The sale of herbal remedies and natural products has become a booming industry in the United States in recent years, ranging from dietary supplements to hair and skin care products.
An herbalist is a researcher or practitioner who studies herbs and uses them to create treatments for health and healing, often called botanical medicine.
Herbalists can work in a people-facing capacity as practitioners, providing consultation and recommending botanical medicine for those who seek them out.
Alternatively, they can work as researchers and product specialists for the herbal products industry, which runs parallel to pharmaceuticals but is largely unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
How to Become an Herbalist: Step by Step
Read on to learn more about the world of herbalists and how you might enter this profession.
Step 1: Discover What an Herbalist Can Do and How to Become One
Herbalists can follow two different career routes. They can either work in research and development to develop supplements or in healthcare settings as a practitioner.
Below, we explain the difference between the two herbalist careers along with other career options.
Research and Development
An herbalist working in research and development of herbal products in the manufacturing world can establish a lucrative career.
The American herbal supplements market is a thriving business growing at the rate of more than 10% annually that's expected to reach $4.1 million by 2027.
Herbalists may work as scientific researchers who design and run animal and human clinical trials to investigate the safety and effectiveness of single- or multi-component herbal therapies for either ingestible or topical products.
Herbal products to be taken by mouth are regulated in the United States as dietary supplements, as are vitamins and minerals.
As such, they face different regulations than do pharmaceuticals, whether prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.
While dietary supplements do not require FDA approval before marketing, manufacturers must provide evidence to the FDA that the product's ingredients are safe for consumption.
They must also meet the standards to comply with the FDA's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for dietary supplements involving ingredient and product testing and monitoring.
Healthcare
As practitioners, herbalists generally are classified in complementary or alternative medicine, which means they provide health and wellness support outside the traditional Western medical system.
Other areas within the complementary medicine category include practitioners of chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathy, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Herbalism is currently unregulated in the United States, meaning that there is no certifying agency or licensing board for herbalists at the federal or state level.
Currently, anyone can practice herbal medicine without a license or certification and can legally call themselves a clinical herbalist.
However, in the past few decades, complementary and alternative medicine has become more integrated into mainstream health and wellness care.
Many insurance companies include complementary medicine in health insurance benefits, and an increasing number of Americans visit these practitioners and use the products and services they prescribe.
Professional organizations such as the American Herbalists Guild (AHG) have established some codes of ethics and standards of practice that members adhere to: see the AHG's Legal and Regulatory FAQs.
Non-licensed credentials include the AHG's Registered Herbalist and the Diplomat in Chinese Herbology from the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
Other Career Niches for Herbalists
Herbalists may desire to broaden their scope to become certified as health and wellness coaches by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching.
They may also receive the training and licensure to become nutritionists, dieticians, or naturopathic doctors (NDs).
Step 2: Study to Become an Herbalist
Degrees in herbal medicine and related fields are still emerging at accredited U.S. universities, both traditionally nonprofit and for-profit.
The following is a list of some of the current herbal medicine schools that offer different types of related degrees or certificates.
1. The American College of Healthcare Sciences' Department of Herbal Medicine
This for-profit school (accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission) offers multiple programs in herbal studies.
These may include:
- certificate in herbal studies
- certificate in natural products manufacturing
- diploma in herbal studies (Master Herbalist)
- Associate of Applied Science in integrative health sciences with herbal medicine specialization
- Bachelor of Science in integrative health sciences with herbal medicine specialization
- Master of Science in integrative health sciences
- Master of Science in herbal medicine
- graduate certificate in herbal medicine
2. Bastyr University
This private alternative medicine university offers a Bachelor of Science in herbal sciences as well as programs in many related fields.
3. Cornell University
Cornell University, known for its medical school, also offers a Medicinal Plants certificate through an online program.
This program is comprised of six courses:
- plant-based medicine
- plants for muscles, bones, and the reproductive system
- plants for mental health and pain relief
- plants for promoting digestive and skin health
- plants to improve cardiovascular and respiratory health
- boosting immunity with medicinal plants
4. Everglades University
Though not specifically in herbalism, Everglades University boasts a Bachelor of Science degree in alternative medicine.
Courses include information on:
- dietary influences on health and disease
- nutrition and aging
- alternative approaches to disease
- detoxification and healing
- introduction to naturopathy, homeopathy, and Chinese medicine
5. Hill College
This accredited public community college in Texas provides an Associate of Science in holistic wellness that is an approved Health and Wellness Coach Training and Education Program by the ICHWC.
6. Maryland University of Integrative Health
This regionally accredited private graduate school of integrative and alternative medicine offers a Master of Science in clinical herbal medicine
7. Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism
Although not an educational institution itself, this nonprofit organization provides apprenticeship opportunities in both an Herbal Roots Apprenticeship and a Family and Clinical Herbalist Training program.
According to Goddard College, which partners with and hosts the VCIH on its campus, the prestigious accredited college will accept up to 46 transfer credit hours from courses taken at VCIH.
These credits will apply to Goddard's Bachelor of Arts or Master of Arts degrees in health arts and sciences.
Step 3: Become an Herbalist
After you've finished your education, you can enter the field in a number of ways, depending upon which professional route you choose.
According to Salary.com, as of May 2023, the average U.S. salary for herbalists is $59,789 with a range between $49,384 and $73,794.
However, the median salary for those with a bachelor's degree is much higher: $67,800 to $75,462.
Learn More about Becoming an Herbalist
Since this relatively new field of study is constantly growing and changing, be sure to reach out to our team at Best Accredited Colleges for help finding accurate and current information on educational programs to prepare you for a career as an herbalist.
