The Herbalism As Work Project is aimed at encouraging teens and young adults to consider careers or a life path in herbalism. For students who may be considering alternatives to a two or four year college program, taking a gap year, or adding dimension to a field they are pursuing, Herbalism As Work is here to provide a place to find information, resources, and quality programs to support their journey.

We provide two tracts to explore; herbalism and aromatherapy. While both are related and some careers overlap, there are different educational paths and nuances that make each of these exciting and worth exploring further.

Certification is typically a school-issued certificate of completion rather than a government-recognized license.

• Registered Herbalist (RH, AHG): The most respected clinical credential in the U.S. offered by the American Herbalists Guild (AHG).
  • Requirements: Approximately 800 hours of education and 400 hours of supervised clinical practice.
• Licensed Health Professionals: Some pursue herbalism through regulated medical fields like Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) or as a Naturopathic Doctor (ND), which provide a legal scope of practice for diagnosing and treating patients in specific states.

Professional herbalists typically work in one or more of the following capacities:

• Clinical Herbalist: Works directly with clients to provide holistic assessments and personalized herbal protocols.
• Herbal Educator: Teaches at herbalism schools, leads community workshops, or creates online educational content.
• Product Maker/Formulator: Designs and manufactures herbal remedies, skincare, or dietary supplements for retail or wholesale.
• Herb Farmer/Wildcrafter: Specializes in the sustainable cultivation or ethical harvesting of medicinal plants for the industry.
• Corporate & Research Roles: Includes quality assurance technicians, clinical trials coordinators, and marketing specialists for herbal product lines.

• AHG Professional Path Guidelines: Step-by-step instructions on becoming a Registered Herbalist.
• Herbal Medicine Credential Fact Sheet (ACHS): A summary of the education and clinical hours needed for professional standing.
• Legal & Regulatory FAQs (AHG): Critical information on the legal boundaries for herbalists to avoid practicing medicine without a license.
• Career Opportunities Guide (Chestnut School): A deep dive into various career options beyond the clinic.

These directories are the most comprehensive resources for finding vetted programs, clinical tracks, and local workshops.

• American Herbalists Guild (AHG) School Directory: The largest directory in the U.S., featuring AHG-vetted schools and programs searchable by state, specialty, or tradition.
• Chestnut School of Herbalism Directory: A detailed regional and online listing of schools offering various levels of herbal education, including clinical and community tracks.
• American Botanical Council (ABC) Educational Programs: Provides a curated list of international and domestic schools, including those focused on Ayurvedic and clinical herbalism.
• International Association of Natural Health Practitioners (IANHP): Features a list of approved natural health schools that offer herbalism degrees and certifications.

These institutions offer various paths, from university degrees to professional apprenticeships and online learning.

University & Academic Degree Programs

• Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH): Offers a Master of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism with a clinical focus.
• Bastyr University: Provides a Bachelor of Science in Herbal Science.
• Notre Dame of Maryland University: Features graduate-level clinical herbal medicine programs.

Professional & Clinical Training

• ArborVitae School Of Traditional Herbalism: Offers three-year professional program that incorporates a number of traditional energetic approaches, including Traditional Western Herbalism, Vitalism, Ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
• Wild Rose College of Herbal Medicine: Offers both online herbal courses and diploma programs.
• Bloom and Grow: Existing to help clinical herbalists and nutritionists focus on what truly matters: building a sustainable practice so that you can support yourself and do the work you were trained to do.
• California School of Herbal Studies (CSHS): Located in Forestville, CA, offering comprehensive onsite herbal studies and clinical training.
• Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism (VCIH): A Montpelierbased school focused on intensive three-year clinical programs.
• ACORN School of Herbal Medicine: Offers three-year clinical programs with a focus on medical herbalism and vitalist traditions.
• Northeast School of Botanical Medicine: Founded by 7Song in Ithaca, NY, focusing on clinical and community herbalism.

