FAQ for Distance Programs: North American Institute of Medical Herbalism

For distance learning information, please first look at the information on this site, and you may also examine
our catalog, and our FAQ on our Western Herbalism Certificate.
If you would like to talk to someone on the phone, please read to the bottom of this page first. Then, please leave a clear phone number and email on the message so we can contact you back promptly.

What are the differences between your on-site programs and your Distance Learning programs?

Our sequence of on-site programs provides hands-on training in medical herbalism and clinical nutrition. It includes intensive study of physiology, pathology, and nutrition. This culminates with the student working in our public clinic, and leads to an educational certification in Clinical Herbalism or Clinical Nutrition.

Our Distance Learning courses are stand-alone classes that do not lead to specific certification. Some touch on physiology, pathology, and nutrition, but do not delve into them in detail. Each of these does earn a Continuing Education certificate reflecting the number of credit hours for the course. See our Distance Learning page for a list of courses and their description

We do have a Certificate in Western Herbalism under development, and five of the courses in it are already available. See the Western Herbalism Certificate FAQ for an update on the status of this program. it will not be identical to the on-site program, as clinical skills cannot be taught by distance learning.

Frequently asked question #1: The distance learning courses or certificate program do not duplicate our classroom and clinical training, and do not replace the Fundamentals of Medical Herbalism classroom program, which includes material on physiology, pathology, and nutrition not included in this certificate.

Frequently asked question #2: The courses in this program do not take the place of any courses in our classroom or clinical sequence. If students who have completed this certificate later enroll in our classroom program, we can't give advanced placement, but we will offer discounted tuition for the classroom courses previously taken.

"Certification" can mean different things in different contexts. Some certificates are granted by governments, some by private organizations, and some by education institutions (especially occupational schools). For herbalists, no state recognizes herbalists or issues them certificates. One herbal organization, the American Herbalists Guild, issues certificates for professional herbalists, but these certificates are likewise not recognized by any governmental body. The AHG certificate requires at least 2 years of hands-on clinical practice, which is beyond the scope of the Certificates we offer. What you receive from us is an educational certificate. This may be useful for demonstrating your level of training to an employer or to the general public. It will state that you have completed a 304 hour program in Western Herbalism, and that the school and the work is approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational Schools Board.

What employment opportunities can I expect in the field of medical herbalism or clinical nutrition?

We cannot guarantee any kind of job placement after graduation. The field of medical herbalism, and even more so clinical nutrition, are expanding in our society at this time. Most professional herbalists in North America today divide their time in various ways between seeing clients in an office or retail setting, teaching classes and/or writing, and making medicines, formulating, or working for an herbal company. We offer dual certification is Medical Herbalism and Clinical Nutrition, because we've seen that the nutrition certification can open many more employment opportunities, even if the practitioner uses herbs in the nutrition practice. The following is a description of career opportunities in herbalism from the web site of the American Herbalist Guild (http://www.americanherbalistsguild.com)

"Careers in herbalism include working within the herb industry as an herb buyer, formulator, researcher, consultant, retailer, grower, medicine maker, writer/journalist, or educator. Some herbalists have found positions working in practices with physicians or other practitioners. While there are some opportunities for working in an integrative setting, the practice of herbal "medicine" is not legally recognized in most states. In the current climate even licensed health professionals are at risk if they practice or supervise a practitioner of herbal medicine. Based on a review of salaries published by the AHG, herbalists' incomes range from $20k-$120k. Most practicing herbalists supplement their incomes with a variety of professional activities including teaching, writing, and consulting."

It is our experience that students with a strong sense of calling and mission to become healers succeed in developing their careers as herbalists and nutritionists.

We are not accredited as an academic school, but are approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational Schools Board. This means that our curriculum has been reviewed by professionals in the field, that we maintain financial stability and responsibility, that we are practicing legally, and that our student have the legal protection of the state laws governing occupational schools.

You can reach us most easily by email, at:

We prefer to reply to inquiries by email. You may also
reach us by phone at 720-279-4824. Please clearly state your return phone number and your email in your message.