SMHP Accreditation Process

Become accredited and use the credentials MHP

What Do You Need?

SMHP Membership

All Applicants must be active members of the SMHP with their accounts in good standing.

Become a Member Now

Accreditation Pathway

Decide on an accreditation pathway to identify which core modules are required .

Identify Required Core Modules

Earn CMHE Credits

Accumulate the required number of CMHE credits, dependent on chosen pathway.

Find CMHE Providers

Upload Certificates

Upload all certificates and required documents to their profile before applying.

Upload Documents

Submit Your Application

Fill in the Accreditation Application Form and submit it to the Review Committee

Submit Application

Accreditation Pathways

The SMHP offers pathways to become an accredited Metabolic Health Practitioner (MHP), certifying that professionals meet SMHP standards of knowledge and competence. Accredited professionals can provide nutrition and lifestyle coaching according to SMHP guidelines, but only clinicians may give medical advice, within their field of expertise. Non-medical practitioners should refer clients to a knowledgeable metabolic clinician for medical advice and medication adjustments. Continuing Metabolic Health Education (CMHE) credits are required for initial accreditation and the number varies dependent on the pathway chosen. Thirty (30) additional credits are required to be submitted annually to maintain your accreditation in good standing and this number is the same for everyone.

Nutrition Network Pathway

Non-clinicians must start with the Advisor Training module.
Then, choose either “Ketogenic: The Science and Practice of Therapeutic Carbohydrate Restriction” or “LCHF for Dietitians.” After that, complete the three modules of the “LCHF In Clinical Practice” course, followed by the Ethics course. The Nutrition Network offers discounted bundles for these modules.
Additionally, you must accumulate 60 CMHE credits from an approved provider, excluding credits from the core modules.
Note that if you began the old Professional Training course, you should continue with that as it will still be accepted for Accreditation in place of the Ketogenic Course. Virtual LowCarbUSA events are a convenient way to earn the required CMHE credits.

Prerequisites:

Required Core Modules:

Credits:

National Association of Sports Nutrition (NASN)

Welcome to the first nationally recognized sports nutrition educator in the metabolic health space. They established the service mark of Licensed Primary SPORTS NUTRITIONIST (LPSN) and Licensed Master SPORTS NUTRITIONIST (LMSN) in 1996 as the leading unbiased experts in body composition manipulation, human performance and recovery from exercise.

The National Association of Sports Nutrition is an association of prominent health and fitness professionals committed to the discipline of human sports nutrition. The association consists of those Certified or Licensed by their organization who are also coaches, educators, counselors and technical professionals who assess and provide sports nutrition information to clientele.

We are fitness and performance professionals, dieticians, exercise physiologists, personal trainers and all other practitioners needing to be proficient in sports nutrition counseling.

NASN Pathway

Complete the NASN Training
Complete the Nutrition Network Advisor Training module.
Complete the Nutrition Network Ethics Course
Additionally, you must accumulate 30 CMHE credits from an approved provider, excluding credits from the core modules.

Prerequisites:

Required Core Modules:

Credits:

Clinical Practice Path

This pathway is designed for clinicians with at least two years of experience in carbohydrate reduction and lifestyle medicine.

Submit an essay, following the provided template, that explains your choice of the carbohydrate reduction model over traditional methods and describes three successful and three challenging cases.
The SMHP Review Committee will evaluate the submission and make a final decision. If declined, applicants can revise and resubmit their essay and case reports for further review.
Complete the Nutrition Network Ethics Course
Additionally, you must accumulate 30 CMHE credits from an approved provider, excluding credits from the core modules.

Prerequisites:

Required Core Modules:

Credits:

Published Paper Pathway

Candidates must have at least three peer-reviewed research papers on carbohydrate reduction and metabolic health published in recognized scientific journals.
Submit an essay detailing the nature, extent, findings, and conclusions of each paper.
Non-clinicians should complete the Nutrition Network Advisor Training Course.
Complete the Nutrition Network Ethics Course
Additionally, you must accumulate 30 CMHE credits from an approved provider, excluding credits from the core modules.
The SMHP Review Committee will assess the relevance and acceptability of the papers and their decision being final. If declined, applicants may submit again should they publish further papers

Prerequisites:

Required Core Modules:

Credits:

Research Project Pathway

Applicants must provide proof of at least two years of involvement in research projects or trials focused on carbohydrate reduction, ideally within the context of metabolic health.

