Adapt Functional Medicine Practitioner Certification (FMP-AC)
A credential that validates your clinical skill, elevates your professional identity, and deepens your ability to practice functional, ancestral, and root-cause medicine.
Overview
The Adapt Functional Medicine Practitioner Certification (FMP-AC) is a credential available exclusively to graduates of the Practitioner Training Program. It formally validates your mastery of functional medicine principles, case-based reasoning, and real-world clinical application.
Certification at a Glance
Element
Details
Certification
Adapt Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (FMP-AC)
Certified practitioners receive a profile listing in the Verified Adapt Provider Directory, one of the most visited areas of our website. Prospective patients can easily find you, verify your credentials, and understand your clinical focus.
Credibility
Certification demonstrates that you’ve completed a rigorous, evidence-based, clinically oriented training program. It signals competence, seriousness, and a commitment to high standards of care.
Recognition
Graduates earn the FMP-AC credential and receive ongoing alumni benefits, including updated clinical tools, community support, and continuing education to stay sharp as the field evolves.
Who Is Eligible for Adapt Practitioner Certification?
Applicants for certification must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Have an active and eligible healthcare license issued by the appropriate authority in the state, province, or country of the applicant’s clinical practice.
Complete the Adapt Functional Medicine Practitioner Training Program course material, pass all weekly quizzes, and be a current Adapt Alumni member.
Fulfill all financial obligations for the program.
Scope of the FMP-AC Credential
Professional recognition you gain
A respected credential within the functional medicine community
Validated mastery of key clinical and diagnostic frameworks
Continued support through alumni membership
Directory listing as a Verified Adapt Practitioner
What remains outside the scope of certification
Licensure to practice
Any form of board certification
Legal authority to practice beyond your existing scope
The FMP-AC certification is designed to strengthen and validate your clinical skill, not replace your professional license or expand your legal scope of practice.
How to Become Adapt Certified
1
Determine Eligibility
Fill out the eligibility quiz to ensure eligibility for the certification credential.
2
Enroll in the Practitioner Training Program (PTP)
Enroll in the Adapt Functional Medicine Practitioner Training Program and mark that you intend to certify.
3
Complete All Course Requirements
To be eligible for the exam, participants must complete:
All course modules
All weekly quizzes (to build mastery and retention) with a score of 80% or higher
4
Apply for Certification
Apply for Adapt Functional Medicine Practitioner Certification within 2 years of your course start date.
Pay the non-refundable fee for the Certification Exam and Alumni membership.
5
Prepare for the Exam
Once approved and paid in full, you’ll gain access to the Certification Course, which includes practice quizzes, a comprehensive review guide, and instructions for scheduling the proctored Certification Exam.
6
Pass the Exam
Receive a passing score of at least 70% on the FMP-AC Certification Exam.
7
Publish Your Credentials
Receive priority listing on the Adapt Practitioner Directory page, and update your website, curriculum vitae, and marketing materials with your FMP-AC promotional badge.
8
Maintain Active Alumni Membership
Certification remains current as long as you:
Maintain an active Adapt Alumni Membership
Maintain an active healthcare license
Complete any updated quizzes when the curriculum is revised
Exam Details
Format:
Remote, online, proctored
Covers material learned throughout the program
70% minimum passing score
Cost:
Initial exam fee: $495
Retake exam fee: $395
Ongoing Requirements to Maintain Certification
To maintain your listing and use the FMP-AC designation:
Maintain an active Alumni Membership
Abide by the Adapt Code of Conduct
Complete periodic updates or refreshers when required (rare, and always communicated well in advance)
Failure to maintain alumni membership or ethical standing may result in removal from the directory and loss of credential status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a “board certification”?
No, Functional Medicine does not have a federally recognized board governing certification for healthcare professionals. No program in this field offers a board-certified credential. FMP-AC is a respected, competency-based certification that validates your training and clinical skill.
Does certification allow me to practice Functional Medicine independently?
You must always practice within the scope of your existing licensure in your region. FMP-AC does not grant additional legal practice rights.
Are there additional benefits to being a FMP-AC?
As part of the Adapt Alumni Membership, you receive continuing education through ongoing curriculum and educational updates to further develop advanced skills and competencies in the treatment of complex conditions.
What information will I be tested on in the Certification Exam?
The Certification Exam is composed of approximately 125 to 150 multiple choice questions that cover material presented during the 12-month Adapt Practitioner Training Program.
What type of support do I get in preparing for the Certification Exam?
As part of the Certification Course and fee, you will have access to and the opportunity to repeat all your previous quizzes and a comprehensive study guide to prepare yourself for the Certification Exam. It is not required to use the study guide, but it is included in the cost of the Certification Exam.
Where do I take the Certification Exam?
The Certification Exam is a proctored, virtual exam that you can take in the comfort of your own home.
How do I maintain and renew my certification?
To maintain certification, you must maintain an active healthcare license, hold a current Alumni membership, and pass updated quizzes that are reflective of the new curriculum. We do not require renewal of certification if you fulfill all the above requirements. If your certification lapses, see Certification Terms and Conditions below for more information on how to remedy an expired certification.
How long does it take to complete the certification process?
The Adapt Functional Medicine Practitioner Training Program is a 12-month program with an additional six months of access to all program material. You can fill out the eligibility determination form at any time throughout the program. Upon completion of the course, you can apply for and become an Adapt Alumni member. You can also apply for the Certification Exam anytime after passing the program quizzes and becoming an Alumni member.
How much does the Certification Course and Exam cost?
The fee for the Certification Course and Exam is $495, which includes practice quizzes, a comprehensive study guide, and the proctored FMP-AC Certification Exam.
The FMP-AC Certification Exam fee is non-refundable.
If you do not pass the Certification Exam on the first try, you will be given one additional opportunity to retake the exam within six months at a discounted rate of $395.
Certification Terms and Conditions
You must maintain an active healthcare license to be eligible for and maintain FMP-AC certification. Should your license lapse, you are responsible for notifying Kresser Institute, and your certification status will change in the Adapt Practitioner Directory.
You must maintain an Adapt Alumni Membership to be eligible for and maintain FMP-AC certification. If your Adapt Alumni membership lapses, your certification status will be changed in the Adapt Practitioner Directory.
If your certification lapses, you must remove the designation, badge, and mention from all professional materials within 30 days.
To reinstate an expired certification, you must reactivate your healthcare license and/or Adapt Alumni Membership, pay a $50 administrative fee, and reapply for certification. You will be required to review content updates that have occurred since your Alumni Membership lapsed and pass any updated quizzes.
You must apply for certification within two years of your course start date.
Kresser Institute maintains strict confidentiality regarding exam outcomes.
Certified practitioners must adhere to both the Adapt Code of Conduct and the professional Code of Ethics required by their healthcare license. Any violation of these codes must be reported to Kresser Institute. Kresser Institute reserves the right to suspend or revoke certification in cases where ethics violations have been verified.
The Certification Exam fee ($495) is non-refundable. If you fail, one retake is available for $395.
Remote Testing Policy
Remote testing allows for secure evaluation through approved third-party proctoring services.
You must complete a system check and identity verification prior to the exam.
The proctoring company may monitor your computer, webcam, microphone, and activity.
Violations (e.g., use of devices, communication with others, accessing external sites) will result in revocation of a passing score or further disciplinary action.
You must ensure a stable internet connection of at least 1.5 Mbps upload speed.
