Best Functional Nutrition Certifications | Well Humans

Jan 14, 2026

FMCHC, FDN-P and NBC-HWC each represent a distinct approach to helping people restore their health.

If you’re exploring the field of functional health, you’ve likely come across several programs and titles—functional medicine health coach, functional diagnostic nutrition coach, and national board certified health and wellness coach among them. Each certification represents a distinct approach to helping people restore their health by addressing the root causes of chronic symptoms, rather than just managing them. Understanding what these programs teach and how they differ can help you choose the right practitioner—or inspire you to pursue this rewarding career yourself.

A Functional Medicine Health Coach certification focuses on helping clients make sustainable lifestyle and behavior changes using the principles of functional medicine. Coaches trained through programs like the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy (FMCA) learn how to integrate nutrition, movement, stress reduction, and mindset shifts to support the body’s innate healing process. This training emphasizes both the science of health and the art of coaching—empowering clients to take an active role in their own well-being.

The Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) certification builds on this foundation by adding advanced functional lab testing and root-cause assessment skills. As a functional diagnostic nutrition coach, I use these tools to identify hidden imbalances in digestion, hormones, detoxification, and immune function—creating customized protocols based on each client’s unique biochemistry. This data-driven approach allows us to go beyond surface-level recommendations and address what’s truly driving symptoms.

Finally, becoming a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) signifies the highest standard of professional coaching competency and ethics. This credential reflects a mastery of evidence-based behavior change techniques and ensures clients receive credible, compassionate, and goal-oriented support. At Well Humans, these combined certifications—FMCHC, FDN-P, and NBC-HWC—form the foundation of an integrated, root-cause approach that blends science, testing, and coaching to help clients restore energy, balance, and long-term wellness.

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Fix Your Gut and Feel Your Best

carla alpert functional medicine practitioner

Hello and Welcome! My name is Carla Alpert, and I’m a Board Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach and Diagnostic Practitioner, focusing on the gut and how it affects your overall health. Think of me as a health detective and wellness coach working in partnership with you to restore your health. We work together to uncover the contributing factors to your chronic symptoms, to eat well, sleep well, move more and stress less.

I love the GI MAP test because it helps my clients and I discover gut dysfunction that may be contributing to daily digestive issues as well as other chronic symptoms like anxiety, fatigue and brain fog. I created this GI MAP Coaching Package to help you stop struggling with your health and get back to living your best life.

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What Clients Are Saying

Carla really helped me to figure out my gut pain and issues after so many years. I finally feel like I have energy and clarity around my health! She was so easy to talk to and helped me discover problem areas that were causing me so much distress, when no other doctors could help.
VICTORIA

Well Humans changed my life. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis accompanied by chronic hives. It sprang up out of nowhere and caused bizarre “food allergies” that I’d never had before. Because of Carla’s coaching and dietary recommendations as well as GI Map testing, I can happily say that I am now symptom-free, and I have been in remission for over a year now. All of the doctors I saw told me I would have to deal with my symptoms because there was no cure, but here I am, back to living a mostly normal life. I highly recommend Carla and Well Humans for anyone looking for real answers and treatments that work.
KALYN

When working with Carla, you are in capable, compassionate, knowledgeable and caring hands. Carla truly cares about your well being and wants to help you be the healthiest that you can be. My health was truly suffering and with her guidance and suggested testing, we uncovered some issues that nobody else had uncovered, despite my going to some of the top rated medical institutions. My health and pain improved greatly due to Carla’s sleuthing…she knew where to look. Through many health challenges, I was quite emotional and Carla showed me what compassion looks like. If you want to truly improve your health, start with Well Humans.
BETH

Over years, I’ve tried various “alternative” medicine as well as conventional “western” medicine approaches. Skin ailments are hard to treat – so many aspects of a life can produce skin symptoms. I enthusiastically recommend Well Humans and Carla for a simple reason – I’ve experienced sustained, substantial improvement! I have hardly ever posted a review of anything, but writing this was an easy choice to make. I wish you all the best in your journey towards better health!
JON

I searched the U.S. to find someone who does what Carla does. Carla has used her knowledge, support and expertise to optimize my health and well-being with a blend of scientific medical tests, supplements and diet changes. I wasted a lot of time on my hunches, the internet and experiments with supplements and food and NOW i have an actual plan. Superb supportive knowledge and guidance. I highly recommend Carla. Grateful.
LISA

I never knew that I had a gluten allergy and intolerance until Carla discovered it in my blood work! I’m so grateful that she made this discovery and I have been gluten free ever since. I sleep better, don’t feel bloated and have much more energy. It was a life-changing insight.
ROB

Carla is very knowledgeable and kind. She helped me navigate a health issue with grace and the utmost care. Carla goes above and beyond with her clients and I highly recommend her. She genuinely cares!
ALLISON

I have been working with Carla for quite some time and she has helped me turn my life and health around. She is non-judgmental, and always wants the best for her clients. She is extremely knowledgeable and has a fantastic bedside manner. She has truly changed my life for the better and I will always be grateful for everything she has done.
ROB

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