Further Your Knowledge.
Deepen Your Impact. Become an Expert!
Are you a Primal Enthusiast?
A personal trainer? A gym owner? Have you been wanting...and waiting...to take your own health—and your clients'—to peak levels? Then it's time to enroll in the Primal Blueprint Expert Certification program.
This is no boring certificate course reminiscent of online traffic school. It's an interactive platform of multimedia educational materials, featuring exclusive videos and digital instruction that dive deeper into the Primal Blueprint philosophy than any other resource on the market.
This is your opportunity to become officially affiliated with the Primal Blueprint brand and take an active and prominent role in promoting a movement that has inspired hundreds of thousands of people to reclaim their health, sculpt their bodies, and sharpen their minds.
The Primal Blueprint Expert Certification is the very first, and surely to be the preeminent, ancestral health online certification program (become certified from the comfort of your home!). In order to influence the most people with your hunter-gatherer mojo, we've made accessibility a top priority. When you enroll in the certification, you enjoy unlimited access to an online portal filled with multimedia educational resources along with the online course material and examinations. You can study in the comfort and convenience of your own home at a pace that's suitable for you.
Is Taking the Primal Plunge for You?
The Primal Blueprint Expert Certification program is an investment in your future—whether you're studying for personal satisfaction or looking to enhance your skills as a health, fitness, or medical professional. This certification program will answer any questions you may have about living Primally, fill in any gaps in your Primal knowledge, take you deeper into evolutionary-based lifestyle principles than any other training, and elevate your profile in the Primal community as you join our elite group of certified experts.
This material is designed to appeal to anyone who desires a more comprehensive understanding of the Primal Blueprint principles. It's a truly international course accessible online anywhere in the world, and we welcome all sorts of candidates:
Personal Trainers will gain an excellent big-picture perspective regarding the importance of balancing stress and rest and deftly blending frequent low-intensity movement, regular brief, intense strength training sessions, and occasional all-out sprints. While many trainers possess specialized expertise and education credentials on workout modalities such as Crossfit, Spinning, Zumba and other group exercise classes, the Primal Blueprint "Cert" offers a healthy perspective on fitness that is applicable and complementary to these types of specialized workouts.
Dietitians, Nutritional Consultants, and Private Chefs will benefit from an education on nutrition and macronutrients from the ancestral health perspective, particularly as it differs from the low-fat, grain-based principles still touted by conventional wisdom. The course material goes beyond the mechanics of good nutrition to cover mealtime habits, shopping and cooking strategies, and a healthy emotional approach to weight management and maximum enjoyment of fine cuisine.
Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and other hands-on medical caregivers who realize that prevention and lifestyle modification are the most effective means of addressing many health complaints and diseases will greatly benefit from this program, since formal medical training covers little to none of the ground covered in the Primal Blueprint Expert Certification.
Individual Enthusiasts who enjoy Primal living can benefit from the knowledge, confidence, and inspiration this rigorous course provides. What's more, who knows where your Primal passions could lead? At Primal Blueprint headquarters and at our live events, our staff has fielded many amazing comments from people who started out as individual adopters, evolved into success stories, and consequently became inspired to share their passion and success with others.
Health Educators who teach students, whether in a university setting or through private courses, will enhance their knowledge and be able to speak confidently on the principles of evolutionary health. Educators will gain a deep understanding of the origin and scientific rationale of the prominent Primal talking points.
Life Coaches will obtain practical tools to help clients improve their diets, fine-tune their workouts, and embody a sensible, balanced, "enjoy life" perspective that often gets overlooked when following traditional regimented diet and fitness protocols. The Primal Blueprint is flexible and customizable to the realities of hectic modern life and the personal preferences of clients.
There are no prerequisites beyond having a decent knowledge of the Primal Blueprint philosophy from reading books and Internet content. That said, this is an intensive educational program that's similar to an upper-division level college course in health sciences. So be prepared to get those brain synapses firing!
Are You Ready to Step Up to the Next Level?
