If you are reading this article, it is probably because you have a love of herbalism. You may be curious about herbalism as a career path and wonder what kind of training or credentials are required to become an herbalist. The good (and perhaps confusing) news is that there is no single path to becoming an herbalist and that technically, at least in the United States, you cannot become a certified herbalist through any type of standardized accreditation. However, this information is not to discourage you from pursuing an education or career in herbalism!

There are myriad ways in which to engage in the study and application of herbalism, both professionally and as a hobby. However, in the United States, herbalism is not a federally regulated licensed profession, as is the case for becoming a doctor, a nurse, or a chiropractor. Therefore, there is no single clear-cut herbalism career path, and strictly speaking, you cannot become a certified herbalist—nor do you need to! If a program claims to train you to become a “certified herbalist,” this is misleading information, as this designation does not exist legally. However, there are many options for attaining a quality education in herbalism, and many programs that offer a certificate of completion, or even a formal degree, so that you can demonstrate competency and feel confident in your chosen work as an herbalist. 

Before deciding where you wish to study herbalism, it may be helpful to consider your dreams and goals for practicing herbalism. There are many options for studying herbalism as well as for working professionally as an herbalist, such as becoming a clinical or community herbalist, creating herbal products, teaching, and writing about herbalism.

Read the full article on the Herbal Academy blog: Can I Become a Certified Herbalist?