Final up to date: 2026 | This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks. If you enroll through my link and use the code FITNESSISTA, you’ll rise up to $250 off and I’ll earn a fee at no additional price to you.
Hiiii mates! I hope you had an exquisite weekend and that you simply’re having fun with the morning. At the moment I needed to talk about certainly one of my favourite matters: IHP.
Should you’ve been following alongside right here for some time, that I’ve spent years constructing out my diet and health teaching follow and that I’m somebody who genuinely loves studying. I’ve collected lots of certifications over time (Precision Vitamin, NASM Private Coach, Weight Loss Specialist, Ladies’s Health Specialist, Corrective Train Specialist, 200-hour yoga RYT, and extra), and every one has added one thing significant to the best way I work with shoppers.
However there was at all times a niche.
Working with diet shoppers on-line, I stored operating into conditions the place I knew one thing deeper was happening – a hormonal imbalance, a intestine concern, a mineral deficiency – and all I might do was refer out. Suggesting particular labs or deciphering take a look at outcomes is solely not inside the scope of follow for a diet coach or private coach. I’d added different practitioners to my workforce who might run these exams, however as my on-line follow grew, I needed to have the ability to do that work myself.
That’s what led me to the Integrative Well being Practitioner (IHP) certification, and after finishing each Degree 1 and Degree 2 (over 100 hours of coursework, persevering with schooling, and a few very difficult exams later), I may give you an intensive, sincere image of what to anticipate.
Fascinated about Enrolling? Start Here.
Use code FITNESSISTA for $100 off Degree 1, or $250 off each ranges.
IHP Certification Overview: What I Realized, What It Prices, and Is It Price It (2026)
What Is the IHP Certification?
The Integrative Health Practitioner certification was created by Dr. Stephen Cabral, a Board Licensed Physician of Naturopathy, founding father of EquiLife and the Integrative Well being Practitioner Institute, and writer of the worldwide bestseller The Rain Barrel Impact. (Should you haven’t learn it but, get it. It’s free!) After almost 20 years, over 600,000 pages of analysis, dozens of certifications within the pure well being subject, and over 1 / 4 of 1,000,000 personal shopper classes…. Dr. Cabral is the actual deal.
I’d been following him on Instagram for a few years and had him as a visitor on the podcast earlier than I enrolled. After we wrapped up the podcast, I knew I needed to study as a lot as I might from him, and when the partnership got here collectively, I took it as an indication that the timing was lastly proper.
This system is constructed on 7 integrative disciplines:
Ayurvedic drugs – the science of life and body-typing
Bioregulatory drugs – the science of self-healing and rebalancing
Chinese language drugs and herbalism – unlocking nature’s therapeutic knowledge
Jap philosophy – utilizing the thoughts to heal the physique
Conventional naturopathy – “proper dwelling” to reverse sickness
Orthomolecular drugs – nutritional vitamins and minerals as drugs
Purposeful drugs – state-of-the-art lab testing to uncover underlying root causes
The whole lot is taught by Dr. Cabral himself, and I genuinely loved the best way he presents advanced data, making it accessible and simple to implement. His real-world medical expertise is invaluable, and it comes by way of in each lesson.
The Two Ranges: What’s the Distinction?
IHP Degree 1: The DESTRESS Protocol
Level 1 focuses on Dr. Cabral’s DESTRESS technique: a root-cause life-style framework constructed round Weight loss program, Train, Stress administration, Toxin elimination, Relaxation, Emotional stability, Supplementation, and Success mindset.
Every lesson runs about half-hour, and Dr. Cabral contains instructed studying, complementary podcast episodes, and tons of client-ready handouts and sources all through. The total Degree 1 course can take round 6 months relying in your tempo. It’s tremendous complete.
I beloved Degree 1. I discovered myself studying one thing invaluable from each single lesson. Nevertheless it’s the big-picture basis and it builds your framework and vocabulary. The applying actually is available in Degree 2.
Need the complete breakdown? Learn my full IHP Level 1 review here.
IHP Degree 2: Purposeful Labs
That is the place issues obtained actually thrilling for me. Throughout every module I stored pondering: that is precisely what I need to study. That is how I need to assist my shoppers.
