A: The title “herbalist” is not regulated by any governing body in the US. This means anyone who desires to do so can deem themselves an herbalist. To maintain standards and relay the degree of learning obtained, herbalists in America typically use the title their school gave them, often followed by the name of the herbalist studied under. Vintage Remedies School of Natural Health has chosen to use the title Family Herbalist for our introductory program and Master Herbalist (or Clinical Master Herbalist) for our mastery program. Our graduates are given a certificate upon completion reflecting their accomplishment.

Q. What will I learn in the Family Course?

A. The family course is designed for use by the family member in charge of the family’s health. In most cases, this is the mother. It also makes a great homeschool curriculum for high school aged daughters. In the latter setting, the course can last 2-4 years, depending on the emphasis placed on the program. The course is an in depth introductory course into prevention, nutrition, herbal use and aromatherapy. It covers everything a mother needs to know to care for her close family and friends. If she should choose to make a ministry or vocation of this, it is highly recommended she take the Master Herbalist course as well. For specifics on the course, please see the outline.

Q. I have some herbal experience. Can I skip the Family program and just take the Master course?

A. While the goal of the Family program is to serve as an introductory herbal course, the concepts and ideas presented in our Family Herbalist program are unique to Vintage Remedies. The material is often referenced and continued in the Master Herbalist program and it would not be possible to fully complete our course of study without taking both our Family and Master Herbalist programs.

Q. Is anything else required of the Master Herbalist student?

A. To complete the program, attendance is required at an in-person clinical skills workshop. These are scheduled according to student need and locations. If attending one is not feasible, a distance option is available, which includes previously recorded workshops and an in depth phone discussion. This is required of all students for completion, and carries an additional fee of $225.

Q. If I want to apply for professional membership with the American Herbalist Guild, will this meet the requirements?

A. We suggest all students that wish to join the AHG first visit their website and download their requirements for professional membership. Their membership requires 2 years of rigorous education in addition to 2 years of experience in the field and a minimum caseload. Our program meets their educational requirements, but no honest program can promise clients to meet the minimum guidelines or acceptance into the Guild. We do provide the educational experience required and offer the supervised training they require, which will give our graduates all of the tools they need to prepare for the application process.

Q. Is there a discount offered if I sign up with a friend? OR Can I use the materials for a homeschool co-op?

A: Each student needs her own copy of the materials and set of supplies. The course is copyrighted and rights are not given to print duplicate lessons for more than one student. We do offer group discounts for friends studying together and homeschool co-op settings. The course is not intended to be used in a for profit teaching environment, rather as a study group. The discount is as follows: When two or more students register together, $40 is deducted from each student’s total fee. When a group of 5 or more students register together, $80 is deducted from each student’s fee. The discount applies to both paid in full registrations and to payment plans. (Note: The group discount does not apply to the Natural Wellness course.)

Q. How does this program work?

A: Upon enrollment, you are either sent the full course (with complete payment) or the first section of work (with the installment plan). Each unit contains the lesson, required reading, a related project, and an open book test. A unit can be completed in 10-25 hours, including projects and tests.

Q. How long will this take me?

A: Each unit will take about 2 weeks. This leads to a 12 month completion time for the Family Herbalist course, and 3 years for the Master Herbalist course. There is no time limit set for beginning or completing the course.  Should a student choose to take 6 months or even a year off, he or she may find a need to review the previous units before moving forward.