Top 7 GLP-1 and Medical Weight Loss Certification Programs in 2026

For physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurses. Updated October 2, 2026 · Prepared by Prospyr. Prospyr makes practice software, not clinical training, and none of the programs below is a Prospyr product. Each summary reflects what the provider publishes on its own website, checked October 2, 2026. Prices, credit approvals and eligibility rules change, so confirm them with the provider before you enroll.

What is a medical weight loss certification?

A medical weight loss certification is a training program, sometimes with an exam, that documents a clinician's education in treating obesity, including GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide. It is not a license to prescribe. Prescribing authority comes from your license and your state, and nurses work under a prescriber's orders. Programs range from a two-hour business overview to physician board certification. The useful questions are who issues the credential, how many CME or CE credits it carries, whether it covers safe dosing and patient selection or mainly business setup, and what it costs.

The 7 GLP-1 and medical weight loss certification programs at a glance

How we chose this list

We looked for programs that train clinicians in medical weight management and GLP-1 medications and that publish enough on their own websites to compare. We checked:

• Who issues the credential. A medical society or board, an independent training company, or a trade association.
• Credit attached. Whether CME or CE is named and how much.
• Clinical depth versus business setup. Some programs focus on obesity medicine; others on adding a service line.
• Published price and eligibility. Who can enroll and what it costs.

The order is our editorial view, not a measure of results. We put the medical society and board first because their credentials are the most widely recognized in obesity medicine; a med spa owner may get more day-to-day value from a business-focused course paired with clinical CME.

1. Obesity Medicine Association (OMA)

The Obesity Medicine Association describes itself as the clinical home for obesity medicine, with 6,000+ clinician members. It publishes the Obesity Algorithm and offers online and in-person education.

What stands out:

• Fundamentals of Obesity Treatment. On demand (up to 5.0 CME/CE) or a hybrid version with live virtual case studies (up to 9.75). The on-demand version is listed at $105 for members and $125 for non-members. It names physicians, NPs, PAs and other healthcare professionals as the audience.
• Micro-credentials. After Fundamentals, each micro-credential is 6 CME and earns a badge and certificate. The medication management track covers anti-obesity medication decisions, GLP-1 challenges and tirzepatide trial data. They cost $75 for members and $100 for non-members.
• Certificate of Advanced Education. Requires 60 OMA CE credits within 36 months, including its ABOM review course. It is meant for clinicians not eligible for the ABOM exam; OMA states US physicians are not eligible for this certificate.
• ABOM exam prep. OMA sells review materials for the physician board exam.

Right for: NPs and PAs who want a recognized obesity medicine credential, and physicians building toward board certification. Ask: which micro-credentials count toward the Certificate of Advanced Education, and the current fee for applying.

2. American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM)

The American Board of Obesity Medicine certifies physicians in obesity medicine. Applicants need an active, unrestricted US or Canadian medical license, a completed US or Canadian residency, and active ABMS or osteopathic board certification, then qualify through a CME pathway or an obesity medicine fellowship. The exam is given once a year at Pearson VUE centers. ABOM lists the 2027 test window as October 12 to 26, 2027, with a $1,500 fee by the July 10 early deadline and $1,750 by the August 7 final deadline.

Right for: physicians and medical directors who want the board credential in obesity medicine. Ask: how many CME hours the CME pathway requires and which activities qualify. NPs, PAs and nurses are not eligible; see OMA above.

3. IAPAM Certified Medical Weight Management Provider (CWMP)

IAPAM, the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine, offers the CWMP as an online, self-paced annual certification covering semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, other weight loss drugs, peptides, MIC and B12 injections, IV nutrition, ketogenic and intermittent fasting programs, and the business of weight loss.

What stands out:

• Published prices. Solo Provider from $995; Clinic Edition from $2,995, covering up to five providers.
• Credit and renewal. Up to 6 AMA PRA Category 1 credits a year, with annual recertification.
• Business module. Covers practice integration, staffing roles, pricing and marketing.
• Patient program. Includes IAPAM's Clean Start Weight Loss ketogenic and fasting program with patient guidebooks.
• Terms. A 7-day money-back guarantee.

Right for: aesthetic practices that want clinical and business content in one program for a small team. Ask: which modules carry CME, and how its peptide content aligns with your medical director's protocols and current FDA guidance.

4. Empire Medical Training

Empire Medical Training runs a one-day Physician Medical Weight Loss Training that carries 5.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. It covers semaglutide, liraglutide, tirzepatide, hormonal protocols and adjunct therapies such as MIC and B12 injections. Its FAQ names MDs, DOs, dentists, NPs, RNs and other licensed professionals as the audience.

As of October 2026 the course calendar lists in-person dates in New York City, Newark and Las Vegas at a regular price of $1,999 to $2,149, plus livestream dates; livestream pricing varies, so check Empire's site.

