Learn Functional Medicine the Way It’s Actually Practiced
A 12-month virtual training, fellowship, and certification program that turns theory into confident, real-world clinical skill.
Functional Medicine Training for the Working Practitioner
The Adapt Program is the most comprehensive, practice-ready functional medicine and root-cause training available for licensed healthcare professionals around the world.
Delivered by a faculty of practicing clinicians, this year-long program and certification combines a structured curriculum with live mentorship, case-based learning, and a virtual clinical fellowship that prepares you to confidently apply functional medicine in both in-person and telemedicine settings.
You’ll move beyond theory into application, learning to interpret complex lab data, identify root causes, and design personalized treatment plans that get measurable results.
For Practitioners Who Want to Apply, Not Just Learn, Functional Medicine
If you’re an MD, DO, NP, PA, DC, RD, ND, or other licensed clinician, Adapt gives you the mentorship and practical tools to confidently practice functional medicine every day.
Our flagship program offers structured mentorship, live case-based learning, and systems training to help you translate knowledge into confident patient care.
You’ll fit right in if you’re:
- A licensed practitioner seeking practical, applied functional medicine training
- Tired of frameworks that don’t translate into real-world competence
- Craving mentorship and community over self-paced isolation
- Looking for a proven pathway to certification (A-CFMP) and professional credibility
In just two minutes, find out if you qualify and whether this is the next right step in your functional medicine journey.
Where Others Teach Theory, We Teach Clinical Readiness
We don’t just give you frameworks; we give you the skills, mentorship, and confidence to apply them every day in practice.
Many functional medicine programs stop at theory, leaving practitioners to figure out the rest on their own.
The Adapt Program was built to close that gap.
You’ll learn directly from clinicians who practice functional medicine every day, using the same systems, tools, and case-based methods they use with their patients.
Each element of the program is designed to help you bridge the gap between knowing and applying so you leave not just informed, but ready to practice with certainty.
How Adapt Compares to Other Functional Medicine Programs
 | institute for functional medicine | functional medicine university | kalish institute | school of applied functional medicine | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Functional Medicine theory |  |  | | | |
| One-on-One Virtual Fellowship | | ||||
| Functional blood chemistry analysis with Complete Blood Panel analysis tools and Blood Chemistry Manual | | ||||
| Stool, saliva, urine test interpretation | | | |||
| Advanced lab interpretation (SIBO breath, IBS-SMART, etc.) | | | |||
| Lab company recommendations and preferences (discussed by name) | | | |||
| Detailed treatment protocols with prescription and supplement information (brand, dosing, contraindications, and more) | | | | ||
| ancestral nutrition and lifestyle training | | ||||
| Comprehensive practice management training | | | | ||
| Practice management toolkit with branded patient education forms, procedures, and logistical documents | | ||||
| Monthly live interaction and Q&A with practicing clinician faculty members | | ||||
| Case-based learning to support real-world application included in the core program | | ||||
| Self-paced, made for working professionals to fit your schedule while steadily progressing toward certification | | | |||
| Evidence-based learning approach to support long-term mastery | | | |||
| Interactive app-based community forum for students and graduates | | | |||
| Graduate (Alumni) membership for continued access to updated course material, networking opportunities, and community resources | | | | ||
| Extended training intensives on targeted Functional Health topics | |
How Adapt Transforms Knowledge into Clinical Mastery
In 12 months you’ll be able to:
Interpret complex lab data with clarity and translate it into actionable treatment plans
Build personalized protocols that deliver measurable results for even the most complex cases
Confidently integrate nutrition, lifestyle, and systems-based care into your existing clinical practice
Identify root causes rather than chase symptoms, using a structured diagnostic process.
Communicate functional medicine clearly to patients, helping them understand their data and take ownership of their health
Apply evidence-based frameworks that make clinical decision-making faster, clearer, and more effective
Adapt your systems-based approach seamlessly for telehealth and virtual care, reaching more patients with the same clinical rigor
Work within a supportive community of practitioners committed to continuous learning and clinical excellence
Dr. Anna S., DCCaliforniaAdapt gave me the missing link on how to apply what I already knew. I finally feel confident treating complex cases.
Your Learning Journey, Step by Step
Our curriculum mirrors how functional medicine is practiced, building from foundational systems knowledge to confident clinical application.
Each stage is intentionally designed to help you learn, retain, and apply functional medicine with mentorship and support every step of the way.
These bonuses are designed to help you apply what you learn, clinically, professionally, and personally, so you graduate ready to practice functional medicine with clarity.
Ryan Monahan, LAc, DAOMThe format of Adapt was ideally suited to my needs. I could go deeper where I needed to, revisit lessons, and truly master the content. The superior curriculum and flexible design made it a no-brainer for me.
The Functional Medicine Lens for Allied Practitioners
Learn how to apply Functional Medicine thinking within your scope of practice. Connect systems, identify patterns, and collaborate more effectively with licensed clinicians.
Evidence-Based. Case-Based. Systems-Based. Designed for the Working Practitioner.