Perhaps you've already digested the Primal Blueprint and Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation books, and you've gobbled up all the blog posts and resources on MarksDailyApple.com, the go-to Primal Blueprint hub. You've definitely built some great momentum out of the gate, but aren't quite "all-in" like you could be. It's time to make the commitment and go as deep as humanly possible into Primal living! When you join this program, you'll form an exciting new network of fellow experts who have stepped up to become certified and empowered leaders of the movement.
The online Cert course is designed around the 8 Key Concepts and 5 Action Items that comprise the Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation book, but covers each of these 13 elements in a much more in-depth, comprehensive manner.
You will learn both the science behind and the practical method of:
Reprogramming your genes to direct optimal cellular function based on your food choices, workouts, sleeping habits, and other Primal-aligned lifestyle behaviors.
Developing a lean, toned physique and lifelong functional fitness—without the risks associated with chronic exercise, and without the hassle and futility of calorie counting and portion control.
Implementing eating patterns that moderate insulin production and enable efficient burning of stored body fat.
Eliminating consumption of grains, the centerpiece of the Standard American Diet, as well as other objectionable foods that promote weight gain and chronic health problems.
Understanding the truth behind heart disease and cholesterol, and how to quickly minimize or eliminate risk factors with simple, drug-free lifestyle modifications.
Exercising for optimal health, effortless long-term weight management, and broad athletic competency with an intuitive blend of workouts honoring the three Primal Blueprint Fitness laws (Move Frequently at a Slow Pace, Lift Heavy Things, and Sprint Once in a While).
Mentoring a pantry purge and a restocking with Primal foods, including how to implement winning strategies for shopping, meal planning, dining out, and snacking.
Understanding the "best-to-worst" spectrum of choices for meat, fish, fowl, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, fats and oils, moderation foods such as dairy, and sensible indulgences.
Taking the time to enjoy simple pleasures such as "slow food" over industrialized food; sensible instead of chronic exercise; and focused work habits instead of multitasking.
Nurturing live, interpersonal relationships over superficial social media "friendships;" enjoying calm, relaxing evenings instead of introducing excessive artificial light and digital stimulation; and leaving plenty of time for play, sun exposure, rest, and relaxation.
Learn Exactly How to Generate the Proven Results of Primal Living
Kevin
"I now look and feel incredible. No one recognizes me anymore and they all ask me the same question, how did you do it? My answer is simple. I tell them that there is no magic pill, that it's just good old fashioned diet using the Primal Blueprint, and exercise."
Cherice
"One thing lead to another, and...I stumbled upon Mark's Daily Apple. My life was changed forever. Immediately my moods were better. My skin cleared up. I threw away my Ritalin. The weight kept melting off. I wasn't even exercising! It was amazing."
The tide truly is turning, as mainstream diet, health, and medical science is now realizing that a high-fat diet is not only good for you, but is also the best way to lose weight. A major new study published in the September 2014 edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine and profiled in the New York Times confirmed what the Primal Blueprint has been advocating all along—that healthy fats have metabolic benefits while the excess consumption of process carbohydrates (not just sugar, but also grains—even whole grains) is the main culprit for obesity and elevated disease risk. Mainstream momentum is building with scientifically validated results that a Primal Blueprint-style eating pattern stimulates body fat reduction, reduces inflammation, and reduces heart disease risk factors (lowering triglycerides and elevating HDL cholesterol).
Felicia
"I was led to Mark's Daily Apple...and I was off and running. In April of 2013, I weighed 314 pounds. I was wearing a size 24 pant, and a 26/28 top. I only shopped at Lane Bryant or online plus sized stores. I was far from confident and happy... Today, I weighed in at 210."
Bob
"After clicking link after link, I stumbled here...Mark's Daily Apple...I couldn't get enough...I wanted to experience everything I was reading and feel the amazing changes everyone already described after making the big leap! Finally, I read The Primal Blueprint and it changed my life."
Researchers pitted a low-carb, high-fat group of dieters against a low-fat group of dieters. Results showed that people who ate fewer carbs and higher fat, even the oft-maligned saturated fat, lost on average eight pounds more of body weight, and showed dramatic reductions in body fat and improvements in lean muscle mass...and that's all without making any exercise modifications! Low-carb, high-fat eating also improved metabolic markers—lowered inflammation and triglycerides and higher health-boosting HDL cholesterol.
