Education & Training
Places to Study
Finding the right programme is a crucial first step in your herbal journey. This authoritative directory lists educational providers offering everything from foundational learning to fully accredited clinical diplomas mapping to Professional Association standards.
Finding the Right Course
It can be a daunting task to find the right course in Herbal Medicine that suits the goals and aspirations of budding herbalists. It is important to do your own research and contact the various schools directly to find the programme that suits you best. There are two distinct types of courses to be aware of:
1. Accredited Clinical Qualifications
Intended for individuals who wish to run a clinical practice and treat members of the public. These courses usually last between 3 to 6 years and require a minimum of 500 clinical hours.
- Accredited to one or more Professional Associations (PAs).
- Allows you to join a PA, safely open a clinic, and get insured.
- Requires ongoing Continual Professional Development (CPD).
Warning: Beware of online courses claiming you can become a "master herbalist" in a few weekends. True professional clinical training involves many years of rigorous learning and supervised experience.
2. Foundation & Entry-Level Courses
Intended for individuals who wish to begin their studies into herbal medicine. These courses do not qualify professional herbalists but instead set the precedence for further studies.
- Much shorter in duration (ranging from a few weekends to a year).
- Perfect preliminaries for advancing to full professional qualifications.
- Ideal for personal interest or catching up on basic skills before orienting towards a clinical career.
These courses will not qualify you to be a professional herbalist.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
While we list educational providers on this page, we do not explicitly endorse them nor do we preference one over another. Individuals must conduct their own thorough research to find the school that best aligns with their needs and views.
Not all schools may be listed as this is a growing list. If you run an accredited Professional Course or a Foundation/Entry-Level course in Herbal Medicine in the UK or Ireland and wish to list your school for free, please get in touch.
For Professional Qualifications
Read up about the available schools and contact them directly. We highly recommend checking which Professional Associations (PAs) these courses are accredited to so that they best suit your preferences.
For Foundation & Short Courses
Approach shorter courses with care. Check the credentials and qualifications of the teachers, seek a second opinion from a qualified herbalist, and find out where you can study next if you wish to continue your education to a clinical level.
DIRECTORY STATUS
LAST UPDATED: MARCH 2026
While we strive for comprehensiveness, this directory may not list every available course.
Missing a school? If you represent an accredited provider that should be listed, please get in touch to be added.
DIRECTORY INDEX
- Western Herbal Medicine (WHM)
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
- Ayurvedic Medicine
- Herbal Foundation Courses & Alternatives
COURSE LEVELS EXPLAINED
Professional Pathway
Qualifies you to practice clinically. Accredited by PAs. Requires 3-6 years of study and extensive clinical hours.
These courses are BSc or equivalent (Level 6 UK or Level 7-8 Ireland).
Foundation / Short
Introductory courses for personal use or preparation for a professional degree. Not a license to practice.
Post-Graduate
Advanced study strictly for practitioners who already hold an existing clinical qualification.
Note: TCM courses are often considered as post-graduate as they usually require practitioners to be qualified in acupuncture as a prior requirement.
Professional Western Herbal Medicine
Organised by primary delivery format to help you find the study style that suits your lifestyle.
Universities
Lincoln College
Formal University Degree: A fully integrative 3-year BSc (Hons) programme. It uniquely links traditional herbal holism and energetic frameworks with orthodox medical disciplines, including Anatomy, Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Nutrition.
BSc (Hons) Clinical Herbalism
- Find out more & compare with other courses
Professional
Professional Practitioner Schools
Betonica School of Herbal Medicine
A deeply integrated 4-year professional diploma blending rigorous modern science with traditional herbal knowledge. Passionate about community healthcare, organic growing, and 'field-to-dispensary' medicine, the syllabus covers everything from botany and pharmacology to clinical skills at a BSc-equivalent level (Level 6).
Professional Medical Herbalist Programme
- Find out more & compare with other courses
Professional
Excelsior Apprenticeships in Herbal Medicine
Delivering exceptional training standards across Dublin and Belfast. This 4-year Level 6 (BSc equivalent) diploma embraces both traditional energetic concepts and modern academic rigour, featuring live lectures with its outstanding faculty, botanical field trips, and 800 hours of extensive clinical study.
