Is It Value It? (2026)

Final up to date: 2026 | This put up comprises 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 additional value to you.

Hiiii mates! I hope you had an exquisite weekend and that you simply’re having fun with the morning. At this time I needed to talk about considered one 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 follow and that I’m somebody who genuinely loves studying. I’ve collected a variety of certifications through the years (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 best way I work with purchasers.

However there was all the time a niche.

Working with diet purchasers on-line, I saved operating into conditions the place I knew one thing deeper was occurring – a hormonal imbalance, a intestine problem, a mineral deficiency – and all I may do was refer out. Suggesting particular labs or decoding take a look at outcomes is just not inside the scope of follow for a diet coach or private coach. I’d added different practitioners to my staff who may run these assessments, 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 assessments later), I can provide you a radical, trustworthy image of what to anticipate.

All for 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 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 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 discipline, and over 1 / 4 of 1,000,000 personal shopper periods…. 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. Once we wrapped up the podcast, I knew I needed to be taught as a lot as I may 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 medication – the science of life and body-typing

Bioregulatory medication – the science of self-healing and rebalancing

Chinese language medication and herbalism – unlocking nature’s therapeutic knowledge

Japanese philosophy – utilizing the thoughts to heal the physique

Conventional naturopathy – “proper dwelling” to reverse sickness

Orthomolecular medication – nutritional vitamins and minerals as medication

Practical medication – 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 complicated info, making it accessible and straightforward to implement. His real-world scientific expertise is invaluable, and it comes by in each lesson.

The Two Ranges: What’s the Distinction?

IHP Degree 1: The DESTRESS Protocol

Level 1 focuses on Dr. Cabral’s DESTRESS methodology: a root-cause way of life framework constructed round Eating regimen, Train, Stress administration, Toxin elimination, Relaxation, Emotional steadiness, Supplementation, and Success mindset.

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

I cherished Degree 1. I discovered myself studying one thing precious from each single lesson. But it surely’s the big-picture basis and it builds your framework and vocabulary. The applying actually is available in Degree 2.

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

IHP Degree 2: Practical Labs

That is the place issues bought actually thrilling for me. Throughout every module I saved pondering: that is precisely what I need to be taught. That is how I need to assist my purchasers.

Level 2 is nearly totally targeted on useful medication labs. You discover ways to suggest particular residence lab assessments, analyze outcomes, and recommend motion plans based mostly on what you discover.

Right here’s what’s lined:

Meals Sensitivity Testing: IgG reactions to 190 meals on a scale from not vital to excessive. These are sensitivities (not allergic reactions) and might 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, conduct 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, power, pores and skin, and muscle and joint ache. (Enjoyable reality: 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 steadiness and metabolism than most individuals notice.

HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Evaluation) – a foundational lab utilizing only a hair pattern that appears at mineral ranges, electrolytes, and poisonous heavy metals, and offers perception into how your physique is responding to emphasize and whether or not you’re a gradual or quick oxidizer.

Be aware: these labs aren’t meant to diagnose, forestall, deal with, or remedy 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 Degree 2, I noticed that if I saved attempting to grasp each module earlier than transferring on, I’d by no means end, since you may actually spend a lifetime going deep on any considered one of these assessments. One of the best ways to actually be taught 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 total Degree 2 breakdown, learn my IHP Level 2 review here

How A lot Does the IHP Value?

Pricing can change, so I all the time suggest checking present enrollment particulars straight.

That mentioned:

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

Each ranges collectively is the place the larger funding (and greater low cost) is available in. I feel that Degree 2 is ABSOLUTELY value it. (Value saying right here that I’m at the moment working my manner by 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 value retaining 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 by particular person programs or scientific coaching packages.

What I Truly Love In regards to 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’ll be able to go along with purchasers. The IHP certification – particularly Degree 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 comply with him on Instagram or hearken to his podcast, you already know this. He’s extremely educated, however you may as well simply inform that he’s a genuinely good one who actually desires to assist folks heal. That comes by in each lesson.

The assist construction is great. There’s a personal Fb group for IHP candidates and authorized practitioners, stay Zoom Q&A calls, and – for Degree 2 graduates who full a further mentorship program – they’ll even refer purchasers to you straight. The handouts and assets are one other large plus; Dr. Cabral shares the precise protocols he makes use of in his personal follow, which makes it straightforward to start out implementing with purchasers straight away.

Self-paced with lifetime entry. No cohort deadlines to emphasize over. You possibly can transfer shortly when life permits and decelerate when it doesn’t. (This is the reason it’s taken me 18 years to finish Degree 3 lol.) They’re additionally continuously 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 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 stunning. The concept 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 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 a variety of info (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 really soak up the fabric, however you’ll be able to’t blast by it as shortly as you would possibly need to.

It’s not a scientific 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 medication.

You’ll have to buy your personal insurance coverage after Degree 2. Most grads undergo an organization like Various Steadiness. It’s pretty straightforward to arrange, nevertheless it’s an ongoing value to issue into your planning. (I feel 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 lined.

Is the IHP Value It in 2026?

For me, 10000% sure.

I need 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 this sort of work. IHP stuffed that hole. I’ve been ready 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 information 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 useful lab materials really feel extremely related.)

I’ve additionally been the one who was instructed “nothing is flawed” or “you’ll simply must 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 hand over on you when commonplace labs look “regular.” That’s the form 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 method to serve your purchasers, or should you’re somebody who desires to heal your self after which assist the folks round you, I genuinely can’t suggest this program sufficient. I’d do each ranges, particularly if useful labs are your purpose. That’s the place the actual magic occurs.

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

I solely suggest packages I’ve personally accomplished and imagine in. Enrolling by my hyperlink helps this weblog at no additional 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 folks alike.

Can I simply do Degree 1?

Sure. Degree 1 is its personal certification. But when useful lab work is your purpose, you’ll need each ranges. I’d begin with Degree 1 to ensure the fabric resonates, then proceed to Degree 2. (If you are going to 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 cushty tempo; Degree 2 is comparable or a bit longer. There’s no time restrict, so you’ll be able to go at no matter tempo works on your life.

What can I really do with this certification?

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

Is there neighborhood assist when you’re going by 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 recurrently.

Check out the details here and my code is FITNESSISTA on your low cost

Have questions concerning 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 put up yearly to replicate any adjustments in pricing, curriculum, or program particulars.