Online & Specialized Programs

• Well of Indigenous Wisdom School: An international online clinical herbal medicine and healing arts school invested in teaching students seeking to practice and live in indigenous ways of plant medicine practices.
• Natural Health Ministries Education Center: Online school provides an extensive array of herbal courses, catering to various needs – from community memberships and monthly herb classes to beginner sessions and professional training for students.
• Innergy Med Group: Here, healers, clients, caregivers, and students come together to share wisdom, exchange experiences, and grow in community through mentorship and hands-on apprenticeship programs.
• The Herbal Academy: A global online school with programs ranging from foundational to professional clinical levels.
• Wildflower School: Online and in-person (Austin, TX), we teach the responsible, ethical, and safe use of herbal medicine.
• Heart Of Herbs Herb School: Explore programs like our Phytotherapy Diploma and Clinical Herbalist Certification to take your passion to the next level.
• Green Wisdom School of Natural & Botanical Medicine: Inspiring learning experiences with courses ranging from short exploratory several hour workshops to professional Complementary Alternative Medicine, clinical immersion programs.
• Rosemary Gladstar’s The Science & Art of Herbalism: A foundational and highly respected online/correspondence course.
• International Integrative Educational Institute (IIEI): Offers online training in global traditions including Ayurveda and Chinese herbalism.

High-quality herbal education is accessible through various nonprofit initiatives, clinical schools offering “entryway” courses, and digital archives of classic texts. These structured programs offer a way to begin your studies without financial commitment.

• Herbalists Without Borders: Offers free webinars, guides, resources, and more. Our emphasis is community care and mutual aid. Membership is required, but financial aid is available.
• Learning Herbs/HerbMentor: Online repository of resources and herbal guest courses. The courses are free, but a community membership is required for access.
• Commonwealth Holistic Herbalism: Provides a free introductory course called “Four Keys to Holistic Herbalism” to teach foundationalintegration strategies.
• Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine: Offers “The Healing Garden Gateway,” a free class for those who access their core textbook (available at most libraries).
• School of Evolutionary Herbalism: Occasionally releases limited-time free training, such as the “Vitalist Herbalism Mini-Course”.
• Urban Moonshine: Features a 16-week free course led by herbalist Guido Masé focusing on clinical foundations.
• Herbalista Free School: Offers self-paced courses like “Herbal Foundations,” which covers medicine making and community care.

Access thousands of pages of herbal wisdom, ranging from ancient texts tomodern scientific monographs.

• World Herbal Library: A massive living archive that digitizes thousands of rare and hard-to-find herbal volumes from across cultures.
• Henriette’s Herbal Homepage: One of the oldest and most respected web resources for classic herbal texts and plant imagery.
• Southwest School of Botanical Medicine (Michael Moore): Provides a vast collection of free online texts, high-resolution plant photos, and educational videos from the late Michael Moore.
• Survivor Library: A repository of historical books on herbalism and self-sufficiency from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

These sites provide actionable materials like handouts, worksheets, and webinars.

• Herbalists Without Borders: Offers live and on-demand webinars, make-n-take guides, eGuides, academic papers, resources, and more.
• American Herbalists Guild (AHG) Resource: Features a public webinar archive and educational FAQs for aspiring professionals.
• Mountain Rose Herbs (Free Herbalism Project): Hosts a series of free community events and online videos featuring guest lectures from top herbalists.
• Pennsylvania School of Herbalism: Offers downloadable materia medica sheets, winter tree ID guides, and foraging ethics handouts.
• Green Path Herb School: Provides free downloadable e-books on topics like holiday herbal gifts and menstrual health.

In the United States, aromatherapy is a self-regulated industry. To practice as a Certified Professional Aromatherapist (CPA) or Registered Aromatherapist (RA), you generally need to complete a program with at least 200+ hours of training and pass a national board exam (the ARC exam). Certification is tiered based on the number of educational hours completed at an approved school. Level 1: Certified

• Level 1 Aromatherapist (50+ hours)
  • Focuses on basic safety, history, and simple blending for personal or family use.
• Level 2: Certified Professional Aromatherapist (200+ hours)
  • The standard for professionals. Includes anatomy, physiology, and chemistry. Completion allows you to join professional associations as a “Professional Member.”
• Level 3: Certified Clinical Aromatherapist (400+ hours)
  • Advanced training involving clinical case studies and deep-dive pathology. This is the highest level of non-degree recognition in the U.S.
• Registered Aromatherapist (RA)
  • A title earned by passing the national exam administered by the Aromatherapy Registration Council (ARC). You must first graduate from a 200+ hour program to qualify for the exam.

