Foundations in Western Herbalism
200 Hour Certification Course
Herbalist Certification Course
Next Session Begins
September 6, 2023
ENROLLMENT IS OPEN!
A note from our director and lead instructor…
We believe in the power of knowledge, community, and connection to the earth. It’s clear that now, more than ever, the world needs skilled herbalists! We have witnessed overwhelming interest in herbalism from the medical community, parents, caregivers, and young people alike, all seeking the skills and knowledge to support health and prevent disease using a natural approach. We also recognize the importance of making herbal training accessible. We are delighted to continue offering our Herbalist Certification course in a 100% online, instructor-led format. The coursework is completed virtually while still receiving instructor guidance, a solid foundation in medical herbalism, and support from a vibrant learning community.
We cannot wait for you to join us!
Kris Vaughan, CH Rachel Alm, M.Ed., MMH, FNTP
HWI Program Director HWI Lead Instructor
Career Opportunities as a Certified Herbalist
Clinical practitioner
Retail store owner
herbal product manufacturer
Herbal pharmacist for a physician
Author
Researcher
Herbal Instructor
Sales representative for herbal product manufacturer
Herbalist certification allows you the knowledge, skill, and credibility to make herbalism a career.
The format for this course is 100% online, instructor-led, accessible for working adults, students, parents, and professionals. No prerequisites. Combination of synchronous learning (live meetings): weekly and monthly virtual classroom, and asynchronous learning (self-paced): assigned readings, quizzes, hands-on medicine making, creation of personal materia medica, fieldwork, and a final project.
Content: This herbalist certification course is designed to give you a strong foundation in the historical and contemporary use of Western herbs, laws and regulations governing herbal medicine, business development for the herbalist, and effective preparation and formulation of herbal medicine to be used in clinical practice. The course reflects our holistic approach to health and healing that incorporates food, lifestyle and spirit. The program includes in-depth study of body systems from a functional perspective, with strong emphases in nutrition and bioregional plants of the American Southwest.
Foundations in Western Herbalism approved for 24 CEU credits by the Nutritional Therapy Association
We are proud to announce that we are an approved CEU provider from the Nutritional Therapy Association (NTA). NTA members who complete Foundations in Western Herbalism will meet all 24 CEU requirements from the NTA.
Course Topics
Introduction to herbalism
Basic botany & plant identification
Regional desert ecosystems and bioregions
Phytochemistry
Herbal flavors & energetics
Medicinal application by Body System
Plant Spirit Medicine
Food as medicine
Harvesting & Preparations
Medicine Making
Herbal formulary
Clinical assessment skills
Special populations
Field Study
FDA considerations
Course Instructors
Kris Vaughan - Clinical Herbalist, Herbal Wisdom Institute Founder and Program Director
Rachel Alm - Master Medical Herbalist, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
Darcey Blue - Shamanic Herbalist, Wilderness First Responder
Stephanie Nishek, ND, CLEC - Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, Certified Lactation Educator/Counselor
Learn more about your instructors HERE
200-hour instructor-led course includes:
15 hours: Wednesday evening virtual classroom special topic lecture - Once a month
36 hours: Digital and recorded content - approx. 6 hours per month
30 hours: Materia medica assignment - One per month
18 hours: Assigned reading - approx. 3 hours per month
20 hours: Module quizzes - 3-4 per month
12 hours: Forum discussions - One per month
18 hours: Fieldwork - three per month
51 hours: Two Final Projects
* Students should plan to spend 10-15 hours per week completing course material.
Schedule
Fall 2023 begins September 6, 2023 and ends April 2024 (Date to be determined).
Each course schedule will contain the following:
28 weeks (including 4 weeks of break at Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring)
Complete online portal for all of your content and assignment submissions
Live virtual classroom (Zoom)
One evening a month with special topic/guest speaker, 5:30-7:00pm MST (Arizona)
*All live sessions will be recorded and students will have access to material for 4 months following the end of the live course, allowing for self-paced completion as needed.
Students must complete all assignments, projects, and quizzes within the specified time frame to receive certification.
