In the United States, there is no official, nationwide accreditation for becoming an herbalist. This makes the process of becoming an herbalist both easier and more difficult– while it is an easier field to enter because there are a wide variety of routes to follow, it becomes harder because universities and trade schools do not offer licensing that is considered acceptable throughout the country.
How to Become a Lay Herbalist
The easiest way to become an herbalist is to self-educate, or to learn through apprenticeship. Most lay herbalists, also known as folk herbalists, enter the career this way. . It should be carefully noted that a lay herbalist is not the same thing as an uneducated con-artist or a “quack”– it is simply a term used to describe the many herbalists who pursue their career through methods outside the mainstream educational system.
While no certificate or degree will come through self-study or direct apprenticeship, this method of becoming an herbalist is one of the most common, and is respected by some organizations and most individuals. If you are able to adequately demonstrate your knowledge, apprenticeship and self-study can land you a satisfying herbalist career as a writer, columnist, private consultant, or sales associate at any store or pharmacy that sells supplements.
Becoming an Herbalist Through an Herb School
Apprenticeships, private herb schools, universities, and training programs all offer certification, but they are not necessarily considered to be accredited. While it may help you in proving your skills, herb schools still can not legally offer full licensing, and some are not considered to be at all valid, owing to lack of competition or accreditation on part of the herb school itself. Still, a certificate from an herb school can help you in proving your worth to the business of herbalism.
Though they are prohibited from offering licensing or government-recognized accreditation, the American Herbalist Guild is the only peer-reviewed group that offers helpful peer-support and guidance to herbalists. Members of the American Herbalist Guild are required to have a set amount of clinical experience, training, and testing from any number of organizations. While “I went to Jimmy’s Herb School” may not say much to your future employers, “I graduated from Jimmy’s Herb School and I am a member of the American Herbalist Guild” will.
How to become an Herbalist Physician
The only way to gain full accreditation as an herbalist– complete with, perhaps, your own practice, malpractice insurance, and a highly comprehensive education– is to become a medical doctor. Naturopathic physicians are subjected to all the rigors associated with the licensing of medical professionals: they must have a doctorate degree, clinical experience, and extensive testing. The only difference between a naturopathic physician and an ordinary medical doctor is an emphasis in alternative medicine.
The downside to this route is that it is a very expensive service, both because of the amount of education required and for the amount of insurance necessary. While being a lay herbalist or member of the American Herbalist Guild places you in the position of being a consultant, being a naturopathic physician will license you as a true medical professional: with all the ups and downs that the industry entails.
Becoming an herbalist is a challenging, exciting career step, made all the more interesting by the amount of self-driven entrepreneurship required to successfully pursue the career. Regardless of the route you select in becoming an herbalist, always keep the safety and wellbeing of your clients ahead of your desire for profit. As a natural healer, your job is to help people– not scam or manipulate the public.