And what do you think the low-fat group ate? The Primal no-nos—grains, cereals, and starches! And they suffered the consequences...
Obviously many skeptics remain, since conventional wisdom is often in direct conflict with Primal Blueprint principles. However, results speak for themselves. People with lifelong weight control issues, people resigned to the belief that they have "bad genes," and people taking ill-advised Rx medications for decades have quickly and dramatically shed pounds, shed meds, and reclaimed their health by going Primal. Tens of thousands of people have lost weight and regained health for life using Primal principles, and many of them have shared their dramatic success stories and images with us. And while careful evaluation of scientific evidence is important, nothing rivals real-life total body transformation when it comes to rejecting flawed beliefs and considering a fresh, new approach. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words...
John
"My close friend Ryan suggested I read a book by the name of The Primal Blueprint...After diving head first into the book I adopted a paleo way of eating. I found it to be very easy...September 2012 and I was down 100lbs. 100 lbs in 9 months!"
Cindy
"I don't remember exactly how I found Mark's Daily Apple...somewhere deep down the internet rabbit hole a link lead me here and the information I found here truly changed my life."
Here's What to Expect
When you register for the certification, you will receive login instructions to a password-access portal with the online course as well as an assortment of educational materials, including digital books, audio books and instructional videos. The educational materials are yours to download or access online any time.
You have unlimited access to the educational materials with no deadlines.
The online course is separated into 13 modules—one for each Key Concept and Action Item (see FAQs below for more information). Each module consists of a detailed video overview of the Key Concept or Action Item from Mark Sisson, followed by extensive reading material. After watching the video and reading the text, you will take an online examination ranging from 20-45 questions, a mix of true/false and multiple choice. Passing each examination requires a score of 75% correct or better, at which point you proceed to the next module.
If you score below 75% on any module, you can review the material and then take a second exam made up of different, but similar in design, questions. If you score below 75% on the second exam, you will be asked to submit a brief written assignment relating to the questions that you missed on your second exam. Your written work will be evaluated by our staff, and you will interact with us one-on-one when necessary, so that we can ensure you are comfortable with the material and grant you a passing grade.
You can proceed with your reading, viewing, and test taking at your own pace, logging into the course at any time and picking up at the digital bookmark you set when you exited the course on your previous visit.
After you have completed all 13 modules and passed all 13 exams like the Primal genius you are, you will have graduated the course! Congratulations are due, so we'll ship you a Certified Expert completion kit consisting of an assortment of goodies (including one-of-a-kind Certified Expert apparel and promo items) to celebrate your achievement.
You'll be featured as a Primal Blueprint Certified Expert on our website directory and availed to numerous business development benefits we will offer to Certified Experts on an ongoing basis. This includes approved use of our logo and brand to further your career as a health and fitness professional.
Fast FAQs
Registration process/Payments/Discounts
Do you have a payment plan available? Expand »
Yes. We offer a convenient payment plan to divide your course registration into four equal monthly payments to make things easier on your budget. Simply choose "4-Month Payment Plan ($205/month)" from the "Choose Payment Option" menu above, and proceed through checkout. (There is a $25 administrative fee associated with the payment plan option.) The first payment of $205 will be billed immediately. Subsequent payments in the amount of $205 will be billed automatically 30, 60, and 90 days henceforth, for a total of $820. If you are unable to afford four monthly payments of $205, call us at 888-774-6259 and we'll do everything we can to help you. « Collapse
Do you offer any discounts? Expand »
Yes. Contact us by email or telephone (888-774-6259 or 310-317-4414 internationally) to discuss how to qualify for the following discounts:
Full-time students: We offer a generous discount to full-time students with limited income. Requires proof of your current student status, contact us to discuss.
Multiple registrations in the same household: Discount for additional registrations for family members living in the same household. Verification required. Must be a single registration transaction for all participants and the same shipping address for completion kits (processed by telephone).