Right for: clinicians who want one day of focused CME and may combine it with Empire's other courses, including its IV and peptide training. Ask: how much of the day covers patient selection, contraindications and dose titration, and what the certificate states.

5. World Obesity Federation SCOPE

SCOPE, the Strategic Centre for Obesity Professional Education, is run by the World Obesity Federation. It offers 60+ CME-accredited e-learning modules, most of them free, with paid learning paths priced by country income level. SCOPE Certification is open to healthcare professionals with at least six months of practical experience in obesity management and, since April 2023, requires passing the SCOPE Examination.

Right for: clinicians who want low-cost, evidence-based obesity education and an internationally recognized certificate. Ask: the current US price of the Core Learning Path, and whether its CME is accepted by your board.

6. American Med Spa Association (AmSpa)

AmSpa is a trade association for medical spas. Prospyr is an AmSpa Platinum partner. Its on-demand AmSpa Masters: Medical Weight Loss course with Taylor Siemens, NP-C, runs 1 hour and 40 minutes and covers program setup, approved medications, contraindications and patient evaluation, semaglutide versus tirzepatide dosing schedules and working with compounding pharmacies. It is listed at $275 for non-members, $245 for Basic members and $199 for Plus members. AmSpa's weight loss resource page also tracks GLP-1 legal developments and state delegation rules.

Right for: med spa owners deciding whether to add a weight loss program. Ask: whether CE is offered. Treat it as a business and compliance overview, not a certification.

7. IV Therapy Academy Semaglutide Program

IV Therapy Academy, an online training company for wellness clinics, sells a Semaglutide Program covering clinical foundations, an operational blueprint from consultation to follow-up, marketing and patient retention. It includes customizable informed consents, clinical forms, staff reference sheets and patient education materials, for $499 with what the site calls lifetime access.

Right for: clinics that already have a qualified prescriber and want ready-made forms and workflows. Ask: whether any CE is attached, and when the clinical content was last updated. Have your medical director review every form before use.

Questions to ask any medical weight loss certification

1. Who issues the credential, and who recognizes it? A board certification, a society certificate and a company's own designation carry different weight with employers, payers and boards.
2. How much CME or CE, and accredited by whom? Get the credit type and hours in writing.
3. Does it cover FDA-approved and compounded drugs accurately? The FDA states that compounded drugs are not FDA approved and are not reviewed for safety, effectiveness or quality, and it has reported adverse events that may be related to dosing errors with compounded semaglutide. See the FDA's statement on unapproved GLP-1 drugs.
4. Does it address your state's rules? Who may prescribe, who may inject and how supervision works vary by state. Your boards are the authority, not the course.
5. How often is the content updated? GLP-1 approvals and guidance change quickly. Ask for the date of the last revision.
6. What templates come with it, and who reviews them? Consents and protocols from a course still need your medical director's sign-off.
7. What is the renewal cost and refund policy? Annual certifications add a recurring fee.

Where Prospyr fits

A weight loss program runs on follow-up: regular check-ins, weight and dose records, prescriptions and often a monthly plan. Prospyr supports e-prescribing and memberships for aesthetic and wellness practices, so dose changes and recurring visits stay in one patient record. For related training, see our lists of IV therapy certification courses and hormone therapy training, or book a practice demo.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a certification to prescribe GLP-1 medications?

No. Prescribing authority comes from your license and state law, not from a course certificate. A certification documents training, which can help with credentialing, insurance and patient trust, but it does not grant or expand scope of practice.

What is the most recognized obesity medicine credential?

For physicians, ABOM board certification is the established credential in obesity medicine. For NPs and PAs, who cannot sit for the ABOM exam, the OMA Certificate of Advanced Education and SCOPE Certification are options.

Can nurses get a medical weight loss certification?

Yes. Several programs here accept RNs, including Empire's course and SCOPE, which is open to healthcare professionals with obesity management experience. Nurses still administer GLP-1 medications only under a valid order and within their state's nursing scope.

How much does GLP-1 certification cost?

Published prices we found, as of October 2026, ranged from free SCOPE modules and a $125 OMA Fundamentals course to $995 or more for IAPAM's CWMP and $1,750 for a late ABOM application. Empire's one-day course is $1,999 to $2,149 in person.

Is a business-focused weight loss course enough to start a program?

No. Courses on setup, marketing and forms are useful, but your prescriber still needs clinical training in obesity medicine, and your medical director should approve your protocols. Pair a business course with accredited clinical CME.

Want your company considered?

We review this list quarterly. Organizations that train clinicians in medical weight management can send their website and what they offer practices to info@prospyrmed.com. Inclusion is editorial and not paid.

Editorial scope

This list is based on each provider's public website and the FDA's published statement, checked October 2, 2026 with AI-assisted research. Providers did not review this article before publication. It is not medical advice, a statement about any medication's safety or effectiveness, or a substitute for checking your state's prescribing and delegation rules and each program's accreditation. Read our methodology or report a correction.