Community Herbalist Certificate

Community Herbalist Certificate Starting May 2025

The Community Herbalist Certificate Program will build a strong foundation in the art and science of Western Herbalism, inspiring people to enjoy herbs in their everyday health, while serving and supporting family, friends, clients and community.

Program Overview:

Beginning with local herbs, both wild and cultivated, students will learn how to identify and forage in an ethical and sustainable way. Students will then learn how to transform herbs into practical, useful and safe herbal remedies for home, clients and community. Students will develop skills to advise and provide consultations for common conditions and ailments. They will also learn to customize herbal remedies for each person’s unique history, energetics and lifestyle from a holistic system perspective, supporting body, mind & spirit. 

To see a timetable for the program, click on SCHEDULE.

Program Structure:

• Herbology 1 – An introductory course providing the foundational knowledge of herbology, theoretically and practically. Curriculum includes basic concepts and terminology, organoleptic and botanical plant identification of thirty local herbs, ethical and sustainable harvesting and gardening practices, transformations of herbs into food and medicine, creating a herbal first-aid kit and experiencing the many facets and benefits of hands-on herbal medicine.
• Fabrication – Expanding on the practical application during Herbology 1, students will learn about the transformation and fabrication of artisanal remedies & products. These hands-on workshops will allow students to explore practical transformations of herbs for their family, clients and community:
  • Fabrication 1 – Infused vinegar, glycerin, honey and combinations with syrups and oxymels.
  • Fabrication 2 – Blends of tea, decoction, powdered herbs and remedies with salts, lozenges, and electuary (honey) combinations.
  • Fabrication 3 – Oil macerations to create salves/balms/ointments & creams + info on pessaries/suppositories.
  • Fabrication 4 – Alcohol extractions from macerations, percolation, double-extractions and spagyric tinctures.
  • Fabrication 5 – Fermentation of wild cultured foods and herbs.

• Herbology 2  – Materia Medica – An in-depth dive into herbs, students will break down their properties using the framework of taste, including actions and energetics, to understand how and when to use herbs. Review terminology, organoleptic and specific indications for a variety of local and common herbs used world wide. Students will learn how to build a Materia medica which will grow as their knowledge in herbalism grows.
• Herbology 3 – Life Cycles – Furthering their herbal knowledge and the skills acquired in Herbology 1 & 2, students will learn how to integrate herbs into their healing repertoire throughout the cycle of life. Assessing common ailments of the cycles of life from the childbearing years to becoming an elder, students will develop practical knowledge to integrate herbs that nourish, heal and support infants, children, transitions, adults and elders throughout their life. Students will have the opportunity to critique labels and recipes in order to familiarize themselves with the art and science of herbal formulary.
• Herbology 4 – The Body Systems – Reviews the herbs covered in Herb 1, 2 & 3, and introduces a number of new herbs specific to each body system. By emphasizing their affinity and application for a particular system of the body, including the Immune-Lymphatic, Digestive, Endocannabinoid, ​​Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nervous, Reproductive, Musculo-skeletal, Urinary and Integumentary systems, students will be able to distinguish the most appropriate herbal choices for herbal formulation.

• Tissue State Imbalances – System by System –  Complementing the concurrent Body Systems course, this course investigates tissue state imbalances using a body system approach, with a focus on human energetics and differential diagnosis. Students continue to build on their knowledge of materia medica & herbal energetics, through a deeper exploration of the key tissue state imbalances, with the goal of developing customized herbal formulations and products that focus on treating the person, rather than just the disease. 
• Anatomy & Physiology – An integrated exploration of anatomy and physiology, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the body, embracing both conventional knowledge and holistic perspectives. While students learn about the body, the course will introduce simple, observational physical assessments to identify common patterns and ailments.
• Nutrition – The Ecology of Food – At the base of health and well-being, the concepts about nutritional requirements are examined in context with the person, their food and their environment. Students will explore the journey of food from the ground to the table, and understand the relevance of various diets – both traditional and modern. Just as important, is the consideration of the state of the person eating the food – their digestive capacity, habits and enjoyment. At its core, this is a course about relationships to the world in and around you.
• Professional Record Keeping, Ethics, and Deontology – A crucial module covering the professional aspects of herbology practice, including record-keeping, ethical considerations, and professional conduct.

Program Highlights:

• Comprehensive Curriculum: Acquiring foundational knowledge in Western Herbalism, the program covers a wide range of topics in herbology.
• Knowledgeable Educators: Learn from hands-on herbalists who integrate daily herbal practices and prioritize ongoing, lifelong learning. 
• Wild and Cultivated Herbs: Learn about the practical and theoretical properties and uses of over 75 local and common herbs used worldwide.
• Hands-On Learning: Interactive exploration and practical transformations to integrate herbs into daily life and develop the ability to support one’s community.
• Herbal Customization: Understand each person’s unique energetic picture and wellness to create specific and personalized blends.
• Integration of Traditional and Modern Practices: Combining folk wisdom with modern herbal science to cater to a variety of conditions and practices.
• Hobby into a business: Start expanding the ways you can turn a passion into a business or career to share your herbal knowledge.
• Small groups with individualized attention.

Graduates of the Community Herbalist Certificate program will be equipped to pursue various career paths, including:

• Herbal Consultant: Supporting one’s clients and community with herbal remedies for various common ailments and conditions.
• Herbal Product Maker: Crafting and selling herbal products like teas, tinctures, and salves.
• Sharing their Herbal Education in community settings and/or workshops.

Join the Community Herbalist Certificate program today. 

Twelve monthly payments of $271 incl. tax.

To see a timetable for the program, click on THE SCHEDULE.