Multiple registrations from the same business: Discount for additional registrations for those working in the same gym, clinic or other business. Must be a single registration transaction for all participants and the same shipping address for completion kits (processed by telephone). « Collapse
This course is expensive. How can I be sure I'm getting good value? Expand »
Our company is committed to producing the absolute highest quality products, an ambition that we have to balance with producing affordable products that people will buy. With so much free information available on the Internet these days (where everyone is an expert, eh?), we decided—three years ago now—that the primal/paleo/evolutionary health movement needed a proper certification program for the most passionate enthusiasts. We carefully designed a program that was detailed, scientifically validated, but also easy to understand for non-scientific types. We believe this course represents the best opportunity to become an expert in our realm of diet, exercise, and healthy living, and a fantastic opportunity to invest in yourself, your health, and your future.
Mark Sisson spent a lot of effort carefully conveying his thoughts on this matter in the "Message from Mark" section below. To those with budget concerns, we have special considerations mentioned in another FAQ with discounts for certain qualified individuals and multiple registrations, and extended payment plans. While we cannot bear to turn any potential student away who is interested and willing to make the commitment to the program, but part of that commitment is a financial investment from the student. This shows you're serious and perhaps in some cases willing to make sacrifices elsewhere in your disposable income behavior. We encourage you to contact us directly to discuss your budget concerns. « Collapse
Participants/Target Audience
Any prerequisites necessary to participate? Expand »
No. However, we suggest that you have a decent knowledge of the Primal Blueprint philosophy from reading books and Internet content. « Collapse
Can I take the course outside of the USA? Expand »
Absolutely! We've had tons of Australians register, folks all over Europe, and even Pakistan, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil and Hong Kong represented in our student roster. Everything is online for your access anywhere on the globe (well, anywhere with an Internet connection!), and we'll even ship your graduation kit of goodies internationally. The cert program is perfect for folks living abroad who might not be able to pop into a PrimalCon weekend, a Paleo f(x), Ancestral Health Symposium, or other grand USA event very easily.
We are happy to ship your completion kit internationally at no extra charge to you, but we do limit the number of books to one each of the 21-Day Total Body Transformation and the 90-day Journal. Extra books (up to 3) are free for graduates but you must pay a small shipping surcharge for extra books, depending your shipment destination. « Collapse
What kind of person/professional is this course suitable for? Expand »
We'll give you a real world example—our very first certified expert, Mike DiLandro of New Jersey. After losing 25 pounds upon going Primal, Mike then inspired his parents to lose a total of 80 pounds by transitioning to a Primal-style eating pattern. He also writes an informative monthly newsletter on an assortment of Primal-related topics (including recipes, success stories, and book reviews), and has built a great following of friends and co-workers.
Through Mike's intensive study and implementation of the Primal Blueprint way of life, he became confident and skilled enough to present the Primal Blueprint Transformation Seminar to live audiences across the East Coast, and also to join the presenter staff at PrimalCon—efforts which earn him a nice residual income outside of his main career. « Collapse
Coursework/Examinations
How difficult/extensive is the online examination? Expand »
This course material is on a par with an upper-division college course in the health sciences. The text content is around 134,000 words—the approximate length of a 400-page book. The material is presented in a simple, straightforward manner so it's easy to understand by the most non-technical reader.
The 13 exams are comprised of a mix of multiple choice and true/false questions. The length of the exams vary according to the amount of content in the module, and range from 20 to 45 questions. The total amount of questions on all 13 modules is around 400. The exams have been carefully scrutinized by an elite team of beta-testers to ensure fairness and relevance to the written course material. « Collapse
How do the online course and exams work? Expand »
When you enroll in the certification, you will receive login instructions to access the course material online. When you reach the welcome screen, you will see a table of contents with all 13 modules listed. Each module corresponds to one of the eight Key Concepts and five Action Items detailed in the Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation book (e.g., Module 8 is titled, "Maximum Results Can Be Achieved in Minimal Time With High Intensity Workouts," the same as Key Concept #8 in the book).
