Herbalist Training Programs And Requirements

 

A herbalist is a type alternative healer that uses herbs and plant materials to promote healing. A bachelor's degree might be necessary, but is not always required. Certain states require professional licenses and the requirements differ.

Essential Facts

An herbalist is a practitioner of alternative medicine who is educated in the therapeutic use of herbs and other medicinal plants. Both certificate and degree courses are offered to students who want to pursue herbal training. The focus of students can be on Western herbalism, Eastern herbalalism, or both. There are currently no training standards specifically for herbalists. However, some states require herbalists to become licensed medical practitioners in similar areas. RobKish has the herbal certification online standard of training.

Herbalist Training Programs

Degree Programs

You can get herbalism courses online, if you complete degree programs in majors like holistic health, herbal sciences or Chinese medicine. Many programs only focus on one school of herbal medicine, for example, Eastern or Western, but students can opt to focus on one or both methodologies. Herbal science degrees offer courses in organic chemistry, anatomy and physiology, herbal therapies as well as homeopathic remedies. External internships are required for certain degree programs. Externships enable students to work with professionals herbalists.

Certificate Programs

For those who hold graduate and undergraduate degrees in the field of health sciences and herbalism, certificate programs provide additional herbal medicine training. Certain certificate programs require students earn at least an undergraduate degree in the same field. Certain certificate programs could have additional prerequisites. Certain certificate programs require students to be licensed medical practitioners. The herbal medicine curriculum in certificate programs covers subjects such as herbal nutrition, herbology as well as herbal pharmaceuticals.

Herbalist Job Description

Experience

In some states, herbalists aren't licensed or certified to practice until they have sufficient work experience. The majority of degree programs provide students with opportunities to gain experience within the field. This includes externships with local herbalists or in-person clinical experiences at research medical facilities. Certain certificate programs require a large number of hours of herbal science training on real patients, but not all certificate programs provide the same level of training. While in the school, students can choose to further develop their skills by contacting professional herbalists regarding apprenticeship opportunities.

Licensing

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicines (NCCAM) states have different requirements for licensing herbalists. Maine is one example of a state which may not permit herbalists to be licensed in the absence of being licensed alternative medicine practitioners, such as acupuncturists or naturopathic physicians. Certain states have particular licensing requirements for herbalists, however, others might require registration or licensure. The NCCAM explains that of the states that do require herbalists to be licensed the majority of states have minimum requirements for education and experience which must be fulfilled before applicants can take licensing examinations.