TIER II · ADVANCED

Functional Nutrition + Lab Testing Interpretation.Everything in Tier I, plus the lab work.

A twelve-month program that builds on Tier I with comprehensive lab testing interpretation, advanced clinical protocols, and lab ordering setup. Graduates learn to order, read, and respond to functional labs across bloodwork, hormones, gut, thyroid, toxins, and genetics — designing evidence-based treatment plans that address root cause with precision.

Program Specifications

DURATION

12 months

FORMAT

Online

LIVE CALLS

Two / week

PREREQUISITE

Tier I or equiv.

Who Tier II Is For

WHO TIER II IS FOR

The 12-month Tier II program is for practitioners serious about bringing functional nutrition into clinical practice - and for those who have been in practice for years and want to deepen their lab interpretation skills, sharpen their reasoning, and streamline how they work with data. Tier I is the standard prerequisite, but qualified practitioners with equivalent functional nutrition training may apply to skip Tier I and enroll directly into Tier II - eligibility is reviewed on an individual basis during the admissions call.

EIGHT MODULES · WITH LAB INTERPRETATION LAYERED IN

01

Functional Nutrition Framework

The RSN Treatment Model and the clinical foundation for everything that follows.

  • Functional Nutrition. What it is, how it differs from Western Medicine's approach, and the clinical philosophy that anchors the RSN Method.
  • The RSN Treatment Model. A sequenced clinical framework that corrects core imbalances in the order they occur in the body — because the right protocol applied at the wrong stage doesn't heal. This is what turns a certificate into a career.
  • The Main Initiators of Disease. All dis-ease comes down to four main types of stress and how they affect the body's systems.
  • The 4 Types of Physiological Damage. Most clients you'll work with present with one of these underlying root causes.
  • Nutrition & Lifestyle. Understand the nutrition and lifestyle changes needed to help the body heal from each type of physiological damage.
  • Supplementation Principles. Understand which supplements are appropriate based on each type of physiological damage.
+ TIER II LAB ADDITIONS
  • How to Order Lab Testing. Setting up your functional lab ordering — Rachel's preferred lab companies and recommended starter labs for new practitioners.
  • The Patient Intake V.2. The science of longevity, assessing client risk factors, and the deeper lifestyle intake structure used in clinical practice.
  • Lab Interpretation for the 4 Types of Physiological Damage. How each type shows up in lab data — and how to act on it.
  • Micronutrients & Targeted Nutrition. Reading cellular and serum micronutrient panels and translating results into targeted supplementation protocols.
  • Functional Nutrition Overview
  • Basics of Functional Nutrition
    • The Four Types of Physiological Damage
    • Inflammation
    • Catabolic Physiology
    • Insulin Resistance
    • Oxidative Stress
  • The RSN Framework (Treatment Model)
  • Bonus: Reversing Metabolic Disease with Ben Azadi
    • Tier II Lab Additions
    • How to Order Lab Testing
    • The Patient Intake V.2
    • A Functional Approach to Basic Bloodwork
    • Lipids and Inflammation Markers
    • Lab Interpretation for the 4 Types of Physiological Damage
    • Micronutrients & Targeted Nutrition
02

Lifestyle Factors

Diet, exercise, sleep, and stress as clinical interventions.

  • Lifestyle Factors for Healing. The four main lifestyle pillars: diet, exercise, sleep, and stress.
  • Healing Diets. The major therapeutic diets and how to implement each based on a client's core health issues.
  • Anti-Inflammatory Strategy. Reducing inflammation, eliminating food reactions, balancing blood sugar, and supporting the microbiome.
  • Exercise. Movement recommendations based on client conditions and the role of resistance training in metabolic health.
  • Sleep. The sleep cycle, recovery physiology, and protocols to optimize sleep and recovery.
  • Mind & Nervous System. Meditation, breath work, and mindfulness as therapeutic tools in clinical practice.
  • Lifestyle Factors Overview
  • Lifestyle Factors for Healing
  • Healing Diets
    • Food Toxins
    • Cereal Grains
    • Sugar
    • Seed Oils
    • Soy
    • Food Additives
  • Anti-Inflammatory Diet
  • Food Reactions and Elimination Diets
  • Blood Sugar Balance
  • Supporting the Microbiome
  • Micronutrients & Targeted Supplementation
  • Sleep
  • Exercise
  • Meditation and Mindfulness
03

Body Composition

Energy balance, macronutrient strategy, and longevity.