You will proceed through the modules in numerical order, so you will start your course by clicking on Module 1. When you enter each module, you will see a video from Mark Sisson summarizing the content, followed by the text material. You can proceed with your reading, viewing, and test taking at your own pace, logging into and out of the course at any time and picking up at the bookmark you place when you sign off. When you finish watching the video and reading the text of a module, you can click a button to enter the online exam. When you successfully pass the exam, you can proceed to the next module. « Collapse
How do I pass the course? What if I have trouble passing the exams? Expand »
After you complete the video and the text course material for each module, you can take the online exam ranging from 20 to 47 questions, a mix of true/false and multiple choice.
A score of 75 percent correct or better represents a passing grade. Your entire test results will be revealed after you finish, noting the questions that you missed. If you pass, you will simply hit the continue button to proceed to the next Module. If you score below 75 percent correct, you can return to the material for review and then then attempt a second exam comprised of mostly new questions but testing similar concepts and information.
If you score below 75 percent a second time, you will be shown the answers you missed and be asked to complete a written assignment in order to pass the Module. The written assignment consists of identifying the correct answer for each wrong answer you submitted on your second test, along with a sentence or two of explanation about why it's the correct answer. Our staff will review your submission and grant you a passing grade if your submission warrants.
If your short answers are unsatisfactory, we will engage with you by email or telephone to ensure that you have command of the material. This can include requiring you to start over with the difficult Module and proceed with the examination process again. After you submit a short answer assignment, you can proceed through the course as you await clearance on your written submissions. You simply complete the short answer assignment, then click the "Continue The Course" button to enter the next Module. Through this one, two, or multi-step process, we will ensure that you have full command of the material in each Module.
In summary, if you are willing to invest the time and energy in the course, we are extremely confident that you will pass, even if it requires re-reading materials and re-taking tests. If you struggle on the exams, our staff is here to help you with one-on-one support to ensure that your experience is positive. « Collapse
How long do you estimate the online course will take to complete? Expand »
There is a lot of material to cover in the course and the exams are rigorous. Naturally, we've received disparate reports from students regarding their completion times. It's conceivable that a real all-star could breeze through the material, succeed on the tests and be done with the course work in less than 26 hours. A more deliberate student or one who is less informed and comfortable with primal principles starting the course could easily exceed 60 hours all told by the time the final test is passed. We've already seen some students rush a bit too quickly through exams, receive a below-passing grade, and have to engage in back and forth short answer with our staff in order to advance through the Modules.
We also want to remind you that the Primal Blueprint Expert Certification is not only the online course with exams, but a complete program with a robust library of multimedia educational materials for you to enjoy. On the multimedia educational materials download portal, we have 15 hours of audio books, 4 hours of video presentations, and five more pdf books to read! These hours of content is not even counting the 13-module online course and examination material. Take your time and enjoy the course! There is no rush to pass in haste and potentially compromise your educational enjoyment. « Collapse
What if I have problems or challenges regarding course material or questions that I missed or misunderstood? Expand »
We eagerly await feedback on any problems you encounter with the course material and examinations. If you object to a question as unfair, misleading, ambiguous, or misaligned with the text, please copy and paste the question into an email and talk to us! We are constantly editing and perfecting the course material and test questions to ensure fairness and an overall educational experience of the highest quality. While Mark Sisson, his educational advisors, and the Primal Blueprint staff have made the best effort to create an outstanding course, we are always open to suggestions for improvement and refinement. Our editorial team would be surprised if you found a typo anywhere in this course, but appreciative of your eagle eye at the same time! « Collapse
What if I think I already know everything about the Primal Blueprint? Can't I just take the test and get certified? Wouldn't the course be rehashing what I already know? Expand »
We designed the course material to appeal to a broad audience of candidates, from the extremely well-informed and well-educated Primal enthusiast to someone who has good basic exposure and wants to go deeper. As the course material is structured according to the 8 Key Concepts and 5 Action Items of the Primal Blueprint 21 Day Total Body Transformation, you will naturally see some rehashing of the material contained in the book. However, the course material definitely picks up where the book left off!
