coaching journey. Thank you!”
USA
FMCA has changed my life in a big way. I inhaled the course content and began to understand the deep complexity of the body and systems from a different perspective—from a healthy model, rather than the disease model I learned in nursing school. Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Live Training Sessions (LTS)…but these brilliantly facilitated video meetings formed an essential core for the program. Practicing coaching skills and receiving feedback helped us grow and develop into confident, client-focused coaches. I learned a lot about myself and I was able to make changes in order to become the coach I wanted to be.
Australia
As a Personal Trainer for the last 21 years, I tried to convince my clients to stick to their goals, and sometimes, pushing them drained me mentally and emotionally. FMCA changed that. Now I walk alongside my clients on the journey and let them take the lead, which gives them the confidence to keep moving forward and also frees me from the feeling of being responsible for their progress. I am so grateful for this program and the change it has made in me. I searched far and wide for a program that aligned with what I believe in, and this was it!
USA
What a year it has been! It surpassed my expectations. I now have the knowledge and gift of using coaching as a healing presence in people’s lives. We, coaches, are there to help our clients find their inner wisdom, to empower them, to renew their hope, to draw on their strengths, to explore their vision, to connect with their values, and to help them achieve lasting lifestyle change. FMCA encourages you to find your unique style, to be optimistic, to listen deeply and to acknowledge what your client is saying. In this way, you can inspire self-discovery. Thank you for an incredible year of learning
South Africa
I have thoroughly enjoyed FMCA. The group coaching sessions were awesome and really prepared me to deal with clients in a confident manner. I would not have thought the changes that took place in each of us would be so dramatic! Amazing coaching program, really.
USA
The skills I learned at FMCA fundamentally changed my health coaching for the better. I feel much more in tune and connected with my clients and I have become a much better listener, and therefore more able to support my clients in their healing process. One of the things my clients love the most is when I focus on their Character Strengths, as it gives them the hope and confidence that really helps them move forward.
Canada
I already had a good amount of Functional Medicine knowledge coming into this program and it did a great job of adding to that knowledge while reviewing core principles for those students who may be newer to the topic. The education in coaching and positive psychology principles was excellent. The faculty is top-notch and the hands-on practice prepares you well to start a career in coaching. The workload is manageable and can be balanced with other life/work priorities. I’m very happy with the education I received from FMCA!
USA
FMCA’s Health Coach Certification Program is the best thing that I have done for my professional development thus far in my career. As a Wellness Director at a college, I can apply so much of what I’ve learned on a day-to-day basis. I went into the program expecting to gain knowledge around health and nutrition, and I’m graduating with so much more than that. The way I communicate with others, present myself, listen, and ask questions has been transformed, and that’s invaluable. I am so grateful for this experience and would recommend it to anymore!
USA
I absolutely did not expect all this from an online course. There is much more interaction between students than I thought, probably more than I had when I was pursuing my Nutrition Degree. And since English is my second language, I was not comfortable in group discussions when I started, yet I have overcome it with all the courage and support of my cohorts and course facilitator. I can see myself growing, and I really like it. I call this my Functional Medicine Family, because that’s what it really feels like.
Malaysia
I started the program to gain knowledge and vocabulary in nutrition. I had no plans of coaching, I just wanted the credibility that comes with FMCA’s affiliation with the Institute for Functional Medicine. Instead, this program put a spotlight on a natural gift and passion for coaching that I was oblivious to before. I am taking my newfound love of Health Coaching back to the music community I work in, applying the principles I’ve learned to help creatives sustain their biggest crazy dreams.
USA
Attending the FMCA program has helped me become more aware of my eating, movements, sleep patterns and most of all to stay in control of my emotions. I work as a nurse in a stressful environment and attending FMCA has helped me deal with clients better through active listening and respecting that the clients are the experts in finding solutions to their problems. They know what works best for themselves. My job is to support them and help them stay on track. I listen more to clients and it works, they are more involved in their care!
