Here are some of the most common questions health professionals ask about Lifestyle Medicine certification, along with clear answers to guide your next steps.
Please contact us with details of your qualifications, and we can discuss whether you are eligible to register and sit the exam.
Not as long as you think! You need to provide proof of completing 30 hours of online course material and 20 hours of attending a live or online event. We recommend that you get started on your online learning (the Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine Board Review (NO CME/CE) is strongly recommended) sooner rather than later, to give yourself plenty of time to review the material. More information is available on our website.
The 50-hour commitment to complete our program is intentionally designed to be achievable for busy health professionals while still delivering rigorous, high-quality learning. In fact, compared with other programs that may require up to 80 hours, our streamlined approach focuses on the most clinically relevant, evidence-based content—so less time doesn’t mean less value. On the contrary, participants complete the program with a globally recognised certification that reflects both efficiency and excellence.
Possibly. If you choose to use the Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine Board Review (NO CME/CE) (strongly recommended), you will receive special pricing of US$499 as a DFN registrant. Likewise, if you attend the ACLM LM26 conference virtually, there is a cost of US$99 (discount code is provided to exam candidates). Depending on where the exam is held, you may have some travel expenses to attend the exam. With all this taken into consideration, the International Lifestyle Medicine Certification Program through DFN continues to be the most affordable lifestyle medicine qualification in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, with other programs charging thousands of dollars more.
No, however, the International Lifestyle Medicine Certification Program (IBLM) through DFN is the most affordable lifestyle medicine certification in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. There are some additional costs involved in completing prerequisites and travelling to the exam; however, even with these, our certification is still the most affordable option. Contact us if you’d like to discuss the latest date to register and pay fees for the exam
Yes! Contrary to the wording displayed on the ACLM website, the Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine Board Review (NO CME/CE) course DOES count towards CME for the certification in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Once you have enrolled and completed your prerequisites, you can study the downloadable manual supplied with the Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine Board Review (NO CME/CE) course. Some exam candidates also find it useful to purchase the Lifestyle Medicine Question Bank – a powerful tool for exam prep.
You should also attend the Doctors For Nutrition Lifestyle Medicine Conference before the exam to learn more about this global movement in healthcare and connect with like-minded people in the community.
Please note: the exam questions are rigorously developed by IBLM yearly and are not based on the study material outlined above. The questions are developed on the core competencies first published in JAMA in 2010, and now updated by the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. For more information is available on the weightings and core competencies page on our website.
Not in Australia. As the global board‑certification body, the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM) strives to standardise, verify, and protect the credibility of the credential across countries and professions. As a result, holding a proctored, in-person exam is imperative to ensure a rigorous and objective assessment of knowledge. The examination process avoids subjectivity that can occur with assignment-based testing. As a global certification, the IBLM aims to ensure that every candidate, regardless of location, takes the same exam under the same conditions.
No. DFN will hold the exam at a different location each year, mostly in Australia’s major cities. This will usually coincide with an in-person event, giving you the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in lifestyle medicine, network with experts in the field, and be inspired by this powerful movement in medicine.
Still unsure about your eligibility or the next steps?
We’re always happy to chat.
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Healthcare professionals who join our DFN membership program will receive 10% off the Lifestyle Medicine Certification enrolment.
→ Not currently a member? Click ‘JOIN US!’ as a Healthcare Professional member.
→ Click ‘LOGIN’ to login to your existing DFN membership.
→ Click ‘ENROL NOW’ above the relevant qualification to create an account and pay for the certification without joining.