Level 2 is nearly solely targeted on purposeful drugs labs. You learn to advocate particular residence lab exams, analyze outcomes, and recommend motion plans based mostly on what you discover.
Right here’s what’s coated:
Meals Sensitivity Testing: IgG reactions to 190 meals on a scale from not vital to excessive. These are sensitivities (not allergy symptoms) and may present up as complications, joint ache, pores and skin rashes, poor temper, and extra.
Parasite and Micro organism Stool Testing: key intestine micro organism and parasite markers related to mind fog, low power, physique ache, and complications.
Natural Acids (OAT): an analysis of intestinal yeast and micro organism that may contribute to fatigue, habits points, immune dysfunction, and extra. Many individuals with persistent sickness and neurological points present up right here. I run this take a look at with shoppers virtually each single day.
Omega-3 Testing – your Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio, which has actual implications for coronary heart well being, irritation, temper, power, pores and skin, and muscle and joint ache. (Enjoyable truth: analysis reveals that when Omega-3 ranges within the blood attain 9% or extra, the chance of sudden cardiac loss of life drops dramatically. That alone was eye-opening.)
Adrenal Hormone Testing – estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol patterns all through the day.
Thyroid Adrenal Hormone Testing – provides testosterone, DHEA, thyroid markers (T4, T3, TSH, TPO antibodies), insulin, A1C, and vitamin D. Weight reduction has way more to do with hormone stability and metabolism than most individuals understand.
HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Evaluation) – a foundational lab utilizing only a hair pattern that appears at mineral ranges, electrolytes, and poisonous heavy metals, and provides perception into how your physique is responding to emphasize and whether or not you’re a gradual or quick oxidizer.
Notice: these labs are usually not supposed to diagnose, stop, deal with, or treatment any illness, however they supply extremely particular and actionable details about your particular person physique. I really love this side of the labs; we’re searching for underlying imbalances however nothing scary.
About two-thirds of the best way by way of Degree 2, I spotted that if I stored attempting to grasp each module earlier than shifting on, I’d by no means end, since you might actually spend a lifetime going deep on any certainly one of these exams. The easiest way to essentially study this materials is to do it: learn actual outcomes, re-watch the related module as you undergo every marker, and maintain layering in podcasts, books, and persevering with schooling. That’s nonetheless how I strategy it.
For the complete Degree 2 breakdown, learn my IHP Level 2 review here
How A lot Does the IHP Price?
Pricing can change, so I at all times advocate checking present enrollment particulars straight.
That mentioned:
Degree 1 is the lower-cost entry level, with fee plan choices accessible
Each ranges collectively is the place the larger funding (and greater low cost) is available in. I believe that Degree 2 is ABSOLUTELY price it. (Price saying right here that I’m presently working my method by way of Degree 3 and loving each second)
Use code FITNESSISTA for $100 off Level 1, or $250 off both levels
IHP additionally periodically runs enrollment specials, so it’s price retaining an eye fixed out if timing is an element for you.
For context on worth: the purposeful lab coaching alone – one thing only a few coach-level certifications provide at this depth – would price considerably extra if pursued by way of particular person programs or medical coaching packages.
What I Truly Love Concerning the IHP Program
It fills an actual hole in conventional well being teaching. As a diet coach and private coach, there’s a tough ceiling on how deep you possibly can go along with shoppers. The IHP certification – particularly Degree 2 – gave me instruments to truly get to root causes, not simply provide basic life-style steerage.
Dr. Cabral is genuinely one of many good ones. Should you comply with him on Instagram or hearken to his podcast, you already know this. He’s extremely educated, however you may also simply inform that he’s a genuinely good one that really desires to assist folks heal. That comes by way of in each lesson.
The assist construction is superb. There’s a non-public Fb group for IHP candidates and authorized practitioners, stay Zoom Q&A calls, and – for Degree 2 graduates who full an extra mentorship program – they’ll even refer shoppers to you straight. The handouts and sources are one other enormous plus; Dr. Cabral shares the precise protocols he makes use of in his personal follow, which makes it simple to start out implementing with shoppers instantly.
Self-paced with lifetime entry. No cohort deadlines to emphasize over. You’ll be able to transfer rapidly when life permits and decelerate when it doesn’t. (Because of this it’s taken me 18 years to finish Degree 3 lol.) They’re additionally continually including new modules, handouts, and content material to the platform.
