Functional Nutrition Certificate
Deepen your knowledge of functional nutrition.Online | 1 Year | Certificate for Academic Credit
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ONLINE
COURSES
Week Courses
Credits
FNC Certificate Highlights
Specialize in Functional Nutrition
Focus on integrated, holistic nutrition. Learn to better use food as a natural medicine while addressing physical performance and functioning. This certificate is designed to increase the student’s abilities to identify how nutrients influence the genome and their relationship to health and wellness, while also learning about the changing nutritional needs throughout the lifespan.
Integrate Functional Nutrition Into Your Area of Healthcare Practice
Integrate an understanding of functional nutrition into your area of healthcare practice. Whether you are a dietitian or a nurse, understanding and integrating functional, and holistic nutrition into your patients’ treatment plans can have great benefits.
Transfer into our MSHS Program
Are you interested in earning your master’s degree? Credits from our FNC certificate transfer directly into our Master of Science in Health Science (MSHS) program’s Functional Nutrition track. Our MSHS program is designed for a wide variety of healthcare professionals. Make an easy transition from our certificate program straight into your master’s degree.
Designed for Working Healthcare Professionals
Our FNC Certificate is designed especially for working healthcare professionals. With a completely-online program designed to fit with busy schedules, the FNC Certificate can fit your schedule.
Our FNC Certificate is designed to benefit individuals who fall into the following areas:
- Individuals who have a desire to learn to better use food as a natural medicine while addressing physical performance and functioning
- Health professionals who wish to better integrate nutrition into their interdisciplinary assessment and care planning
- Individuals who wish to better understand the changing nutritional needs throughout the lifespan
- Individuals who wish to understand how nutrients influence the genome
Interprofessional Program Experience
Learn in an interprofessional program. Students are from a variety of healthcare professions and are generally former or current clinicians. Interact with healthcare professionals from a wide range of disciplines, deepening your learning and networking experience.
Functional Nutrition Certificate Curriculum
Deepen your understanding of functional, holistic nutrition. Understand the relationships between nutrition, genetics, and lifespan.

Functional Nutrition
Nutrition & Genomics
Deepen your understanding of the interactions between nutrients and an individual’s genome. Learn the applications of genomic testing in clinical practice. Understand the relation of a genomic profile to overall health; understand the application to lifestyle and diet choices. Use an evidence-based DNA analysis of your own genes to understand the impact of nutrition on your individual weight loss and body composition, nutrient metabolism, heart health, performance, and more.
Evidence-Based Practice
Within every track, you will complete a core selection of classes that prepare you to advance your career as a PA in general. The core courses include professional and scientific writing, healthcare legal and ethical issues, and more.
Semester Starts
Winter 2024
Priority Application Deadline
Final Application Deadline
Semester Start
Summer 2024
Priority Application Deadline
Final Application Deadline
Semester Start
Fall 2024
Priority Application Deadline
Final Application Deadline
Semester Start
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Master’s or professional degree–but a bachelor’s student with appropriate background (biology, chemistry, anatomy & physiology) would be eligible with acceptance determined on an individual basis.
Certificate program candidates can include:
- Dietitians/nutritionists
- Nurses
- Physician Assistants
- Physical Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Athletic Trainers
- Speech-language pathologists
- Health coaches
- Eating disorders coaches
- Health professionals with an interest in functional nutrition
Clinical Rotation Requirements including required vaccinations: Admitted students to Rocky Mountain University who will be completing a clinical rotation will receive vaccination forms regarding required vaccinations. Not all vaccinations or proof of immunity are required at the beginning of the program but will be prior to the first clinical rotation. The University allows for vaccination exemptions and more information about the University’s position on vaccination can be reviewed at https://rm.edu/vaccination-statement/
RMU requires the following items prior to starting any clinical rotations (these are subject to change depending upon public health concerns and specific clinic requirements):
- MMR
- Varicella
- Hepatitis B
- TB
- Tdap
- Annual Influenza
- COVID 19
- HIPAA certification
- OSHA certification
- CPR certification
Tuition
Cost of Attendance
Faculty

Denise Pickett-Bernard
PhD, RDN, LDN, IFMCP, IFNCP
Associate Professor, FNS Certificate Program and FNS Track Director
UNIVERSITY ACCREDITATION
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (8060 165th Avenue NE Ste 100, Redmond, WA 98052-3981), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the US Department of Education.