Education

Dietary Supplement Specialist™ Certificate Program

What is DSS?

The Dietary Supplement Specialist™ (DSS) Certification Program from Designs for Health is an accredited educational program featuring a comprehensive curriculum on the science of nutrition and dietary supplementation.

The program consists of 13 in-depth modules that explore essential aspects of biology, physiology, and nutritional biochemistry, as well as nutrients, herbs, and other compounds that support healthy function.

It pays to invest in your education.

The DSS program fee is $297. Upon completion and passing of the program, participants receive a product credit in the amount of the program fee. Product credit available only on a one-time basis to new or existing professional accounts with Designs for Health. U.S. customers only. Terms Apply.

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Program Accreditation

The Designs for Health Dietary Supplement Specialist™ (DSS) Certification Program is accredited and approved for continuing education credits (CEC) with the following industry organizations.

Awards & Recognition

The DSS Certification Program: recognized as a finalist for "Best Adult Home Learning Product of the Year" by The Digital Education Awards

Functional Medicine Education

About the Program

Healthcare Providers
Licensed practitioners looking to refresh or improve their knowledge of nutrition and dietary supplement science


Practitioner & Pharmacy Staff
Practice support team members interested in learning about nutrition and dietary supplements to support patients


Health Coaches
Eligible allied health professionals seeking to upskill in the science of nutrition and dietary supplements with the goal of qualifying for a professional account with Designs for Health*

Testimonial

The Dietary Supplement Specialist™ Program is a well thought out training that helps coaches and practitioners get a good foundation on the purpose and use of supplementation with their clients. You’ll come out with an understanding of how supplements can aid different body systems and conditions. I highly recommend this training to anyone.

BRANDY BUSKOW
FDN Practitioner, Board Certified Functional Wellness Coach, 
and Chief Operations Officer for Functional Diagnostic Nutrition
Testimonial

Everyone—from those just starting a practice to practitioners like me with 24+ years of experience—can benefit from the Dietary Supplement Specialist™ Program. It was a great refresher and learning experience on product formulation, protocols, biochemistry, GI and stress health, and more. You'll gain essential knowledge for a successful practice and better client outcomes. I’ve already recommended it to colleagues and those new to the field. Designs for Health continues to set the bar as a true leader.

Derek Johnson
B.S. Diettics, BCIH, CN, Holistic & Functional Nutritionist Diplomate,
American Board of Integrative Medicine
Testimonial

The Dietary Supplement Specialist™ Program delivers essential, easy-to-follow education in biochemistry, metabolism, gut health, blood sugar balance, cardiovascular and immune health, stress support, product formulations, protocoling, and more. It builds strong foundations for a wide range of practitioners—and I haven’t seen this level of training anywhere else. I would consider it a gift to work alongside anyone who’s completed it.

Dr. DEBBIE BRIGHT DC
MS Millenial Fat Loss & Gut Health Expert
Testimonial

The Dietary Supplement Specialist™ Program is a well thought out training that helps coaches and practitioners get a good foundation on the purpose and use of supplementation with their clients. You’ll come out with an understanding of how supplements can aid different body systems and conditions. I highly recommend this training to anyone.

BRANDY BUSKOW
FDN Practitioner, Board Certified Functional Wellness Coach, 
and Chief Operations Officer for Functional Diagnostic Nutrition
Testimonial

Everyone—from those just starting a practice to practitioners like me with 24+ years of experience—can benefit from the Dietary Supplement Specialist™ Program. It was a great refresher and learning experience on product formulation, protocols, biochemistry, GI and stress health, and more. You'll gain essential knowledge for a successful practice and better client outcomes. I’ve already recommended it to colleagues and those new to the field. Designs for Health continues to set the bar as a true leader.

Derek Johnson
B.S. Diettics, BCIH, CN, Holistic & Functional Nutritionist Diplomate,
American Board of Integrative Medicine
Our DSS Team

Meet the Faculty

The information in this course is provided for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice or training. Health Program registrants are solely responsible for how they choose to use this information or to recommend supplements to their clients.

Certified Health Coaches*
*Only Health Coaches from the accepted programs listed here will be eligible for a professional account after completing the DSS course.
ACE Fitness Health Coach
Adapt Health Coach
AFPA Health Coach
BS in Health Coaching from Life University
Dr. Sears Wellness Institute
Duke Integrative Medicine Health Coach
The Functional Medicine Academy 
(Dr. Brandy Zachary)
Functional Medicine Coaching Academy (IFM)
Functional Nutrition Lab
Health Coach Institute
Institute for Integrative Nutrition
National Society of Health Coaches
Nutritional Therapy Association
Restorative Wellness Solutions
Wellcoaches School of Coaching
National Board Certification Health Coach (NBC-HWC)
The American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners & Coaches (AANWP & AANWC)
Designs for Health

Terms & Conditions

For media/press inquiries, please contact press@designsforhealth.com.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

©2019-2026 Designs for Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Designs for Health Spotlight™ functional wellness tests are not diagnostic and are not eligible for coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, or medical insurance. DFH Spotlight testing must be ordered or authorized by a qualified health-care provider registered with DFH. Please reach out directly to your practitioner to express your interest in any of the Spotlight tests. Spotlight test kits are not available for purchase or shipping in New York or the U.S. territories.

††U.S.A. Functional Medicine MDs, DOs, NDs, DCs, and Nutrition Professionals surveyed in 2025 for Designs for Health.

¹Sawada D, Kawai T, Nishida K, Kuwano Y, Fujiwara S, Rokutan K. Daily intake of Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 improves mental, physical, and sleep quality among Japanese medical students enrolled in a cadaver dissection course. J Funct Foods. 2017;31:188-197. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2017.01.042.

²Keystone commensal strains based on the HACK index. 8x comparison based on five keystone strains (up to 24% combined abundance) vs. single-strain Akkermansia  products (~3%). Percentages reflect typical abundance in healthy adult microbiomes per published research. Individual colonization varies.