Program overview
hours
content
months access
Monthly Mastermind calls
Exclusive community
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OUR NEW SPE HOURS PROGRAM TAILORED FOR CNS CANDIDATES

Foundation Professional Certificate and SPE Hours Program 

Are you a CNS candidate? Earn your SPE hours and your Clinician's Code™ Foundation Professional Certificate at the same time.

Learn how to handle complex cases with evidence-based treatment protocols and cutting-edge scientific insights with the landmark Clinician's Code™ Foundation Professional Certificate, all while earning SPE hours for CNS licensure.

The Clinician’s Code™ Foundation Professional Certificate program is a world-class functional medicine curriculum paired with individualized mentorship from renowned Metabolic Fitness co-founders, Drs. Bryan (CMO) and Julie Walsh (CEO). With support from our thriving community of CNS candidates, you will rapidly level up your skills and confidence in functional medicine.

The best educational resource for CNS candidates who want to succeed in functional medicine

This SPE Hours Program is different from any other functional medicine programs available. We use a unique three-part framework that covers everything you need to know to kickstart your career as a Certified Nutrition Specialist.

Evidence-based and up-to-date educational functional medicine content at your fingertips.
Focused mentorship and expert support on all of your questions and cases as you earn SPE hours.
Business strategy and coaching for a successful practice that runs smoothly, efficiently, and profitably.
Clinician's Code Foundation Hub graphic showing what the course is made up of.

A self-paced online SPE hours program with expert mentorship

A Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) license is the most advanced certification offered by the American Nutrition Association (ANA) for personalized nutrition practitioners. To receive this highly respected professional credential, CNS candidates are required to complete 100+ hours of rigorous scientific functional medicine education, pass the CNS exam, and earn 1,000 hours of Supervised Practice Experience (SPE).

In other words, you need experience working with real patients and observing real cases under the guidance of a BCNS-approved supervisor.

This unique program combines our landmark Clinician’s Code™ Foundation Professional Certificate with the support and mentorship of world-class supervisors, enabling you to meet your SPE hours goals as you learn.

The Clinician’s Code Foundation Professional Certificate, tailored for CNS candidates

Our Clinician’s Code™ Foundation Professional Certificate is a rigorous 6-month curriculum comprising five core courses, four optional microcourses, live mentorship, and a monthly update service through PracticeUP. In this special version of the program designed for CNS candidates, we also offer a tailored supervised practice hours component.

Explore the core elements of the curriculum in further detail below.

Clinician's Code Professional certificate course photo of a woman wearing spectacles

Personalized learning journey

We start with our pre-assessment survey so we can get to know you. Through a series of simple questions, we’ll get a better sense of where you stand — and where you're headed. Next, we’ll recommend an individualized learning pathway based on your priorities — consider it your personal roadmap toward your goals. 

Clinician's Code curriculum image showing the 5 compulsory courses, namely the Cell Blueprint, the Cornerstone Program, Laboratory Testing Fundamentals, Blood Chemistry Interpretation, and Nutritional Biochemistry

Five compulsory courses

Within your personalized learning journey, there are five courses that are compulsory for everyone in the Foundation Certificate program. The mandatory courses include The Cell Blueprint™, The Cornerstone Program, Laboratory Testing Fundamentals, Blood Chemistry Interpretation, and Nutritional Biochemistry.

Clinician's Code program image of 4 optional microcourses

Four optional microcourses

You’ll also have access to an assortment of optional bite-sized microcourses and rich informational resources on topics such as Business Coaching, Vitamin D, Fatty Liver Reexamined, and How to Evaluate Adrenal Fatigue on a Blood Chemistry. Consider this your knowledge buffet — your intake is limited only by your appetite.

A woman at the computer part of the CNS SPE hours mentorship

CNS SPE hours mentorship

Access exclusive, real-world cases from the Metabolic Fitness practice, hand-picked and curated to enhance your understanding of functional nutrition and boost your supervised practical experience hours (500+ casework SPE hours). You will also receive guidance on how to earn, track and submit your supervised practical experience hours through direct experience with clients in your practice (500+ clinical SPE hours). 

Doctor Bryan Walsh and participant on a call

CNS supervision milestone calls

For every 40 SPE hours you earn (up to 1,000 hours) you will receive an exclusive one-on-one milestone call with your supervisor, Dr. Bryan Walsh, to reflect on your progress and address any blockers with immediate coaching. Take advantage of Dr. Walsh’s extensive experience and evidence-based insights to give your clients the most advanced, impactful care as you earn your experience hours.

A photo shows a Clinician's Code participant on a monthly mastermind call with other Clinician's Code members

Monthly Mastermind calls

Engage in live monthly calls with Drs Julie and Bryan Walsh. In these calls, we discuss questions and challenges raised by students of this programme. These may be related to running a functional medicine practice, dealing with complex case examples, business coaching, or scientific questioning. 

A photo of a smartphone showing Drs Bryan and Julie Walsh providing mentoring in the clinician's code community forum

Exclusive community forum

You weren't meant to practice in a vacuum. Being able to ask questions, find answers, and get feedback is critical when building a successful clinical practice.


In our active community forum you can post cases and ask for advice on any topic. We weigh in on what to do, which tests to run and supplements to prescribe, and how to interpret test results.

Clinician's code photo showing program facilitator, Dr. Bryan Walsh

PracticeUP subscription

A subscription to PracticeUP, our monthly functional medicine update service, is included in the program. Once a month, we choose a critical current conversation in functional medicine to explore and tease apart. It’s the latest research delivered in an easy-to-follow vlog format.

Participant on laptop working on a Business set up document

Additional resources

Show clients your commitment to continuous learning and staying up to date in the field with the use of exclusive and cutting-edge reference ranges, treatment protocols, and other resources. In addition, we have prepared study guides and materials to ensure you can approach your CNS licensure examination with confidence.


With this prestigious qualification under your belt, you'll be eligible to enroll in the Clinician’s Code™ Advanced Professional Certificate program.

Strengthen your skillset as a confident personalized nutrition practitioner as you earn Supervised Practice Experience hours

Here's how the Clinician’s Code™ Foundation Professional Certificate and SPE Hours Program gets you there.