USA
Initially, I thought this class would be just a class that I learn from and implement. However, shortly after starting, I realized this program wasn’t just ‘another class‘. Although there’s not Emotional Intelligence called out as a benefit of FMCA, it should be. In addition to learning about the body, mind, and coaching, I found myself having a higher level of emotional self-control, a decrease in judgement or assuming, and an overall calmness of my personality. FMCA doesn’t just change our clients’ lives, it changes ours too!
My experience with FMCA was 10/10. I believe this program gave me a tremendous amount of knowledge, growth, and confidence to launch my coaching business and begin this next chapter.
Studying to become a FMCA health coach had been a true game changer for me both when it comes to my personal health and for my career opportunities. It’s the best investment in myself and my future that I’ve ever made.
The program is outstanding. The content is vast. There is so much information that is useful in life as well as in coaching. Make sure you have a lot of dedicated time to complete all the videos and reading that is required.
This Program is very well structured and the quality of what we learn is impressive. The format is organized in a way that we get quite a lot of live coaching trainings too, which in itself is powerful. They also have a wonderful support system and I really appreciated that very much.
FMCA program far exceeded my expectations. I went in not sure how I would learn how to be a health and wellness coach. They broke It down in easy and logical steps at a pace that was good for me.
After researching numerous health coaching programs between 2017 and 2022, I finally decided to join FMCA. It was an investment in my personal development and I am so grateful that I took that step. The program structure, the curriculum, the educators, and the facilitators are all incredible elements of this program. The ability to coach at every live session helped me slowly grow my confidence as a coach. Many other programs offer great content but do not offer that coaching-specific training and this is exactly where I needed help. I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to grow on multiple levels and wants to be a truly transformative health coach. Thank you FMCA!
This program surpassed my expectations in every way. The practical training sessions honed my coaching skills, while the theoretical content was incredibly robust and challenging. The abundance of resources was a major plus, but the highlight for me was the one-on-one time with our course facilitator, offering personalized feedback and guidance. I hadn’t anticipated such a strong mentorship aspect, which became a delightful and valuable aspect of my personal development. I’ve been enthusiastically recommending this program to fellow fitness coaches seeking to broaden their knowledge and skills, and to more effectively help their clients achieve their health goals.
FMCA offers top-notch, cutting-edge training from professionals who are also trainers with the IFM. Also, there is a major focus on utilizing the research into positive psychology to craft the most effective approach to behavioral change.
Finding FMCA felt like finding the missing piece for which I have been searching for a long time. As a “retired” doctor focused on overall wellness, becoming a FMCHC feels like I have found my calling. The quality of instruction and the topics covered are extremely high. Excited to go out into the world and put my learnings into practice and continue the lifelong learning process!
My year with FMCA has been the most transformative experience for me, equipping me with new skills and knowledge that I have been able to apply in all areas of my life. Being part of the FMCA community of students and fellow graduates and being able to connect with so many inspiring people feels like a privilege. This has been a journey of personal growth. I learned a lot about myself while learning about coaching skills. I believe that I emerged an improved and mature person who listens better and is less judgmental. My aim is to help people change, heal, reclaim their goals, and start pursuing them.
An incredibly extensive coaching program that challenges what you may think you already know about becoming an effective listener, communicator and coach. There is so much information that can keep you engaged long after the completion of the certification. Very professional and highly supportive environment to learn how to really support clients in reaching their health and wellness goals.
I was encouraged by my boss to take this course with the idea that I would eventually move from my administrative role to that of a health coach. Taking the course while working at a new job was a lot for me. Looking back, I could not be happier that I committed myself to both endeavors. I am now able to move forward in my career and feel that I have so much more to offer our patients and coaching clients. I have learned a lot more about my own health journey, as well. It has been an enriching and empowering experience that I am beyond grateful for. I am especially grateful for the amazing people I have met and/or learned from along the way. I cannot wait to see where this certification takes me and my classmates!
The knowledge I have garnered through the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy with IFM has been invaluable. Through learning the foundations of functional medicine, positive psychology and coaching basics I have become a better version of myself and feel equipped to help others in similar processes through coaching and in my own practice. Thank you FMCA.