• Clinical Consultant: Working alongside doctors or in hospice care to manage symptoms like anxiety or nausea.
  Product Formulator: Developing lines of soaps, candles, or therapeutic skin care.
  Retail/Education: Managing specialty apothecary shops or teaching safety workshops.

These are the best starting points to find schools that meet national educational standards for professional certification.  

• National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists
  NAHA Approved Schools Directory: The most comprehensive list of schools that meet the Level 1, 2, and 3 (Clinical) education requirements. 
• International Federation of Aromatherapists
• Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA) Recognized Schools
• AIA Advanced Practitioner Programs: A vetted list of schools offering advanced and clinical curriculum that aligns with international standards. 
• AromaWeb School Listings
  School Listings 
• Aromatherapy Registration Council (ARC) List: While primarily for the exam, this council lists resources for those seeking to become a Registered Aromatherapist (RA). 

These schools are widely recognized for their clinical depth, safety standards, and reputable instructors. Comprehensive & Clinical Training 

• Aromahead Institute: One of the most popular online schools globally. They offer a highly respected Aromatherapy Certification Program and specialized courses like “Component Blending” (chemistry-focused).
• The School for Aromatic Studies: Led by Jade Shutes, this school offers a French-style medical aromatherapy approach and clinical certification tracks that balance science with holistic practice.
• Tisserand Institute: Founded by essential oil pioneer Robert Tisserand. It is best known for its rigorous Essential Oil Safety courses and evidence-based clinical curriculum.
• Bastyr University (Certificate): Offers professional aromatherapy certification as part of their continuing education for health professionals and the public. 
  Specialized & Regional Schools
• Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy: One of the oldest schools in the U.S. (founded by Sylla Sheppard-Hanger), offering clinical programs with a strong focus on research and safety. https://atlanticinstitute.com/
• JennScents Aroma-Therapy Memorial School: Offers niche certifications including Animal Aromatherapy, Skin Care, and Mental Health-focused blending.
• Floracopeia (Educational Resources): While primarily a supplier, their educational wing (often led by David Crow) provides deep-dive webinars on the spiritual and ecological aspects of aromatics. 

• Aromahead Institute: Introduction to Essential Oils: A popular, high-quality “Introduction to Essential Oils” course that covers the basics of safety, blending, and profiles of several key oils.
• Tisserand Institute: Essential Oil Safety Mini-Course: Founded by safety expert Robert Tisserand, this training focuses on the crucial “do’s and don’ts” of topical application and inhalation.
• School for Aromatic Studies: Free Aromatherapy 101: A foundational course that explores how essential oils are made and the different ways they interact with the body.

• Tisserand Institute Research Pages: The industry standard for safety research, featuring detailed articles on skin sensitization, drug interactions, and use with children/pets.
• The Aromatherapy Registration Council (ARC) Study Guide: Provides a free candidate handbook that outlines the core competencies and topics required for professional registration.
• National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) Safety Page: A comprehensive guide to essential oil safety, including pregnancy guidelines and phototoxicity warnings. 

• International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (IFPA) Research: Access to various research papers and articles regarding the clinical application of aromatics.
• AromaCulture Magazine (Archived Articles): A blog and digital magazine featuring deep dives into specific oils and DIY recipes from professional aromatherapists.
• Robert Tisserand’s Blog: A massive archive of evidence-based articles debunking aromatherapy myths and explaining oil chemistry. 
• Aromatika:
• Aromatherapy Thymes
• NAHA Aromatherapy Journal
  Aromatherapy Today Journal
  International Journal of Clinical Aromatherapy
  International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy
  InEssence Journal
  The American Herb Association Newsletter
  Vita Danzare Aromatherapy Journal

• The Northwest School of Aromatic Medicine (YouTube): Offers numerous free videos on artisanal distillation, plant spirit medicine, and incense making. 
• Stillpoint Aromatics Webinar Series: Occasional free educational webinars on the energetic and therapeutic properties of specific essential oils.  Live Online Workshops and Certifications