Accredited Diploma in Herbal Medicine
- Find out more & compare with other courses in the UK (Mainland)
- Find out more & compare with other courses in Ireland
Professional
Heartwood Education
NIMH-accredited course that draws from rich herbal traditions, contemporary clinical practice, and modern scientific knowledge. Offers flexible 4-year or 6-year pathways, all academic content is online.
There are 500 hours of blended clinical training via 60 + clinical trainers in the UK and beyond as well as online training clinic.
The Professional Course
- Find out more & compare with other courses
Professional
International Register of Consultant Herbalists (IRCH)
Established in 1960, the IRCH offers a highly respected blended learning programme designed to fit around modern lifestyles. The comprehensive syllabus combines robust at-home study modules with vibrant in-person seminars, summer schools, and supervised clinical practice.
The IRCH Herbalist Course
- Find out more & compare with other courses
Professional
The College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM)
Comprehensive multi-modality training. Integrates Nutrition, Iridology, Tissue Salts, and Detoxification protocols under a singular naturopathic framework.
Herbal Medicine Diploma Course
- Find out more & compare with other courses in the UK (Mainland)
- Find out more & compare with other courses in Ireland
Professional
The Plant Medicine School
Deeply committed to sustainable, indigenous herbal medicine, the school offers a vocational Practitioner Course. Seamlessly weaving the art and science of herbalism, the programme combines face-to-face seminar blocks, engaging Zoom tutorials, and pathways for rigorous clinical training.
The Practitioner Training Programme
- Find out more & compare with other courses in the UK (Mainland)
- Find out more & compare with other courses in Ireland
Professional
The School of Herbal Medicine
An academically rigorous 6-year Advanced Diploma offering 150 days of face-to-face contact. Designed for those balancing work and family, the blended model requires a high level of commitment, combining deep scientific foundations with included clinical hours and a rigorous Final Clinical Exam (FCE).
Advanced Diploma in Herbal Medicine
- Find out more & compare with other courses in the UK (Mainland)
Professional
Note: The Herbal Alliance is designed to be an open and supportive hub between the profession and the public. This page features most of the primary WHM training programmes in the UK & Ireland. Not all available schools may be listed as some schools may be new or may have chosen not to be listed. We recommend visiting the Professional Association websites to view their full registers of accredited courses and available pathways for membership.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Schools
In the UK and Ireland, professional training in Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is typically structured as a postgraduate progression. The majority of these diploma and master's programmes require students to already hold a recognised clinical qualification in Acupuncture prior to enrolment. These institutions often offer separate undergraduate acupuncture training to allow students to fulfil this prerequisite.
However, there are exceptions that broaden access. White Crane Academy offers a dedicated pathway for non-acupuncturists (who can instead complete their Foundation Course in Chinese Medicine), and Asanté Academy opens its PG Diploma to a wider range of healthcare professionals including massage practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, osteopaths, and doctors, alongside acupuncturists.
Acupuncture Foundation Ireland
Presents Chinese Herbal Medicine as an essential clinical complement to acupuncture. Led by high-level academic clinicians with UK and Chinese university experience, the framework prioritises the practical handling of herbs in raw and powdered formats, and offers optional intensive hospital rotations in China.
Prerequisites for Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner course: A recognised Diploma, Degree, or Licentiate in Acupuncture.
Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner Diploma (2-Year)
- Find out more & compare with other courses
Post-Graduate
Asanté Academy
Rooted in flexibility and one-to-one mentoring through a dynamic Clinical Apprenticeship scheme. While designed for acupuncturists extending their repertoire, it uniquely accepts other healthcare professionals and complete beginners. Features integrative clinical placements within NHS hospital clinics.
Prerequisites for Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner course: A background in professional healthcare, including existing acupuncture or massage practitioners, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, chiropractors, or osteopaths.
