Herbal Apprenticeship FAQs
What is included in the program?
- Each year of the program includes twelve weekends of in-person, collegiate level classroom education and experiential learning with founder and director Kathleen Wildwood. You can review class schedules here.
- This includes making herbal medicines, herb walks, work-learn opportunities, assignments, readings, projects, and tests.
- Textbooks are not included in the tuition. They are a separate purchase and are a specialized resource you will use both during your study and after completion of your formal education.
Are the application and fee one-time expenses?
- Prior to admittance to our Herbal Apprenticeship program, each student is required to complete an application and submit it along with a one-time processing fee. You can apply here and pay the application fee here.
- If your application is accepted, you’ll be invited to interview with our Director.
- Students who continue past the first year must demonstrate that they are likely to complete the requirements for each year before being accepted into the next year.
Do I have to take all three years of the program?
- No: you may take as many as you’d like!
- Depending upon the extent of herbal knowledge you are seeking, you may choose to take one year, two years, or complete the third year for the Clinical program.
How many students are in the program?
- Class sizes are small and vary from year to year.
- Instruction is individualized and personal, with time allowed for questions and interaction with the Director and fellow students.
Is there lodging available?
- If you are not local to the Madison area, there are several reasonably priced hotels within minutes of Wildwood Institute.
- A Youth Hostel is also available in downtown Madison, about 30 minutes away.
What if I miss a class day or weekend? How do I make it up?
- The course has a sequential structure of building blocks. Each class is unique and experiential.
- In the case of illness or emergency, you will be provided with any material and handouts from the class you missed.
- There are no make-up classes. All classes are offered once per year.
What are the practical and professional applications in general for Herbalist training?
Many students use their herbal training to promote health and vitality for themselves and loved ones.
Some choose to incorporate herbalism into their current occupations of nursing, pharmacy, nutrition, and other conventional healing professions.
Some have chosen to work at a holistic pharmacy or to work in the herb sections of health food stores.
Others have chosen to start their own herb farm or herbal products business. Clinical students can open a private practice offering recommendations to clients, or group together with other practitioners.
What are the professional applications of Clinical Herbalist training?
For those students choosing to complete the full four-year program, a Clinical Herbalist will have the education and training to work directly with clients as a holistic health practitioner, using herbs, foods and lifestyle choices to support and improve clients’ health.
With this level of clinical knowledge, you could start a business as a practicing Clinical Herbalist or join an existing practice of holistic health professionals.
If you have a medical license, you could work within your current capacity as a nurse, nurse practitioner doctor, etc. according to the guidelines required by your license.
Is there licensing for Herbalists in the US?
There is no licensing anywhere in the United States for herbalists. However, in many countries throughout the world, herbalists are professionally trained and licensed. There are also traditional indigenous practitioners in various parts of the world who are not licensed.
Without licensing, how does one practice legally as an Herbalist?
A person can legally practice as an herbalist by following the laws of the state in which they choose to practice. The most important point is to be careful not to make any claim implying that you are a medical doctor or are doing the work of one unless you are in fact licensed as a medical doctor.
As with any business, it is important to research your state laws and to abide by all current legislation. In the State of Wisconsin, we do not prescribe, diagnose, claim to treat or prevent any illness, or claim to be medical doctors.
What we do is provide individualized recommendations for foods, herbs and lifestyle choices that improve health and vitality. It is then the client’s choice to follow the recommendations, or not.
Do clients have insurance coverage for services offered by a Clinical Herbalist?
As there is no licensing, insurance companies do not offer coverage.
What is the American Herbalists’ Guild (AHG)?
The AHG is a professional organization for herbalists. It provides networking and resources, and works toward the eventual licensing of herbalists in the US. They currently offer a credential called Registered Herbalist (RH-AHG).
Does Wildwood’s program satisfy the RH-AHG requirements for the American Herbalists’ Guild (AHG)?
If you successfully complete the four-year Clinical Herbalist program at Wildwood Institute, you will have met the educational requirements for this credential.
Additional requirements include two years of post-educational clinical practice, a written examination, and more. Wildwood Institute is a registered school with the AHG.
Important note: You do NOT need to be a Registered Herbalist with AHG to practice as a Clinical Herbalist. However, when people do qualify for the RH-AHG, they are generally excellent practitioners because of the rigorous process required for certification.
What is the legal significance of the AHG Clinical Herbalist designation?
Since there is no licensing, there is currently no legal significance to the RH-AHG. It is a designation to add after your name, indicating you have completed specific coursework and other requirements.