Is It Value It? (2026)

Final up to date: 2026 | This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. If you enroll through my link and use the code FITNESSISTA, you’ll rise up to $250 off and I could earn a fee at no further value to you.

Hiiii associates! I hope you had a beautiful weekend and that you simply’re having fun with the morning. At present I wished to speak about one in every of my favourite matters: IHP.

Should you’ve been following alongside right here for some time, you recognize that I’ve spent years constructing out my diet and health teaching apply and that I’m somebody who genuinely loves studying. I’ve collected plenty of certifications over time (Precision Diet, NASM Private Coach, Weight Loss Specialist, Ladies’s Health Specialist, Corrective Train Specialist, 200-hour yoga RYT, and extra), and each has added one thing significant to the way in which I work with purchasers.

However there was at all times a niche.

Working with diet purchasers on-line, I stored operating into conditions the place I knew one thing deeper was happening – a hormonal imbalance, a intestine difficulty, a mineral deficiency – and all I might do was refer out. Suggesting particular labs or decoding take a look at outcomes is solely not inside the scope of apply for a diet coach or private coach. I’d added different practitioners to my crew who might run these exams, however as my on-line apply grew, I wished 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 Stage 1 and Stage 2 (over 100 hours of coursework, persevering with training, and a few very difficult exams later), I can provide you a radical, trustworthy image of what to anticipate.

Serious about Enrolling? Start Here.

Use code FITNESSISTA for $100 off Stage 1, or $250 off each ranges.

IHP Certification Evaluation: What I Discovered, What It Prices, and Is It Value 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 creator 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 area, and over 1 / 4 of one million non-public consumer classes…. Dr. Cabral is the true 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. Once we wrapped up the podcast, I knew I wished 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

Japanese philosophy – utilizing the thoughts to heal the physique

Conventional naturopathy – “proper dwelling” to reverse sickness

Orthomolecular drugs – nutritional vitamins and minerals as drugs

Practical drugs – state-of-the-art lab testing to uncover underlying root causes

Every part is taught by Dr. Cabral himself, and I genuinely loved the way in which he presents complicated info, making it accessible and straightforward to implement. His real-world medical expertise is invaluable, and it comes via in each lesson.

The Two Ranges: What’s the Distinction?

IHP Stage 1: The DESTRESS Protocol

Level 1 focuses on Dr. Cabral’s DESTRESS methodology: a root-cause way of life framework constructed round Weight-reduction plan, Train, Stress administration, Toxin removing, Relaxation, Emotional stability, Supplementation, and Success mindset.

Every lesson runs about half-hour, and Dr. Cabral contains prompt studying, complementary podcast episodes, and tons of client-ready handouts and assets all through. The complete Stage 1 course can take round 6 months relying in your tempo. It’s tremendous complete.

I liked Stage 1. I discovered myself studying one thing beneficial from each single lesson. However it’s the big-picture basis and it builds your framework and vocabulary. The applying actually is available in Stage 2.

Need the complete breakdown? Learn my full IHP Level 1 review here.

IHP Stage 2: Practical Labs

That is the place issues bought actually thrilling for me. Throughout every module I stored pondering: that is precisely what I wish to study. That is how I wish to assist my purchasers.

Level 2 is nearly totally targeted on useful drugs labs. You discover ways to advocate particular dwelling 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 vitality, 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 purchasers 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, vitality, pores and skin, and muscle and joint ache. (Enjoyable truth: analysis exhibits that when Omega-3 ranges within the blood attain 9% or extra, the chance of sudden cardiac dying 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 should not meant to diagnose, stop, deal with, or remedy any illness, however they supply extremely particular and actionable details about your particular person physique. I truly love this side of the labs; we’re searching for underlying imbalances however nothing scary.

About two-thirds of the way in which via Stage 2, I noticed 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 one in every of these exams. One of the best ways to actually 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 training. That’s nonetheless how I strategy it.

For the complete Stage 2 breakdown, learn my IHP Level 2 review here

How A lot Does the IHP Value?

Pricing can change, so I at all times advocate checking present enrollment particulars straight.

That mentioned:

Stage 1 is the lower-cost entry level, with fee plan choices obtainable

Each ranges collectively is the place the larger funding (and larger low cost) is available in. I believe that Stage 2 is ABSOLUTELY price it. (Value saying right here that I’m presently working my method via Stage 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 conserving an eye fixed out if timing is an element for you.

