The Science & Art of Herbalism

The length of time it takes to complete the course varies from student to student. It usually takes students between 5 and 15 hours per lesson, but because it is self-study it is really up to you how much time you give to each lesson.

We have found that dedicated students typically complete the course in about a year – although some finish it more quickly. However, it is common that life events come up, or it is easy to get a little sidetracked, so Rosemary offers a three-year timeframe to complete the course.

This allows a little flexibility if things come up, but having a deadline can be good motivation to get the course finished. If a student does need more time or would like to continue to have access to the online campus, there is a small fee to extend the course.

We understand...sometimes life gets busier than we expected! If you aren't able to complete the coursework within three years, we are happy to offer a one-year extension for a small fee.

Dear Friend,
We have a number of people who ask us if it's possible to get a job as an herbalist after they finish my home study course. Well, there are so many levels of answers to that question…

First and foremost, this course is designed for beginner/intermediate students and for people interested in using herbs for personal health care for their families and friends.  If you are planning to become an herbalist and an herbal practitioner, this course provides the foundation and the basic knowledge needed, but it won’t prepare you to go into professional herbal practice.

However, many of our students apply themselves fully to their studies, do exceptional work, and bring a deep and abiding love of plants to their studies.  These students often create or find jobs working with plants in a number of capacities; working as adjunct counselors, working in herb shops, making products, farming with medicinal plants, and even going into practice if they’ve had previous experience.  Also, many of our students have studied herbalism previously and after they graduate from this course, they go on to study further if they wish to become professional herbalists.  These students have great likelihood of finding jobs because of their previous in-depth knowledge and experience.

So, yes, there are jobs and opportunities out their for herbalists, many of them self created.  But no one course, especially a home study course, will prepare you for professional practice.  As in any other profession, especially those involving health care, it requires years of study and a heartful life long dedication.  With herbalism as with many other health care professionals, an apprenticeship is helpful and/or the opportunity to work in an herbal health clinic under guidance to gain experience.

I hope this is helpful, I realize it’s a simple question; will I be prepared to work as an herbalist? But the answer is not so simple. As a reminder, even students who study and graduate from four-year universities are often not prepared for ‘professional practice’, nor are they guaranteed jobs. It’s a matter of how they apply themselves, the type of work they wish to go into, etc. With herbalism, there are so many different ways we can ‘practice’ our healing art: as gardeners, growers, herbal product makers, home health care (taking care of our personal needs and those of family and friends), cosmetics, plant spirit practitioners, adjunct practitioners, herbal educators, etc. etc.  Some of these fields require more skills and experience than others do.

Wishing you all the very best as you pursue your love of plants and your quest for knowledge.

Green Blessings,
Rosemary Gladstar

The online and printed versions present the same core information. The printed version has the benefit of having the printed binder while the online version includes interactive student forums, Rosemary’s personal plant notes, mini lessons from guest herbalists, and other supplemental materials.

Access to the student forum and all of our videos is only available to our online students. We are happy, however, to offer the Foundations of Herbalism video series for individual purchase here.

This is a 'hands on' course and is filled with projects and activities that require making salves, tinctures, and other recipes. None of the herbs or materials needed to make these products are included in the course.

We do supply students with a list of sources where you can purchase the herbs and ingredients needed.   We give suggestions for supplemental reference books that our students should consider purchasing, however, so long as they are good herbals, you can use whichever books already have.

How much with it cost to purchase the herbs, ingredients and reference books needed to complete the course?

Well, it truly depends on how much of each item you purchase, how many herb books you decide to buy, etc. The minimal amount for the 10 lessons would be around $100 extra for the necessary herbs and materials to complete the projects in each lesson (making tinctures, salves, creams,  oils, syrups). If someone is thrifty and knows how to save, and/or grows their own herbs, uses recycled containers, etc., the cost could be less. But if someone was extravagant, the price would be much higher!

The Science and Art of Herbalism is a wonderful and well-respected course.  Students who satisfactorily complete all ten homework assignments receive a lovely certificate for completing the coursework.  However, there is no way that a home study course, no matter how well written, could possibly provide the years of hands-on experience and study required to achieve the title of Master Herbalist. The Science & Art of Herbalism course will provide a very strong foundation on the road to herbal knowledge, but only you will know when you are ready to start working with patients outside of yourself and family.

To get the kind of hands-on practice one needs to open a practice, you really should attend an onsite school, learning directly from teachers and getting clinical practice by working one on one with others in a supervised way. At least, that's what Rosemary suggests. There are schools that do this, some that offer full time programs and others that offer shorter programs for those, like yourself, that already have some training.

You might just wish to take a short-term program that augments what you already know and gives you that invaluable one on one hands on clinical practice.  Schools and programs that you might wish to look into include:  David Winston's Clinical Training program (this course can be taken long distance, but David is actually teaching it in a classroom with students and some long distance learning students are included- although this is the last year he will be the main teacher), Maryland University of Integrative Health (offers full time accredited herbal training programs), The Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, The California School of Herbal Studies, and there are other programs as well.

For more information on becoming a registered herbalist, and other school listings, you may want to look around the American Herbalist Guild or the New England Herbal Association website.