They must also submit an essay detailing the nature, extent, findings, and conclusions of their research.

The SMHP Review Committee will evaluate the research, with their decision being final. If declined, applicants may submit new or other projects for further review.

Additionally, completing the Ethics course from the Nutrition Network is required and you must accumulate 30 CMHE credits from an approved provider, excluding credits from the core modules.

Prerequisites:

Required Core Modules:

Credits:

Fellowship Pathway

Applicants must provide proof of completing an on-site clinical fellowship or internship with at least 500 hours of training focused on treating metabolic conditions using lifestyle interventions, including carbohydrate restriction.

A letter of attestation from the fellowship or internship director confirming the 500 hours of training is also required.

Additionally, completing the Ethics course from the Nutrition Network is required and you must accumulate 30 CMHE credits from an approved provider, excluding credits from the core modules.

Future Metabolic Health Fellowship programs will be posted as they become available.

Prerequisites:

Required Core Modules:

Credits:

Honorary Pathway

The SMHP Board of Directors may, at their discretion and by majority vote, grant accreditation based on an individual’s lifetime achievement in research or practice of lifestyle interventions incorporating carbohydrate reduction for metabolic health.

Prerequisites:

Required Core Modules:

Credits:

Approved CMHE Providers

LowCarbUSA® provides clinical guidelines and educational resources to support the fast-growing community of practitioners and individuals interested in achieving better metabolic health through lifestyle.

Georgia Ede MD’s comprehensive Ketogenic Diets for Mental Health clinician training program gives health professionals of all backgrounds the scientific knowledge and practical tools needed to safely and confidently incorporate the cutting-edge principles of metabolic psychiatry into clinical practice.

The European Keto Live Centre – Information and Training Centre for Ketogenic Metabolic Therapies an association by International scientists and physicians to fight NCD offers CME / CPD certified educations to physicians, healthcare professionals, and members of the public.

The Nutrition Network is an education, connection and learning platform founded by The Noakes Foundation in partnership with an esteemed team of doctors and scientists — covering the latest and most credible science and research in the field of low carb high fat (LCHF) and ketogenic nutrition and therapy.

Over 4 days, the Metabolic Health Summit explores the science behind optimizing metabolic health, inspires with stories of success, offers once-in-a-lifetime networking opportunities, and showcases the most innovative brands in the space!

The Academy represents more than 100,000 credentialed practitioners — registered dietitian nutritionists, dietetic technicians, registered, and other dietetics and nutrition professionals holding undergraduate and advanced degrees in nutrition and dietetics, and students.

Gain the tools to expand your patient population and effectively treat obesity in patients of all ages, genders, and socioeconomic groups. Dive into advanced techniques for developing personalized treatment plans for patients across the lifespan.

Held in the Asian-Oceanian region for the first time, the symposium aims to contribute to improving the lives of people with neurological disorders and exchange scientific and clinical accomplishments under the theme of “Embracing Diversity, Global Implementation and Individualized Care”.

SMHP Grand rounds: this is exclusively for SMHP Members. Each time 6 talks have been completed we package them into a module of 10 CME credits and the most recent 3 modules are available to claim credits.

Low Carb Nutrition & Metabolic Health Diploma” is dLife.in’s (dLife Healthcare Foundation) most popular diploma course with 60hrs CPD credit. dLife.in is India’s oldest and only award-winning low-carb platform launched by Anup Singh in 2014, and has curated data including 1200+ Indian low carb recipes.

Diet Doctor’s mission is to find the most trustworthy science and practical knowledge about health, make it inspiring and simple to use, and accessible and free for everyone. They focus on making low carb simple for people who could benefit, and who want to try it.

Reversing Type 2 – The Sarah Hallberg Legacy Course. This free course was created in memory of the late Dr. Sarah Hallberg. Her desire was always to further education on managing and Reversing Type 2 Diabetes though dietary interventions.