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The INFACT Certified Food Addiction Professional (CFAP) certification course was patterned after the European Certification Board’s (ECB’s) Alcohol and Drug Counselor curriculum, beginning with their requirements and examination for Alcohol and Drug Counselor certification. However, with the ECB’s oversight and approval, INFACT’s curriculum, course work, and examination have been significantly adapted to meet the unique requirements identified in the ECB’s detailed CFAP job analysis.

The result is a specialized Food Addiction Professional curriculum taught by a collection of foremost Sugar/Food Addiction experts. The INFACT curriculum includes first-hand, experiential training tailored to further students’ understanding of Sugar/Food Addiction and the counseling/treatment methods necessary to treat various eating disorders as an addiction effectively. This credentialing and certification process has provided much-needed standardization of the rapidly evolving professional standards of Sugar/Food Addiction counseling and treatment.

The ECB has entrusted INFACT to administer the ECB-approved final examination and attest that, upon graduation, every INFACT student has met all ECB requirements for certification. The ECB has also entrusted INFACT to evaluate each student’s need for clinical supervision of their future FAP work and dictate each student’s requirement for clinical supervision on an individual basis, according to the factors detailed below. As an INFACT student, you can rest assured that upon graduation, you will have already successfully fulfilled all of the ECB’s FAC certification requirements (with the understanding that your future work as a Food Addiction Professional will be performed by several clinical supervision hours INFACT deems appropriate in your specific case.) Please see the Clinical Supervision section below for more information.

The ECB has entrusted INFACT to assess and approve applicants for admission to the course, ensuring that each candidate meets the following ECB requirements. In addition to submitting the online Registration Form, please submit the following items via email to esther@infact.is to complete your application:

• a written summary of your education and work training history, qualifications, and specializations;
• a written summary of your 12-step knowledge and participation;
• and two letters of recommendation.
• Please be aware that INFACT training is taught in English. Understanding the English language is a requirement for admission.
• Upon receiving your application, Esther Helga Gudmundsdottir (Director of INFACT) will contact you to arrange an online application interview via Zoom’s online video conferencing roomZoom.

For the online portion of the training, you will need a computer with audio, video capabilities and a stable Internet connection. Active involvement in INFACT’s live, online course is essential, along with the following obligations:

• weekly submission of assignments and activities;
• participation in a student group that works together between sessions;
• presentation of a final project;
• and the passing of an ECB-approved final examination.

The requirements for INFACT graduation and for ECB certification are one and the same. The ECB has entrusted INFACT to address all ECB certification requirements as part of INFACT training. Thus, if you are admitted to (and graduate from) INFACT, you are automatically qualified for ECB certification. Upon graduation, you will need to submit an application to the ECB for certification; however, the cost of your first-year certificate is included with your INFACT tuition.

ECB certification is granted with the understanding that you will perform your future work as a Food Addiction Counselor according to the number of clinical supervision hours INFACT deems appropriate in your specific case.

INFACT will prepare and assist you in meeting all of these ECB requirements for FAC certification.

• References: The ECB (and therefore INFACT) requires two references at the time of application. If your application is approved for admission to the course, you have met the ECB’s certification requirement for references.
• Education: Graduation from INFACT training meets all 300 of the ECB’s educational requirements, including six hours explicitly devoted to counselor ethics.
• Examination: The ECB has entrusted INFACT to administer the ECB-approved final examination. No further testing will be required when you apply for ECB certification.
• Code of Ethics: A signed, ECB-approved Code of Ethics agreement for Food Addiction Counseling is required for graduation and certification. Please see the Code of Ethics section for a sample of the agreement.
• Clinical Supervision: INFACT has been entrusted by the ECB to evaluate each graduate individually regarding the number of clinical supervision hours required, within 1,000 to 6,000 hours. Please see the Clinical Supervision section below for details on the criteria INFACT uses to make this assessment.

Clinical supervision is an important part of counselors’ professional advancement and the development of counseling proficiency. As such, it’s an essential component for ensuring high-quality patient care. The main goals of clinical supervision are to train, educate, support, and guidance counselors. Newer counselors need to have clinical supervisors they can count on for mentoring, leadership, clinical direction, professional training opportunities, and encouragement.

As described in the above section on Graduation/Certification Requirements, INFACT has been entrusted by the ECB to evaluate each graduate individually regarding the number of clinical supervision hours required. INFACT makes this individual determination within 1,000 to 6,000 hours, based on the following ECB-approved criteria.

• Work Experience: INFACT will consider how each graduate’s past work experience relates to Food Addiction Counseling.
• Educational Background: INFACT will determine an appropriate level of equivalence for previous, relevant education. For example, an associate´s degree in behavioral science might substitute for 1000 hours of clinical supervision; a bachelor´s degree in behavioral science might substitute for 2000 hours; a master´s degree in behavioral science might substitute for 4000 hours, and so on.
• 12-Step Knowledge and Experience: INFACT will individually assess each graduate’s knowledge and experience with 12-Step programs of recovery as an additional factor in determining how much clinical supervision of their future FAC work will be needed.
• Upon certification, graduates may begin practicing as a Food Addiction Professional under clinical supervision. ECB certificates are granted to INFACT students upon graduation to understand that, as new practitioners, they will faithfully fulfill the number of clinical supervision hours assessed by INFACT in their future FAC work.

As described above, a signed, ECB-approved Code of Ethics agreement for Food Addiction Counseling is required for graduation and certification.

INFACT Code of Ethics Statement  (Sample)

As a Certified Food Addiction Professional, I recognize that ethical standards are fundamental to my professional practice. I commit to upholding the highest standard of ethical care, free from weight bias, in all my relationships with clients, colleagues, health care professionals, and the public.

The INFACT Code of Ethics was written to govern the conduct of its students and graduates. It is the accepted Standard of Conduct for all Certified Food Addiction Professionals (CFAPs) certified by INFACT.

I agree to abide by this Code of Ethics within my scope of practice as a Certified Food Addiction Professional. I also agree that my actions will be specifically focused on helping clients deal with issues relating to their recovery from Food Addiction.

Name (printed)_____________________________________________________  Signature______________________________________________ Date:_______________________

40 hours of continuing education must be earned every two years to remain eligible for bi-annual ECB recertification.