FMCA was one of the most stimulating, exciting, and educational things I’ve ever done in my life. This program has exceeded all my expectations and I truly feel I would not have gotten as thorough education in any other program.
FMCA turned something I liked into something I could implement. Since 2020 I’ve been eager to learn more about Functional Medicine and its benefits and I dedicated myself to teach people about toxins and healthy simple swaps. That led me to look for a program that could give me a better education and match both things: helping people and FM. In 2021 I found FMCA and after a year of hesitation, I pulled the trigger and decided to give it a go and it has been the best decision! I loved the sense of community I got from my cohort and Course Facilitator, how good the content each module was, how I could sometimes self-pace some units, and the practices we had throughout the whole year. I can’t recommend it more!
I believe that FMCA has given me a strong foundation to enter the world of health and wellness coaching with the resources, knowledge, and skill to effectively meet clients at the level they need. The coaching skills I’ve acquired have helped me more than I ever would have imagined in my personal life and work life outside of FMCA. This is a high-value program and I’m excited to put it to use!
Thank you to FMCA for an excellent year in which I could start transforming my well-being. Thank you for providing so much info but also structuring it in a way to get through it. Thank you for tying loose ends in current medical viewpoints and thank you for conducting the course in a very practical manner. I’m so grateful for being part of the March 2023 class and especially grateful for my course facilitator – Holly Ladd.
South Africa
FMCA program was transformative, renewing, eye-opening, and empowering to me. Being 55 years old I feel like I’m 25 again and I want to spread this to the world, there is no other way to feel really fulfilled. My Christian background and the FMCA program were just totally compatible.
I chose FMCA because I was told it was the “Gold Standard” in a coaching program. Since going through the program, I can say with authority that this is true.
Studying at FMCA was a life-changing experience! It fundamentally changed how I listen and communicate which are skills that go beyond the coaching experience. I feel very equipped to begin my coaching practice and loved all the in-depth education about Functional Medicine.
FMCA’s Program Is Approved By Leading Experts In Health Coaching
Health Coach Talk
Conversations About Wellness Through Functional Medicine Coaching
Hosted by FMCA Founder and CEO Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum, Health Coach Talk features insights from the most well-respected names in Health Coaching and Functional Medicine. Dr. Scheinbaum explores the positive impact that health coaching has on healthcare, as it provides a personalized, patient-centered, science-based approaches to wellness.
Check us out on these Platforms!
Latest Episodes
Meet Our Educators
Learn from leading experts in Functional Medicine, Functional Nutrition and the Psychology of Eating, Positive Psychology, Mind-Body Medicine, the Art and Science of Coaching, and the Business of Coaching.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional Medicine is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach to healthcare that looks beyond symptom resolution to identify why illness occurs and address those root causes to restore health.
What is Functional Medicine
Health Coaching?
Functional Medicine Health Coaches know there’s more to a healthy lifestyle than fad diets and unsustainable exercise regimens.
Latest From Our Blog
Explore the FMCA Blog for informative articles on health coaching, nutrition, functional medicine, and the latest happenings with FMCA.
We offer resources for health coaches looking to better support clients or grow their careers, as well as for wellness enthusiasts and practitioners simply looking for facts and insights on healthy living. Our goal is to provide the FMCA community with knowledge that can help anyone make informed decisions while navigating an individual health and career journey.
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Recipe: Hearty Sausage Lentil Soup
Read Full Article: Recipe: Hearty Sausage Lentil Soup -
Mind-Body Medicine 101: What Health Coaches Need To Know
Read Full Article: Mind-Body Medicine 101: What Health Coaches Need To Know -
Alumni Spotlight: Mahboob Siddiqui
Read Full Article: Alumni Spotlight: Mahboob Siddiqui -
Navigating the Nuances: In-Person vs. Online Health Coaching
Read Full Article: Navigating the Nuances: In-Person vs. Online Health Coaching