Course
8

Thyroid

Overview
Distinguish low vs. high thyroid function patterns, conversion issues, and autoimmune drivers that impact energy, hormones, fertility and metabolic networks.
Format
Online
Units
24
Recommended for
  • Weight gain
  • Low energy
  • Hair loss
  • Infertility
  • Constipation
Thyroid

The learning framework

1
Why thyroid dysfunction is frequently mismanaged
Thyroid dysfunction affects an estimated 1 in 8 adults, yet it remains one of the most underdiagnosed and mismanaged conditions, often dismissed as "normal" based on outdated reference ranges or treated with medication alone without addressing the nutrient deficiencies, gut dysfunction, liver impairment, chronic stress, and environmental toxins that interfere with thyroid hormone production, conversion, transport, and cellular uptake.
2
The limitations of conventional thyroid assessment
Conventional assessment typically relies on TSH alone, missing the nuanced patterns that reveal early dysfunction, poor T4-to-T3 conversion, thyroid hormone resistance, or autoimmune activity, leaving clients experiencing fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, cold intolerance, brain fog, mood changes, and menstrual irregularities without investigation into the upstream drivers or systemic context.
3
A functional framework for thyroid health
The Thyroid Function module trains you to assess thyroid health through a functional lens, using pattern recognition, interconnected physiology, and comprehensive panels, and to design evidence-based interventions that address root causes and support optimal thyroid performance across all life stages.

What you'll learn

By the end of this module, you will be able to:
Interpret comprehensive thyroid panels using functional reference ranges
Understanding TSH, free T3, free T4, total T3, total T4, reverse T3, thyroid-binding globulin, and ratios to assess production, conversion, transport, and tissue-level thyroid hormone activity.
Differentiate between types of thyroid dysfunction
Recognising overt hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, poor T4-to-T3 conversion, and elevated reverse T3 patterns.
Identify and assess autoimmune thyroid conditions
Understanding Hashimoto's thyroiditis as the most common cause of hypothyroidism, interpreting thyroid antibodies to detect immune-driven dysfunction often years before TSH elevation.
Assess thyroid function in the context of adrenal and stress physiology
Understanding how chronic stress, elevated cortisol, and HPA axis dysregulation suppress TSH, impair T4-to-T3 conversion, and increase reverse T3 production.
Identify the role of liver and gut function in thyroid health
Recognising how impaired liver detoxification, gut dysbiosis, intestinal permeability, and nutrient malabsorption disrupt thyroid hormone conversion, transport, and excretion.
Understand nutrient cofactors essential for thyroid function
Assessing iodine, selenium, zinc, iron, vitamin D, vitamin A, and B vitamins required for thyroid hormone synthesis and conversion.
Build phased thyroid restoration protocols
Sequencing interventions through nutrient repletion, gut and liver support, stress regulation, inflammation reduction, and long-term metabolic optimisation,operating within scope while recognising when endocrinology referral is needed.

Why this matters

The ability to identify dysfunction conventional testing misses
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Many clients with "normal" TSH have subclinical hypothyroidism, poor conversion, or early Hashimoto's detectable and addressable before disease progression.
Confidence in complex, multi-system cases
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You'll assess thyroid contextually across adrenal, gut, liver, immune, and metabolic function.
Better client outcomes
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Addressing nutrient deficiencies, gut dysfunction, autoimmunity, and lifestyle factors often restores thyroid function, reduces antibody levels, and improves energy, weight management, mood, and cognition.
Professional differentiation
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Thyroid expertise positions you as capable of solving cases dismissed or mismanaged by others, attracting frustrated clients.
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Hypothyroidism
Hashimoto’s
Subclinical Hypothyroidism
Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Thyroid Antibodies
Thyroid Conversion
Metabolic Health
Chronic Fatigue
Weight Gain
Hormonal Imbalance
Your path to becoming a Certified Practitioner

How to get started

1st Step
Submit your Application
Apply online in just a few minutes. Our team will review your experience, education and goals to ensure this certification aligns with your professional path.
2nd Step
Join the IOH community
Once accepted, you’ll gain instant access to our global network of practitioners, mentors and resources that support your learning from day one.
3rd Step
Begin your first module
Start your studies inside the IOH learning portal — with guided mentorship, live calls, and access to the Oracle AI system that turns knowledge into action.

Expand your knowledge

All Courses
What does an Integrative Nutritional Therapist do?
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An Integrative Nutritional Therapist utilises the latest evidence-based research to create an integrative approach to optimising each client’s health and wellbeing.

They design bio-individual nutrition plans, personalise supplementation where appropriate, and interpret functional laboratory data, including blood work, to gain deeper insights, achieve better accuracy and tailor every intervention to the individual.

How is functional medicine different from conventional medicine?
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Conventional medicine often waits until a disease is clearly present before intervention begins. Treatment is focused on managing or suppressing a diagnosed condition.

Functional medicine looks upstream. It assesses the early drivers of dysfunction and works to prevent disease from developing in the first place, or restore balance in the body. It uses a whole-systems view of the body, then applies personalised, preventative nutrition and lifestyle interventions to support long-term health rather than only reacting once things have gone wrong.

What will be my scope of practice after completing this certification?
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After completing the certification, you will be recognised and insured as a Integrative Nutritional Therapist inclusive of Nutritional Therapy and Functional Blood Work, with a clearly defined scope of practice.

You will be trained and insured to:

  • Design bio-individual nutrition plans
  • Recommend and prescribe over-the-counter supplementation up to safe, optimal intake thresholds
  • Utilise functional blood work from a wellness perspective to guide your reasoning and recommendations
  • Collaborate with and refer to medical professionals when red flags, pathology or out-of-scope conditions are identified

Our scope of practice has been aligned with nutritional therapy standards and externally audited, so you can work with confidence and clarity.

Is your course accredited?
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Yes. Our certifications are accredited by multiple independent professional bodies, including the International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT) and the Complementary Medical Association (CMA).

To receive these accreditations, our curriculum undergoes forensic external auditing to ensure every component is up to date, evidence-informed, ethically delivered and aligned with recognised Nutritional Therapy and Functional Health standards. This includes rigorous evaluation of our academic content, assessments, delivery methods and scope of practice frameworks.

This external oversight gives you confidence that the qualification you are investing in is credible, robust and widely recognised within the industry, with clear pathways for insurance, professional membership and global practice.

Will I be able to practise internationally?
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Yes. Our graduates are eligible for insurance through IICT that is recognised across 36 countries, including:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden & United Kingdom.

This allows you to work with clients internationally, including in online practice, provided you respect local regulations and the scope of practice defined by your insurer and professional associations.

Need help?
Get in touch with us
Clarity, confidence, and real results start with one conversation. Let’s map your next chapter — together.