Clinical Certificate Course
PhD / Master Degree Programme in Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Find out more & compare with other courses
Post-Graduate
Irish College of TCM (ICTCM)
Deeply rooted in the scholar-practitioner tradition based on the work of Dr. Ted Kaptchuk. This postgraduate programme presents Chinese Herbal Medicine as "Real" Chinese Medicine, focusing on small-group seminars and practical mastery in preparing and modifying classical decoctions.
Prerequisites for Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner course: A recognised Diploma, Degree, or Licentiate in Acupuncture.
Diploma in Chinese Herbal Medicine (Dip.CHM)
- Find out more & compare with other courses
Post-Graduate
Manchester Academy of TCM
Dedicated to the preservation of authentic Traditional Chinese Medicine, mentored by nationally recognised masters. Features a purpose-built teaching clinic specifically designed to equip practitioners for complex internal conditions, including auto-immune and cardiovascular disorders.
Prerequisites for Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner course: A recognised Diploma, Degree, or Licentiate in Acupuncture.
Post-Graduate Diploma in Chinese Herbal Medicine
- Find out more & compare with other courses
Post-Graduate
An integrated curriculum focusing on developing "reflective practitioners" capable of creating elegant, individualised herbal treatment strategies. Combines plant science, pharmacology, and traditional philosophical frameworks with clinical finesse and evidence-based research.
Prerequisites for Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner course: A recognised Diploma, Degree, or Licentiate in Acupuncture.
PGDip in Chinese Herbal Medicine
MSc in Chinese Herbal Medicine
- Find out more & compare with other courses
Post-Graduate
Blends classic Chinese medicine theory with modern application and rigorous evidence-based standards. Taught by well-established experts with active publishing records, the curriculum emphasises a transition from acupuncture-based diagnosis to a sophisticated understanding of Materia Medica.
Prerequisites for Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner course: A recognised Diploma, Degree, or Licentiate in Acupuncture.
CHM Diploma (3-Year)
- Find out more & compare with other courses
Post-Graduate
Focuses exclusively on the highly structured "Jing Fang" system based on the Shang Han Za Bing Lun. Features a profound commitment to connecting students with living plants, utilising outsourced modules at the Bristol Chinese Herb Garden for practical dispensary skills.
Prerequisites for Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner course: A recognised Diploma, Degree, or Licentiate in Acupuncture.
Jing Fang Diploma (2-Year Flexible)
- Find out more & compare with other courses
Post-Graduate
A 3-year EHTPA-accredited diploma offering a hybrid of online learning and in-person 3-day weekend seminars. With clinical competence as its central focus, the programme features 18 months of weekly supervised clinical practice in small groups under highly experienced practitioners.
Prerequisites for Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner course: Acupuncturists, Shiatsu practitioners, and medically qualified professionals OR the White Crane Foundation Course pathway is available for those without prior medical training.
Diploma in Chinese Herbal Medicine (3-Year)
- Find out more & compare with other courses
Professional
Ayurveda
Organised by primary delivery format to help you find the study style that suits your lifestyle.
Studying Ayurveda
Following guidance from the Ayurvedic Professionals Associations, we do not currently list specific Ayurvedic schools, as courses are assessed on an individual basis. To ensure your training qualifies you for professional practice and membership with the Herbal Alliance, your prospective course must meet the rigorous standards set by the primary professional associations:
Ayurvedic Professionals Association (APA)
Membership Criteria
The Herbal Alliance recognises APA Categories A and B:
Category A (BAMS MS/MD):
Requires 5.5 to 8.5 years of full-time study (9,900 - 15,300 hours) from a recognised Indian or Sri Lankan University.
Category B (Ayurvedic Practitioner):
Requires a minimum 3-year full-time Diploma or Degree (BA/BSc/MA) at Level 6 or above, comprising at least 3,600 structured teaching hours and a 500-hour clinical internship.
British Association of Accredited Ayurvedic Practitioners (BAAAP) Membership Criteria
Requirements for Full Member status:
BAMS Degree:
From a recognised Indian, Sri Lankan, or professionally accredited international university.