  • Energy Balance. How energy balance works in weight gain and weight loss.
  • Metabolic Adaptation. How chronic dieting and stress drive metabolic adaptation — and how to prevent and reverse it with clients.
  • Macronutrients. The roles of protein, fats, and carbohydrates in body composition and overall health.
  • Calculating Macro Goals. Setting macros for client fat loss, muscle gain, or maintenance.
  • The Key to Longevity. Bonus teaching from Dr. Gabrielle Lyon on Muscle-Centric Medicine®.
+ TIER II LAB ADDITIONS
  • Lab Testing Interpretation. Reading the metabolic markers and bloodwork patterns relevant to body composition and metabolic health.
  • Body Composition Overview
  • Energy Balance
  • Metabolic Adaptation
    • Macros
    • Protein
    • Carbs
    • Fats
  • Calculating Macros Goal Demo
  • Characteristics of Successful Weight Loss
  • Bonus: Alan Aragon — Nutrition Strategies for Body Composition
  • Bonus: Dr. Gabrielle Lyon on Muscle-Centric Medicine®
    • Tier II Lab Additions
    • Hormones — Aesthetic Lab Interpretation
04

Adrenals & Chronic Stress

HPA-axis physiology and recovery from burnout.

  • How Cortisol Works. The role of cortisol in the body and how chronic stress drives downstream disease.
  • HPA-Axis. How the body's HPA-axis works and how it interconnects with other systems.
  • Stages of Adrenal Exhaustion. How acute and chronic stress deplete the body's reserves — and how to help clients recover from burnout.
  • Resetting the HPA-Axis. Exact protocols for addressing HPA-axis dysfunction and repairing adrenal function.
+ TIER II LAB ADDITIONS
  • 24-Hour Cortisol Test Interpretation. Reading cortisol rhythm to assess HPA-axis dysfunction with precision.
  • Adrenals Overview
  • HPA-Axis
  • HPG-Axis
  • HPT-Axis
  • Stages of Adrenal Exhaustion
  • Resetting the HPA-Axis
  • Gut-Stress Connection
    • Tier II Lab Additions
    • Mastering Cortisol: Navigating & Testing Stress
05

Thyroid

Root causes, autoimmunity, and restoring function.

  • Root Causes. The root causes behind thyroid dysfunction such as hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's.
  • Autoimmunity. The drivers of autoimmune conditions and tactical protocols for healing the immune system.
  • Nutrition. Nutrition strategies for healing thyroid imbalances.
  • Restoring Thyroid Function. Targeted protocols for correcting and restoring thyroid health.
+ TIER II LAB ADDITIONS
  • Thyroid Lab Panel Interpretation. Reading full thyroid panels including antibodies, free T3, reverse T3, and nutrient co-factors.
  • Optimal vs. Reference Ranges. The difference between standard "normal" lab ranges and functional optimal ranges.
  • Thyroid Overview
  • Intro to Thyroid
  • Root Causes of Thyroid Imbalances
  • Autoimmune
  • AIP Diet
  • Correcting Thyroid Imbalances
    • Tier II Lab Additions
    • Advanced Thyroid Training
    • Thyroid Protocols
    • Thyroid Testing and Case Scenarios
06

Gut Microbiome & Gut Health

A cornerstone of root-cause clinical practice.

  • Gut Microbiome. "All disease begins and ends in the gut." How the microbiome shapes overall health and disease.
  • The 4 Tiers of Gut Imbalance. From low diversity, gut inflammation, leaky gut, and digestive insufficiency to SIBO, parasites, and IBD.
  • Gut Health. Long-term nutrition and supplement strategies for optimizing digestion and the microbiome.
  • Gut Healing. The 4-R approach for short-term protocols that bring the body back to balance and reverse symptoms.
  • Bonus Reference. A behind-the-scenes look at Rachel's three-month Gut Health Repair Program — how she coaches clients on gut healing and body composition simultaneously.
+ TIER II LAB ADDITIONS
  • Gut Microbiome Testing Interpretation. Reading stool analysis, microbiome panels, and identifying clinical patterns.
  • SIBO Breath Test Interpretation. Reading hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide patterns to inform protocol design.
  • Advanced SIBO Protocols. Specific clinical approaches for treating different SIBO subtypes.
  • Gut Pathogens. Identifying pathogens in lab testing and protocols to address overgrowths.
  • IBD. Root causes of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis — protocols addressing the immune and inflammatory response.
  • Gut Microbiome Overview
  • Gut Microbiome
  • Gut Health: Inflammation and Low Diversity
    • Gut Imbalances
    • Leaky Gut
    • Digestive Insufficiency
    • Gut Pathogens
    • SIBO
  • Polyphenols, SIBO, and Gut Health
    • A Gut-Centric Approach
    • Taking a Gut-Centric Approach to Health
    • Gut Health
    • Gut Healing
  • Bonus Module: Rachel's Gut Health Repair Program (full case study)
  • Bonus webinars from rotating expert guests
    • Tier II Lab Additions
    • Stool Testing and Protocols
    • Genova GI Effects Lab Interpretation
    • SIBO Breath Testing
    • SIBO Protocols
    • SIBO & Advanced Gut Protocols
    • Elemental Diets
    • Carb Pulsing
    • Biotics Research: SIBO, Immunoglobulins & the Autonomic Nervous System
    • Metagenics: GI Protocols
07

Female Hormones

Cycle, perimenopause, menopause, and root cause.

