Functional Medicine works best when nutrition is applied with clinical precision, depth, and discernment. Yet many healthcare professionals are asked to implement nutrition-driven strategies without having received the level of training required to do so efficiently or confidently—especially in complex, chronic cases.

Integrative and Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy (IFMNT) training exists to change that.

This advanced training is designed for licensed and credentialed healthcare professionals who use nutrition within their scope of practice and want to strengthen clinical decision-making, streamline care, and improve outcomes across a wide range of patient presentations.

With more than 550 hours of advanced, clinically focused education, IFMNT is not introductory or protocol-based training. It is a comprehensive system that develops the practitioner’s ability to assess, prioritize, and individualize nutrition interventions—reducing guesswork, improving efficiency, and supporting better long-term results for both patients and practices.

Practitioners who complete IFMNT training consistently report greater confidence, clearer clinical reasoning, more effective case management, and stronger collaboration with other members of the healthcare team. These skills translate directly into improved patient outcomes, greater professional credibility, and increased practice sustainability.

Developed and led by Susan Allen-Evenson, RDN, LDN, FMNS, this program reflects more than 30 years of clinical experience, teaching, and mentorship within the Functional Medicine space. The evidence-based curriculum is intentionally structured for working professionals, offering both live and pre-recorded learning options. All live sessions are recorded, allowing practitioners to engage deeply with the material while maintaining full clinical schedules—without the time and expense of constant travel to in-person events.

In addition to the comprehensive Certificate of Training pathway, all IFMNT modules are available for individual enrollment, either as live training series or pre-recorded courses. This allows practitioners to customize their education based on experience level, scope of practice, and immediate clinical needs.

Participants gain access to a robust collection of clinical tools, protocols, handouts, and customizable forms designed for direct implementation in practice—not theoretical learning.

A defining feature of IFMNT is its live clinical discussion, mentorship, and private professional community. This collaborative environment allows practitioners to refine clinical reasoning, explore nuanced patient cases, and learn from colleagues across disciplines. The result is not just more knowledge, but better judgment—an essential skill in advanced Functional Medicine practice.

Flexible payment plans are available, and group discounts may be offered upon inquiry.

A Certificate of IFMNT Training is optional and includes a final exam process. All participants receive a Certificate of Completion for each module they complete regardless. Practitioners who earn the Certificate of Training are eligible for inclusion in the IFMNT Practitioner Referral Directory (in development).

• Principles of Balance: The foundations of IFMNT intervention
• Vitamins, herbal, essential fatty acids, and other dietary supplements: How to responsibly use in practice
• Lab assessment under a functional medicine lens
• Specialty Functional Nutrition lab interpretation
• Toxicity/Detoxification/Cleansing: What, When, and Why – Nutrition’s vital role!
• Advanced GI health support (including leaky gut, Candida, gluten, and other food sensitivities)
• Anti-inflammatory and other therapeutic diets
• Nutrigenomics: (like MTHFR): Unravel the mystery and bring your practice into the 21st century!
• IFMNT aspects of thyroid health
• Nutritional support for mood disorders, chronic fatigue, sleep issues, and stress maladaptation (adrenal)
• Cardio Metabolic/obesity updated with an IFMNT twist
• Men and women’s health: includes hormone balance through nutritional support
• ADHD to Autism: Nutrition’s Role in Spectrum Disorders
• Career support: Incorporation of functional nutrition into your practice, whatever your setting
• Other specialty subjects like mind-body, autoimmune, integrative cancer care, and more!
• Interactive workshops to enhance clinical immersion
• Group coaching and private mentoring to facilitate engagement and ensure your success
• With your Certificate of Training, you’ll be listed in the graduate practitioner directory—great referral potential! (Currently in development)
• Private NLFN Member and training Facebook groups—stay connected and continually network with your peers!

These days, there is so much information available about alternative healing modalities including supplements/herbs, nutrition, fitness, alternative/functional medicine, mind-body practices, etc. It’s hard to sift through it all and know what to trust or how to use in practice. Next Level Functional Nutrition offers you reliable research and clinical experience based information and training that will help you stay on the leading edge of your profession and, more importantly, empower you to more fully and effectively serve the clients you work with.

Our program is suited to Registered Dietitians and Professional Nutritionists, along with any other credentialed healthcare clinicians who wish to add a nutrition focus to their practice, such as: MDs, DOs, RNPs, RNs, DCs, DOMs, etc. Due to the heavy emphasis on the clinical application of our training, registration is limited to licensed or professional healthcare clinicians (as noted above) who have at least a 4-year undergraduate or a 2-year Master’s, science-based degree.

Note: although we gladly include non-nutritional medical professionals in our training programs, we encourage you to partner with an IFMNT Nutritionist (also called a Functional Nutritionist) for the maximum application of nutritional services and to ensure the most successful outcomes with your patients. The value of this training is that you appreciate the importance of IFMNT nutrition as a vital component of patient care and that you can work effectively as a team to provide the most comprehensive care to those you serve

Click here to learn more about Culinary for IMFNT.

What Sets NLFN Training Apart

Led by experience—not trends.
NLFN training is developed and taught by Susan Allen-Evenson, RDN, LDN, FMNS, with more than 25 years of clinical experience in Functional Nutrition and decades of involvement in the Functional Medicine space. Instruction is led by a primary educator to ensure continuity and depth, with expert guest instructors contributing additional perspective where appropriate.

Mentorship-driven, not just content delivery.
This is not passive, self-study education. NLFN emphasizes mentorship, clinical discussion, and real-world application—supporting practitioners as they learn how to think through cases, not just consume information. Real clinical experience, case management insight, and practice integration are woven throughout the training.

Built for licensed healthcare professionals.
NLFN training is intentionally designed for healthcare practitioners with a minimum four-year science-based degree who use nutrition within their scope of practice. The curriculum is clinically rigorous, science-driven, and appropriate for professionals who are responsible for patient care. (Select programs are available to advanced students and interns meeting eligibility requirements.)

Clinically deep, application-focused education.
The curriculum goes far beyond surface-level nutrition education. Practitioners develop skills in assessment, lab ordering and interpretation, protocol selection, and individualized application—using real case studies and guided practice to build confidence and clinical precision.

Flexible learning without sacrificing interaction.
Most training is delivered through live, interactive online sessions, allowing participants to ask questions and engage in discussion as content is taught. All sessions are recorded for ongoing access and review, eliminating the need for travel while maintaining a high level of engagement. Extensive presentation materials and learning resources are provided to support long-term reference and clinical use.

A professional community that supports growth.
Each course includes access to a private networking and discussion forum, creating space for collaboration, case-related questions, and shared learning between sessions. This community aspect allows practitioners to learn alongside peers who value depth, professionalism, and clinical excellence.

Tools you can use immediately.
Participants receive a robust collection of clinical handouts, assessment forms, and curated resources that can be customized for individual practices. These materials are designed to support immediate implementation—not added homework.

Advanced training that respects your investment.
Across all offerings, NLFN provides over 550 hours of clinically focused education, with options to complete a comprehensive Certificate of Training or enroll in individual IFMNT modules. Flexible payment plans and optional add-on mentorship are available, making advanced training accessible without compromising quality.