For context on worth: the useful lab coaching alone – one thing only a few coach-level certifications provide at this depth – would value considerably extra if pursued via particular person programs or medical coaching applications.

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 may go along with purchasers. The IHP certification – particularly Stage 2 – gave me instruments to really get to root causes, not simply provide normal way of life steering.

Dr. Cabral is genuinely one of many good ones. Should you observe him on Instagram or hearken to his podcast, you already know this. He’s extremely educated, however you too can simply inform that he’s a genuinely good one who actually desires to assist individuals heal. That comes via in each lesson.

The help construction is great. There’s a non-public Fb group for IHP candidates and licensed practitioners, dwell Zoom Q&A calls, and – for Stage 2 graduates who full a further mentorship program – they’ll even refer purchasers to you straight. The handouts and assets are one other enormous plus; Dr. Cabral shares the precise protocols he makes use of in his personal apply, which makes it simple to start out implementing with purchasers straight away.

Self-paced with lifetime entry. No cohort deadlines to emphasize over. You possibly can transfer rapidly when life permits and decelerate when it doesn’t. (For this reason it’s taken me 18 years to finish Stage 3 lol.) They’re additionally always including new modules, handouts, and content material to the platform.

You don’t want a well being background to start out. We now have IHPs who fully modified careers due to this program, and likewise bodily therapists, nurses, docs, private trainers, and dental professionals. It actually 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 fully, and it’s been further significant to me as I’ve been by myself 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 plenty of info (much more so in Stage 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 really soak up the fabric, however you may’t blast via it as rapidly as you may wish 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 understanding. You’re working inside the scope of a well being practitioner, which remains to be significant and impactful; it’s only a totally different lane than drugs.

You’ll have to buy your personal insurance coverage after Stage 2. Most grads undergo an organization like Various Stability. It’s pretty simple to arrange, but it surely’s an ongoing value to issue into your planning. (I believe I pay about $160/12 months)

It takes actual time. Stage 1 usually takes round 6 months; Stage 2 can take 6 months to a 12 months. There’s no shortcut, and actually, that’s applicable for the quantity of fabric coated.

Is the IHP Value It in 2026?

For me, 10000% sure.

I wish to be trustworthy about why, although. I got here to this already working within the well being area, with a selected hole I wanted to fill and a real ardour for such a work. IHP crammed that hole. I’ve been in a position so as to add a brand new layer to my 1:1 teaching, work with relations and associates utilizing these instruments, and deepen my very own therapeutic course of with information I didn’t have earlier than. (The timing was further significant for me personally. Coping with some surprising well being problems with my very own made the useful lab materials really feel extremely related.)

I’ve additionally been the one that was instructed “nothing is mistaken” or “you’ll simply need to dwell 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 surrender on you when normal labs look “regular.” That’s the form of practitioner I wish 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 purchasers, or for those who’re somebody who desires to heal your self after which assist the individuals round you, I genuinely can’t advocate this program sufficient. I’d do each ranges, particularly if useful labs are your objective. That’s the place the true magic occurs.

Try the IHP program and use code FITNESSISTA for as much as $250 off

I solely advocate applications I’ve personally accomplished and imagine in. Enrolling via my hyperlink helps this weblog at no further value to you.

Fast FAQs

Do I would like a well being background to enroll?

Nope! This system is open to everybody: profession changers, well being professionals, and genuinely curious individuals alike.

Can I simply do Stage 1?

Sure. Stage 1 is its personal certification. But when useful lab work is your objective, you’ll need each ranges. I’d begin with Stage 1 to verify the fabric resonates, then proceed to Stage 2. (If you are going to buy each on the similar time, the pricing is healthier, although.)

How lengthy does it take to complete?

Stage 1 is usually round 6 months at a cushty tempo; Stage 2 is comparable or a bit longer. There’s no time restrict, so you may go at no matter tempo works in your life.

What can I truly do with this certification?

You possibly can add useful well being teaching to your present apply, create new 1:1 or group choices, use it to deepen your personal private well being information, and contribute to content material you create. Stage 2 graduates even have the choice to obtain consumer referrals via the IHP community.

Is there neighborhood help when you’re going via it?

Sure! The non-public Fb group is energetic and genuinely useful. And Dr. Cabral’s podcast (The Cabral Idea) is an ongoing useful resource that I nonetheless use often.

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 comfortable to assist!

xo,

Gina

I’ll be updating this put up yearly to replicate any modifications in pricing, curriculum, or program particulars.

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