  • Intro to Female Hormones. The complexity of the female menstrual cycle and the transition into menopause; the roles of estrogen and progesterone.
  • Root Causes. How hormone imbalances are a downstream effect of diet, stress, detoxification, and gut health.
  • The Most Common Imbalances. PMS, PCOS, female sexual dysfunction, and infertility — with functional nutrition protocols for each.
  • Perimenopause & Menopause. Designing programs for women age 42+ entering menopause and postmenopause.
  • Targeted Supplementation. Key supplement protocols for hormonal symptoms and imbalances.
+ TIER II LAB ADDITIONS
  • Hormone Testing Interpretation. Reading hormone panels (including DUTCH-style data) for cycling and menopausal women to identify imbalances and drive protocol design.
  • Female Hormones Overview
  • Female Hormones
  • Estrogen
  • Progesterone
    • Root Causes of Hormone Imbalance
    • Diet-Hormone Connection
    • Adrenal-Hormone Connection
    • Liver-Hormone Connection
    • Gut-Hormone Connection
    Common Hormone Imbalances
    • PMS
    • PCOS
    • Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD)
    • Infertility
  • Perimenopause and Menopause
  • Bonus Webinar: Female Hormone Imbalances
    • Tier II Lab Additions
    • Functional Labs for Hormones
    • DUTCH Testing
    • Genova Hormones Lab Interpretation
08

Liver & Detoxification

Toxic burden, genetics, and clearance pathways.

  • Toxins. Environmental toxins present in everyday life and their impact on client health and disease.
  • Body Burden & Genetics. What body burden is and how environment, genetics, and detoxification capacity influence it.
  • Low-Toxin Living. Practical strategies to help clients reduce their toxic load.
  • Phase 1 & Phase 2 Detoxification. How each phase works, the nutrients required, and protocols for supporting clearance with nutrition and supplementation.
+ TIER II LAB ADDITIONS
  • Toxin Lab Testing Interpretation. Reading panels for mycotoxins, heavy metals, and environmental toxins.
  • Advanced Detox Protocols. Multi-phase clinical detoxification supported by data, sequencing, and the body's clearance capacity.
  • Detoxification Overview
  • Toxins
  • Tips for Low-Tox Living
  • Phases of Detoxification
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Nutrition Protocols for Detoxification
  • Mold Overview
    • Tier II Lab Additions
    • Toxins Testing and Detox Protocols
    • Metagenics: Detox Protocols
    • Cellcore: Detox Protocols
    • Lyme Disease
TIER II BONUS MODULE
09

Genetics

MTHFR, methylation, and clinically-actionable nutrigenomics.

  • Genetic Testing. How to order, read, and act on genetic test results in clinical practice — with focus on the variants that meaningfully change protocol design.
  • MTHFR & Methylation. The methylation cycle, common variants, and how genetic context shapes nutrient and supplement recommendations.
  • Clinical Application. Translating genetic data into individualized lab-informed protocols rather than one-size-fits-all recommendations.
  • Genetic Testing
TIER II BONUS MODULE
10

Skin Health

Topical and internal protocols for skin as a window to systemic health.

  • SkynBio Topical Treatments. The science of microbiome-supportive topicals and how to integrate them with internal protocols.
  • Metagenics Skin Treatments. Clinical-grade skin support paired with the body systems that drive skin presentation.
  • Biotics Skin Training. Practitioner-grade product training and protocol design for client skin concerns.
  • SkynBio Topical Treatments
  • Metagenics Skin Treatments
  • Biotics Skin Training

ALSO INCLUDED

What's Inside Tier II beyond the modules.

  • Two Live Calls Per Week
    A weekly Q&A call with Rachel plus a weekly live lab interpretation session - case-based work on real client lab panels. All recorded.
  • Lab Ordering Setup Support
    Walkthrough on establishing your own lab ordering capability - including setting up a Vibrant Wellness practitioner account under your own NPI.
  • Everything in Tier I
    All eight Tier I modules, downloadable protocols and meal plans, and the full pre-recorded module library.
  • Functional Nutrition Handbook + Lab Reference
    The full Tier I handbook plus advanced lab interpretation reference materials - protocols, lab patterns, and decision frameworks organized for clinical use.
  • Private Practitioner Community
    Access to RSN's private community of coaches and practitioners for case discussions, peer collaboration, and ongoing connection.
  • Final Examination & Advanced Credential
    A 70-question final exam, 70% to pass, two attempts permitted. Earn the Functional Nutrition Practitioner (FN-P) credential - accredited by AANWC, ANWCB, AANWP & AADP.

Program Accreditation

Accredited by AANWC, ANWCB, AANWP & AADP · Approved CEU provider through ANWPB · Tier II earns 80+ CEUs

Recent Graduates

NEED THE FOUNDATION FIRST?

Tier I is the standard prerequisite.

Tier II builds on the Tier I foundation. New to functional nutrition? Start there first — the clinical framework everything else stands on. Already have equivalent functional nutrition training? Qualified practitioners may apply to enroll directly into Tier II — eligibility reviewed during your admissions call.

Ready to begin Tier II?

Speak with an RSN admissions advisor about cohort timing, prerequisites, and program fit.

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