The virtual Adapt Practitioner Training, Fellowship & Certification Program is built to help you retain, apply, and embody functional medicine in real clinical settings.
We follow a case-based learning model, the same format used at Harvard Medical School, proven to improve retention, sharpen clinical reasoning, and increase confidence in practice. This keeps training clinically rigorous yet immediately applicable.
We know you’re busy serving patients. Adapt is designed and delivered virtually for learners who want to grow without stepping away from the work they love. Most participants balance the program with full-time clinical work, dedicating about three hours per week.
You’ll experience a curriculum that blends academic depth with practical application, so you don’t just learn information, you learn to think like a functional medicine clinician.
Virtual, but never alone.
Through small cohorts, live mentorship, and an interactive learning community, you’ll be supported at every step.
Our Approach
Evidence-Based:
Grounded in current research, functional testing, and clinical data that inform every protocol.
Case-Based:
Real patient scenarios that mirror daily practice.
Systems-Based:
Understand how systems interact and intervene to restore balance.
This blend makes the learning stick so you finish not just informed, but confident in interpreting data, building protocols, and helping real patients see real change.
What Our Graduates Are Saying
“As a mid-career physician making the transition from pediatric anesthesia into Functional Medicine, the ADAPT Program has provided me with a potent, actionable system for success in treating patients using a functional and evolutionary approach.”
Christian Tucker, MDSection Head Pediatric & Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia at Cleveland Clinic, Ohio
“Thanks to the ADAPT program, I was able to expand my practice from only Eastern medicine to both Functional Medicine and Eastern medicine. For me, this opened up an entire[ly] new patient population who are seeking a Functional Medicine approach for their health.”
Dr. Ryan Monahan, LAc, DAOMPeaceful Mountain Medicine
“ADAPT will simply make you a better doctor. It will help you get to the root of people’s health issues. It gives you loads of patient education and protocols, so you don’t have to spin your wheels figuring out what to do.”
Marcy Halterman-Cox, DC, RNCollege Station, TX
“The ADAPT program was really what was responsible for a complete change [in] my career path. I went from burned-out Western medicine employee to a self-employed practitioner using a root cause approach to truly help all my clients.”
Kasey Goins, PA-C, FDN-Pkaseygoins.com
You’re Not Doing This Alone
Learn alongside mentors and peers who are as passionate about functional medicine as you are.
The Adapt community is what truly sets this program apart.
From your very first week, you’ll be part of a small, supportive cohort led by experienced faculty and mentors who practice functional medicine every day.
Mentorship meets belonging. You’ll learn from experts but also from each other.
You’ll collaborate in peer discussions and share case insights, the kind of collaboration that makes learning stick.
And even after you complete the program, you’ll have the option to stay connected through our alumni network, with ongoing case reviews, research updates, and a vibrant professional community dedicated to lifelong learning.
Mentorship That Makes Functional Medicine Click
Get your questions answered by clinicians who apply these frameworks with real patients every day.
Our mentors aren’t just instructors, they’re practicing functional medicine clinicians who’ve walked the path you’re on.
Through live Q&As, small-group sessions, and case-based discussions, they’ll help you make sense of complex material, connect theory to practice, and grow in clinical confidence.
Meet Your Mentors
Adapt mentors represent diverse clinical backgrounds, from integrative MDs to NPs and nutritionists, united by a commitment to teaching functional medicine as it’s actually practiced.
Earn the A-CFMP Credential, The Mark of Applied Excellence in Functional Medicine
Graduates of the Adapt Functional Medicine Practitioner Fellowship & Certification Program are eligible to earn the A-CFMP, the Adapt-Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner credential.
This certification demonstrates that you’ve completed one of the most comprehensive, practice-ready functional medicine programs in the world and that you possess the skills, systems, and clinical judgment to apply functional medicine in real-world settings.
Your A-CFMP badge signals to patients and peers alike that you’ve achieved a high level of professional competence and ethical, evidence-based practice.
It’s the mark of applied excellence, not just in knowledge, but in skill.
Stay Connected. Keep Growing.
Program completion isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of a lifelong professional network.
As an Adapt Alumni Member, you’ll stay connected through ongoing case reviews, research updates, and a global community of functional medicine practitioners who continue to learn and grow together.
Membership includes continued access to updated course materials, evolving protocols, alumni-only Q&As, and exclusive invitations to future training events.
It’s the support system that keeps you sharp, confident, and connected long after your program ends.
Chelsea G., RDThe alumni community keeps me sharp and connected long after graduation.
Trusted. Proven. Recognized.
Trusted by 2,000+ Practitioners
Trusted by 2,000+ practitioners across 30+ countries worldwide
Founded by Chris Kresser
Founded by Chris Kresser, MS, LAc, one of functional medicine’s most respected educators
Endorsed by Leading Clinicians
Endorsed by Leading Clinicians including Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Kirk Parsley
Over 50,000 clinical hours
Over 50,000 clinical hours represented across our alumni network
Rated 4.9/5 for content quality
Rated 4.9/5 for content quality and mentorship support
FAQs
Still have questions?
Schedule a Discovery Call to talk directly with our enrollment team.