CAN YOU REALLY BECOME A CERTIFIED HERBALIST?

Many individuals get stuck on the idea of “certification.” After all, why study herbal medicine if you aren’t going to be recognized for your studies? Let’s dive into this very controversial topic in the field of herbalism!

First and foremost, stay away from any herbal school that states you will become a “Certified Herbalist” after taking their programs!

Herbology schools in the United States that make these claims are, we hate to say it, stretching the truth.

Why? Because the field of herbalism is not officially regulated by any specific set of standards.

With that being said, schools and organizations that claim to uphold a certain set of guidelines, are not accredited bodies either. There are many well-established herbal schools that will choose not to be listed with these organizations. And until there is a system in place to offer licensing of herbalists, the Herbal Academy will operate as an independent herbal school as well.

By declining to be part of larger herbal organizations, the Herbal Academy has been able to save thousands of dollars, and pass those savings on by offering affordable online herbal courses for students in the USA and across the world. Providing the resources and programs independently is the right decision to fulfill our mission as a school!

Because there are no set of standards in the field of herbalism, it is incumbent upon schools teaching herbalism to offer the very best programs that they can for those who wish to further their education. To bring our students quality programs, we have built a team of clinical herbalists, herbal enthusiasts, medical doctors and “regular folks” who are all actively involved in our course development. You can find our teacher bios here.

So what CAN herbal schools offer – accredited or not?

There are a number of profound herbalists who are self taught, and we praise those who take this route. However, the amount of resources available online and in libraries can be overwhelming to say the least! Studying herbalism with a school can provide a safe and guided learning environment to master your herbal skills. Herbalism schools also offer an opportunity to ask questions of educators and the chance to build community with fellow classmates.

While we do not make claims to produce certified herbalists, enrolling in our online herbal programs will offer you the chance to earn a certificate of completion, which recognizes your passing of the course under the direction of the school and board of educators. This can be a valuable certificate to use in your educational experience when job searching or starting your own herbal practice. You can learn more about how to use your herbalism certificate in your career here.

So whether you decide to actively pursue a certificate in herbalism or continue to learn on a self-study path, we encourage you to fact check all your herbal resources to be sure you receive the quality education you deserve. Don’t hesitate to contact herbal organizations with questions. Read online testimonials of courses and schools. Talk with the teachers behind online programs you are looking into. You can get in contact with our team any time with questions about our online herbal apprenticeships or for more information about the Herbal Academy. If you are in Boston, stop in for a visit at our Herbal Headquarters!

Blessings to you on your journey!