With each module, the course material is approximately four times more detailed than the information found in the book. For example, for Key Concept #2, "The Clues to Optimal Gene Expression are Found in Evolution," the course material details the fascinating timeline of human evolution, starting with the first appearance of Homo sapiens in East Africa and chronicling our eventual migration to all corners of the globe. While this information is more than you need to know to achieve a 21 day transformation as directed by the book, it provides an excellent perspective on the journey our ancestors took to populate the globe, and the hardships they faced along the way that helped shaped the human genome. Furthermore, beyond the reading material in each module are numerous links to further reading, both from MarksDailyApple.com and a variety of Internet resources.
Obviously, the coursework and examinations will be more difficult for some than others. If you have an excellent level of general knowledge, it's possible that you could pass a test cold, or with just a cursory review of the course text. However, our staff took great care in creating examination questions that ensure you really study the course material and understand the reasoning behind the facts and affirmations that frame the Primal Blueprint philosophy. Back to the question of whether one could potentially bootleg these exams, a shorter way of stating the previous would be, "go ahead, knock yourself out!" « Collapse
What are the 13 Modules covered in the online course? Expand »
Key Concepts
- Yes, You Really Can Reprogram Your Genes: Genes are more than fixed heritable traits; they direct cellular function at all times. You signal genes to switch on or off based on your food choices, workouts, sleeping habits, etc.
- The Clues to Optimal Gene Expression are Found in Evolution: Our genes expect us to be lean, fit and healthy by modeling the diet, exercise and lifestyle behaviors of our hunter-gatherer ancestors
- Your Body Prefers Burning Fat to Carbohydrate: A carbohydrate-based diet creates a dependency on external sources of energy from regular meals. Ditching grains and sugars will moderate insulin production and enable efficient burning of stored body fat.
- 80 Percent of Your Body Composition Success is Determined by How You Eat: Losing fat is not about portion control or strenuous exercise. Your average daily intake of carbohydrates and consequent insulin production is the deciding factor in losing weight and keeping it off.
- Grains are Totally Unnecessary: The centerpiece of the Standard American Diet (SAD) offers minimal nutritional value, promote fat storage by raising insulin, and contain anti-nutrients that destroy health. Grains—even vaunted whole grains—are just "cheap, beige glop that quickly convert to sugar."
- Saturated Fat and Cholesterol Are Not Your Enemy...: The Conventional Wisdom story about heart disease is only validated when you produce excessive insulin from a SAD diet. Cholesterol is one of the body's most vital molecules. Saturated fat is our preferred fuel. The true heart disease risk factors—oxidation and inflammation—are driven strongly by polyunsaturated fats, simple sugars, excess insulin production and stress.
- Exercise is Ineffective for Weight Management: Exercise offers numerous health benefits, but calories burned are offset by increases in appetite. Insulin defines your physique more than your workout log. Focus on the benefits of comfortably paced everyday movement and aerobic workouts, and avoid chronic workout patterns.
- Maximum Fitness Gains Can Be Made In Minimal Time With High-Intensity Training: Regular brief, intense strength training sessions and occasional all-out sprints promote optimal gene expression and broad athletic competency. You enjoy more benefits in a fraction of the time spent doing the chronic exercise advocated by Conventional Wisdom.
Action Items
- Eliminate Standard American Diet Foods: Out with the objectionable foods that promote weight gain and chronic health problems.
- Shop, Cook, and Dine Primally: Re-stock your pantry and kitchen with Primal foods, and implement winning strategies, for shopping, meal planning, dining out, and snacking.
- Make the Healthiest Choices Across the Spectrum: Make the best choices in the categories of meat, fish, fowl, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, fats and oils, moderation foods such as dairy, and sensible indulgences.
- Exercise Primally – Move, Lift, and Sprint!: Pursue broad athletic competency with an intuitive blend of workouts honoring the three Primal Blueprint Fitness laws (Move Frequently at a Slow Pace, Lift Heavy Things, and Sprint Once in a While).
- Slow Life Down: Take the time to enjoy simple pleasures such as "slow food" over industrialized food; balanced instead of chronic exercise; focused work habits instead of multitasking; interpersonal relationships over soci