Who is Eligible:
To be eligible for certification, the applicant must hold a state or national license as listed below:
- Physical Therapist
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Occupational Therapist
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Registered Nurse
- Physician
- Naturopathic Doctor
- Physician Assistant
- Nurse Practitioners
- Registered Dietitian
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Acupuncturist
- Chiropractor
- Pharmacist
- Certified Nutrition Specialist
- Massage Therapists (must be LMT or BCTMB certified)
- Athletic Trainer (must be BOC certified)
By applying for certification, the applicant agrees to adhere to Evergreen Certifications’ Professional Code of Ethics
Training Requirements:
A minimum of 18 hours of continued education, in specific functional nutrition topics.
Pre-approved, 3rd party trainings that meet the training requirements for CFNIP certification include:
- Food as Medicine course by PESI – Certification Included!
- Certified Functional Nutrition Online & Immersive Group Training by PESI – Certification Included!
Wondering if a course meets the requirements for CFNIP certification? Submit a copy of or link to the course title, speaker, outline and learning objectives to info@evergreencertifications.com for review.
Please note that Evergreen Certifications does not offer continuing education, all training must be purchased directly through the accredited training organization. Training is not included in the certification fee.
Application Process:
For your initial 1-year certification, please complete the following steps.
- Complete a qualifying training
- Remit your initial application payment of 99.99 USD online
- Upload the following documents to your account:
- A copy of the candidate’s professional license
- Evidence of completion of qualifying training, in the form of a CE or completion certificate
Evergreen Certifications will certify applicants who meet the above requirements.
Please note: Certification does not imply endorsement of clinical competency. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your profession’s standards.
Renewal Process:
To maintain CFNIP certification, a renewal is required. After your initial 1-year certification, you have the option to renew for 1, 2 or 3 years. A 1-year renewal requires 6 clock hours of functional nutrition related training since you were certified or last renewed; a 2-year renewal requires 12 clock hours, and a 3-year renewal requires 18 hours.
Sample CFNIP renewal trainings include:
- Hormone Imbalance course by PESI
- Gut Health & Hormones course by PESI
- Thyroid Function course by PESI
- Nutrition’s Impact on Performance & Recovery in Rehabilitation course by PESI
Renewal CE content cannot be the same content used for prior renewal or initial certification
Renewal Process
- Complete a qualifying training
- Upload the following documents to your account:
- A copy of the candidate’s professional license
- Evidence of completion of qualifying training, in the form of a CE or completion certificate
- Remit your CFNIP renewal fee online
- $49.99 for a 1-year renewal
- $79.99 for a 2-year renewal
- $99.99 for a 3-year renewal
Renewal training hours need to have been taken in the time since you were certified or last recertified.
Renewals are calculated from the date that your certification was issued. If you allow your certification to lapse for more than 3 years, you are no longer eligible to renew your certification and instead can reapply for certification
Cindi Lockhart - RDN, LD, IFNCP
Cindi Lockhart, RDN, LD, IFNCP, is board-certified as an integrative and functional nutrition practitioner with over 27 years in professional practice. She has trained nutrition, fitness, and medical practitioners throughout most of her career, yet maintains a personal practice with clients/patients as she believes that the only way she can effectively educate and inspire other practitioners is through her own practical experience with clients. In addition to educating on how Food is Medicine, Cindi also specializes in coaching clients and practitioners on the importance of managing stress, optimizing sleep, proper exercise and movement, and reducing exposure to environmental toxins. Cindi has extensive expertise in women’s health issues including hormonal imbalances, infertility, thyroid dysfunction, autoimmunity and gut health.
Vanessa Ruiz - ND, RN-BSN
Vanessa Ruiz, ND, RN-BSN, is a Naturopathic physician and registered nurse. She utilizes natural therapies such as biofeedback, nutrition and botanical medicines in an integrative setting for both behavioral health and medical conditions at Integrative Mental Health Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. She earned her doctorate of naturopathic medicine at Southwest College in Tempe, Arizona, and her nursing degree from Stony Brook University, New York.
She has been featured in the "Dig Deep Documentary" and “Voyage Phoenix” for her work with trauma and natural mental health. She has also been a practicing nurse for over 10 years, in the areas of pediatrics, geriatrics and global health. She is the founder of Nurses for Natural Health, an organization dedicated to educating and empowering nurses in natural health. In her spare time, she volunteers for the Medical Reserve Corps of New York, Naturopaths without Borders and Homeopaths without Borders.