Herbalists

High School

To prepare for a career as an herbalist, take classes in agriculture, botany, ecology, and horticulture so you can learn about plants and how they are grown. Biology, chemistry, and physics will help prepare you to study the properties of herbs and their therapeutic uses. If you want to become a health care practitioner, you will take a lot of medical courses in college, so premed classes will be especially helpful. Nearly all health care professions involve interacting with people. Classes in psychology, English, debate, and drama can help you develop good communication skills. If you become an herbalist, business, marketing, and computer skills will be important because you are likely to have your own business.

Postsecondary Training

If Chinese herbology will be your path toward a career as an herbalist, you will study six to eight years after high school. Oriental medicine schools offer specialties in Chinese herbology. Most are master's-level programs. For admission, you need two years of undergraduate study or a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as science, nursing, or premed. Most programs provide a thorough education in Chinese herbology, other aspects of traditional Oriental medicine, and Western sciences.

Choosing a school can be complex. State requirements to practice Oriental medicine and Chinese herbology vary, so be sure the school you choose will prepare you to practice in your state. If you choose the Western approach to herbalism, you will study naturopathic medicine. Becoming a naturopathic physician requires eight years of study after high school. First, you complete a premed undergraduate program including courses in herbal sciences, chemistry, other basic medical sciences, nutrition, and psychology.

The naturopathic doctoral degree is a four-year program. It includes courses in botanical medicine and other basic medical sciences, as well as courses in nutrition, homeopathy, and minor surgery. In addition to course instruction, there is extensive clinical training. When you finish, you will have a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree (N.D. or sometimes N.M.D.).

Contact naturopathic colleges as early as possible to ensure that you complete the prerequisite courses. The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) accredits naturopathic education programs. These schools offer the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree. Schools without accreditation offer correspondence courses and may offer certificates. Only a degree from an accredited school will prepare you to become a licensed naturopath. Currently, the following U.S. and Canadian schools are accredited by the AANMC:

• Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington, and San Diego, California
• Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine-Boucher Campus (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
• Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine-Toronto Campus (Ontario, Canada)
• National University of Natural Medicine (Portland, Oregon)
• National University of Health Sciences (Chicago, Illinois)
• Sonoran University of Health Sciences (Phoenix, Arizona)

The Maryland University of Integrative Health offers a master of science in clinical herbal medicine program. Visit https://muih.edu/academics/herbal-medicine/master-of-science-in-clinical-herbal-medicine for more information.

Certification

Individually run herbal schools generally accept those who have a genuine interest in the field. Some offer certificates of completion, but there is no established career path to follow.

Other Education or Training

The American Herbalists Guild offers webinars such as The Worst Weeds Are Your Best Medicine, Natural Support for Brain Health, and Networking for Herbalists. The American Botanical Council, the American Herbal Products Association, and the Herb Society of America also provide continuing education classes and webinars.