Learning assignments and assessments:
Materia Medica (6 total)
Select an herb to research and create a written/graphic summary of the plant’s actions, uses, energetics, contraindications, preparation methods, growing considerations, folk lore or fun fact. Pictures and citations required.
Assigned reading
Prepare for upcoming virtual classroom discussion topic with selected readings from course textbooks
Module quizzes
6-8 questions at the end of each module (20 total)
Forum discussion assignments
Develop connection with your classmates and discuss proposed herbal theories to deepen your understanding.
Fieldwork in your local area
Observation of plants is vital to nurturing your connection to the medicine our earth provides.
Spend at least up to three hours per month outdoors, keeping a log of your observations. You may visit the same place each month and notice seasonal changes or choose a variety of locations and ecosystems. Visits to botanical gardens, organic farms, arboreta, protected lands, etc. are highly encouraged!
Final projects
Pathology report. Pick a health issue of interest and write a comprehensive report that includes the mainstream medical standard of care + alternative herbal approaches, including selected herb(s), delivery method, therapeutic dosing, cautions, and recommendations for follow-up.
Community education or outreach project. Choose a cause or a subject of interest in the field of medical herbalism, community health, sustainability, plant spirituality, etc. Create an educational resource and present it to your target audience. This could be a presentation, pamphlet, article, lecture, demonstration, community services, etc.
Student resources and support:
· Lectures and feedback from a team of practicing herbalists
· Support emails and phone calls with your instructors
· Online classroom with digital materials, discussion forum, recorded lectures, auto-graded quizzes
· Listing in Herbal Wisdom Institute practitioner directory
· Eligible for student membership with the American Herbalist Guild
Tuition
Course Total: $1,940.00 (Fall 2023 course)
Course total includes registration fee of $50.00 and tuition fee of $1,890.00.
Pay in full at time of enrollment and receive 10% off the tuition, for a course total of $1,751.00. Students choosing a payment plan will pay the full course price. (Course must be prepaid and is non-refundable.)
Textbooks are not included but are required to be purchased by each student. Below is a list of required textbooks that you can find available online to purchase. If you have difficulty finding a particular book, reach out to us for assistance:
Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina and Stress Relief; David Winston and Stephen Maimes
Botany in a Day; Thomas J. Elpel
Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth; Sharol Tilgner ND
Herbal Medicine Makers Handbook; James Green
Medical Herbalism; David Hoffman
A field guide for your local region
Course payment may be made in cash, cashier’s check, or credit card. Sorry, no personal checks accepted.
Creating Herbal Community
Building community with your fellow learners is important. You will have the opportunity to join a Facebook group of current and past students of the Foundations in Western Herbalism course. In this group you will have the chance to connect, receive support, and build knowledge during times between class sessions.
Payment Plans
Payment plans for the 2023 session are available. Choose the deposit option at enrollment and you will then be contacted to complete your payment authorization. Enrollment is not complete until the payment authorization is received.
Deposit at enrollment = $500.00
3 additional payments of $480.00
Payment plans must begin by May 2023. Enrollments after that time must pay in full.
Payments will be set up on an automatic billing agreement using a credit/debit card. Please ask about this option at time of inquiry. All potential students must have a phone interview with our Program Director prior to enrollment.
Cancellation Policy
Each module within the course session is recorded and available for self-paced learning. Each student has access to course materials for up to four months past the end of the course in order to complete their certification. For this reason, there are no refunds on course enrollment.
“The Herbal Wisdom Institute is a natural setting for Kris Vaughan to share her superior herbal knowledge. Kris is a dynamic speaker who conveys the information with such enthusiasm and passion that her students are always left craving for more. Her formal herbal training, extensive clinical experience, and management level background in sales and marketing in herbal supplement manufacturing and distribution qualify her as an authority on botanical medicine. Plant-based medicine continues to be one of the most widely used therapies worldwide for promoting health, wellness, and longevity. It is essential for budding herbalists to receive formal instruction of traditional use accompanied by an understanding of current scientific mechanisms to assure this natural healing modality remains in the forefront of time-honored medicine. Every promising herbalist bar none will benefit from Kris’ instruction and from the opportunities this knowledge affords, whether seeking this information for self-treatment, caring for loved ones or going on to pursue professional practice.”