You don’t want a well being background to start out. We have now IHPs who utterly modified careers due to this program, and likewise bodily therapists, nurses, docs, private trainers, and dental professionals. It really spans backgrounds.
The mission behind it’s lovely. The thought is that you simply heal your self after which go on to heal others. That’s one thing I imagine in utterly, and it’s been additional significant to me as I’ve been alone therapeutic journey.
What I’d Inform You to Know Going In
The teachings require your full consideration. This was my solely actual frustration: Dr. Cabral goes into lots of data (much more so in Degree 2), and I felt like I wanted to be at my desk taking notes, not listening on a stroll or throughout a commute. The upside is it forces you to truly soak up the fabric, however you possibly can’t blast by way of it as rapidly as you may need to.
It’s not a medical credential. The IHP doesn’t provide the authority to diagnose, deal with, or prescribe. That is true of all well being teaching certifications, and it’s one thing to go in realizing. You’re working inside the scope of a well being practitioner, which continues to be significant and impactful; it’s only a totally different lane than drugs.
You’ll have to buy your personal insurance coverage after Degree 2. Most grads undergo an organization like Various Stability. It’s pretty simple to arrange, nevertheless it’s an ongoing price to issue into your planning. (I believe I pay about $160/yr)
It takes actual time. Degree 1 usually takes round 6 months; Degree 2 can take 6 months to a yr. There’s no shortcut, and actually, that’s acceptable for the quantity of fabric coated.
Is the IHP Price It in 2026?
For me, 10000% sure.
I need to be sincere about why, although. I got here to this already working within the well being house, with a selected hole I wanted to fill and a real ardour for this kind of work. IHP stuffed that hole. I’ve been in a position so as to add a brand new layer to my 1:1 teaching, work with members of the family and mates utilizing these instruments, and deepen my very own therapeutic course of with data I didn’t have earlier than. (The timing was additional significant for me personally. Coping with some surprising well being problems with my very own made the purposeful lab materials really feel extremely related.)
I’ve additionally been the one that was informed “nothing is incorrect” or “you’ll simply should stay with it” by a number of physicians. I do know firsthand how a lot it issues to have somebody in your nook who thinks in root causes, who doesn’t quit on you when commonplace labs look “regular.” That’s the sort of practitioner I need to be, and IHP gave me actual instruments to get there.
Should you’re a well being skilled searching for one other strategy to serve your shoppers, or when you’re somebody who desires to heal your self after which assist the folks round you, I genuinely can’t advocate this program sufficient. I’d do each ranges, particularly if purposeful labs are your objective. That’s the place the actual magic occurs.
Try the IHP program and use code FITNESSISTA for as much as $250 off
I solely advocate packages I’ve personally accomplished and imagine in. Enrolling by way of my hyperlink helps this weblog at no additional price to you.
Fast FAQs
Do I want a well being background to enroll?
Nope! This system is open to everybody: profession changers, well being professionals, and genuinely curious folks alike.
Can I simply do Degree 1?
Sure. Degree 1 is its personal certification. But when purposeful lab work is your objective, you’ll need each ranges. I’d begin with Degree 1 to ensure the fabric resonates, then proceed to Degree 2. (If you buy each on the similar time, the pricing is healthier, although.)
How lengthy does it take to complete?
Degree 1 is usually round 6 months at a snug tempo; Degree 2 is comparable or a bit longer. There’s no time restrict, so you possibly can go at no matter tempo works in your life.
What can I really do with this certification?
You’ll be able to add purposeful well being teaching to your current follow, create new 1:1 or group choices, use it to deepen your personal private well being data, and contribute to content material you create. Degree 2 graduates even have the choice to obtain shopper referrals by way of the IHP community.
Is there neighborhood assist when you’re going by way of it?
Sure! The personal Fb group is lively and genuinely useful. And Dr. Cabral’s podcast (The Cabral Idea) is an ongoing useful resource that I nonetheless use frequently.
Check out the details here and my code is FITNESSISTA in your low cost
Have questions in regards to the IHP that I didn’t cowl right here? Drop them within the feedback. I learn each single one and am glad to assist!
xo,
Gina
I’ll be updating this submit yearly to mirror any adjustments in pricing, curriculum, or program particulars.
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