BSc/BA (Hons) in Ayurvedic Medicine:
Must include the completion of a clinical internship requiring a minimum of 1,000 hours of clinical training at a recognised teaching hospital or institute in India, the UK, or Europe.
We highly recommend contacting the primary professional associations directly for the most up-to-date advice and to verify if a specific course maps to these professional standards before enrolling.
Foundation Courses & Alternative Pathways
The perfect entry point. These courses offer practical knowledge for personal use or act as an essential stepping stone before committing to full professional clinical training. Some courses require some form of prior experience, especially if you do not have not previously studied in the field of medicine.
Alternative Herbal Pathways
School of Intuitive Herbalism
Deeply rooted in learning directly from the plants, 90% of the teaching is experiential and somatic. Based on an organic farm in Stroud, this student-centred pathway empowers you to become an Insight Herbalist, fostering profound personal and community healing. This approach differs from standard clinical
Insight Herbalist Apprenticeship
Alternative
Western Herbal Medicine Foundation Courses
Betonica School of Herbal Medicine
Betonica offers a tiered selection of engaging home-study courses, ranging from introductory to advanced levels, perfect for those exploring herbal medicine for personal wellbeing or preparing for professional clinical study.
Home Herbalist Course
Advanced Home Herbalist Course
Online Home Herbalist Course
Foundation
Heartwood Education
A comprehensive online programme comprising 12 beautifully structured units. It offers a broad, practical introduction to herbal medicine with a strong focus on safely treating common ailments at home.
Foundation Course in Herbal Medicine
Foundation
Heritage School of Herbal Medicine
Awaken Herbal Wisdom is a living herbal apprenticeship that gently weaves the study of herbal medicine into daily life, whilst rooting you within a real and supportive community. Offering up to three years of development for those wishing to cultivate a deep understanding of plant medicine for themselves and their families.
Teaching combines dedicated in-person days, guided audio teachings, heirloom coursebooks and shared community gatherings — creating a way of learning that is not separate from life, but rather lived within it.
Awaken Herbal Wisdom
Foundation
Lincoln College
Delivered over 4 weekends per year, this Level 4 CertHE (Complementary Studies) builds a robust knowledge base. It serves as either a perfect standalone interest course or an essential stepping stone into the full BSc programme.
Level 4 CertHE Complementary Studies (Herbalism) (Full-Time)
Foundation
New Vitality Institution
Led by world-recognised herbalist Keith Robertson on the stunning Isle of Arran, offering practical apprenticeships on the Island and a remote foundational correspondence course. (Note: Keith formerly directed the highly respected MSc in Herbal Medicine, making these foundation routes exceptionally authoritative).
Discovering Herbal Medicine
Professional
The Plant Medicine School
A practical, experiential 2-year Apprenticeship focused on local, indigenous plants. It beautifully weaves the art and science of herbalism for community healthcare and acts as the explicit prerequisite for the school's clinical practitioner course (2-3years).
Traditional Herbal and Botanical Medicine Apprenticeship (2 Years)
Professional
The Scottish School of Herbal Medicine
Led by world-recognised herbalist Keith Robertson on the stunning Isle of Arran, offering practical apprenticeships on the Island and a remote foundational correspondence course. (Note: Keith formerly directed the highly respected MSc in Herbal Medicine, making these foundation routes exceptionally authoritative).
Apprenticeship Programme
Herbal Correspondence Course
Professional
Chinese Herbal Medicine Foundation Courses
An immersive 1-year online foundation course conducted virtually by industry masters. The comprehensive syllabus covers essential TCM philosophy, diagnostics, and syndrome patterns through live Zoom lectures, weekend assessments, and 500 hours of directed self-learning.
Foundation of Chinese Medicine (1-Year)
Foundation
Designed for students without a background in Chinese Medicine, this 11-month part-time online course acts as the essential prerequisite for their professional CHM diploma. Delivered via live Zoom sessions in highly individualised small groups (2-3 students), it provides a uniquely practical foundation through case studies and monthly assignments.
Chinese Medicine (CM) Foundation Course
Foundation
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