An herbalist is someone who studies herbs and uses diverse plants to foster health and healing. A large number of licensed herbalists are practitioners of traditional Chinese medical practices, naturopathy, and Acupuncture. They are mostly self-employed and have to spend considerable time seeking new clients. You may wonder is the process of becoming a herbalist worthwhile, and the answer is that every herbalist will find great reward in helping others.

How can I become a herbalist?

Let's now look at how to become a herbalist.

Earn the Bachelor's Degree

Prerequisites for professional and graduate schools typically include a bachelor's degree program. For a herbology degree, aspiring herbalists might consider majoring in botany, biology , or other related sciences.

Pursue Herbology Training

There are a variety of training programs for future herbalists. For example, some schools offer programs that are not degree-based as well as self-study herbalism courses online and even classes in herbal studies. For those strictly seeking to assist clients, great care must be taken as an herbalist cannot diagnose conditions or prescribe treatment when acting as an advisor.

Students who intend to pursue herbal medicine should be taught in a rigorous manner. Graduate schools offer doctoral and master's degree programs in traditional Chinese medicine that may include an introduction to botany and herbology, the use of herbal remedies for treating dermatological disorders, and integrated East/West medicine. Students who want to become naturopathic doctors must complete an education program lasting four years which includes classes in botanical medicine, homeopathy, and Pharmacology. Allopathic doctors who attend medical school to study traditional Western medicine, can pursue board certification in alternative medicine, such as herbalists as part of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. You might need to conduct further research on how to be certified as an herbalist, what you need to do to become a herbalist doctor, or even how you can do your research at home in the field of herbology.

You can become a licensed herbalist upon qualifying

To practice, an herbalist may require a license in a particular healthcare field. While state regulations for licensing practitioners in natural healing or traditional Chinese medicine may vary and may require a pass on a national exam or a state test. All physicians who practice allopathic or osteopathic medicine in the U.S. must pass the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination. Some states do not include Chinese herbology in the scope of the practice of traditional Chinese medicine. To prescribe herbs, practitioners have to pass a separate exam.

Earn a Herbalist Certification

The option of obtaining voluntary certification is available to herbalists that specialize in specific kinds of herbal medicine. In certain instances the earning of a an unpaid herbalist certification can provide new career opportunities. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine offers the Diplomate of Oriental Medicine and Diplomate of Chinese Herbology designations to candidates who complete formal education requirements and pass an examination. Certification through the NCCAOM is required to be licensed as a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine in certain states.

The American Herbalists Guild (AHG) provides the Registered Herbalist (RH) designation to its members. AHG professional membership is available to herbalists who've submitted three case studies and met the criteria. These include four years of clinical and educational experience.

Herbology

A graduate program in herbal medicine, naturopathic, or traditional Chinese medicine is essential for herbalists. They also must be licensed according to their state.