Holistic Physicians

Certification or Licensing

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories license physicians. To obtain a license, you must graduate from an accredited medical school. You must also pass a licensing exam and complete one to seven years of graduate medical education.

The American Board of Integrative Medicine has developed a core curriculum on which it bases its board certification examination for physicians who specialize in integrative medicine. Becoming board certified indicates that an individual has met the voluntary education and testing requirements of the organization. See the board's Web site (https://www.abpsus.org/specializations/integrative-medicine) for more information.

The American Herbalists Guild (AHG) offers peer review for professional herbalists who specialize in the medicinal use of plants. Members voluntarily submit to a peer-review process that is designed to promote and maintain excellence in herbalism. They also adhere to a code of ethics developed by the AHG. Those who complete the process are known as registered herbalists.

For Chinese herbalists, the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) provides certification and promotes nationally recognized standards for Chinese herbology and Oriental medicine. In order to qualify to take the NCCAOM exam, you must meet educational and/or practice requirements.