Learning Herbalism in Canada
If you want to study herbalism more formally, it’s important to know that herbal medicine is not a regulated profession in Canada or the United States. There is no licence to practise, and no single national body that accredits herbalism schools the way a university degree is accredited.
What exists instead is self-regulation through provincial herbalist associations. Each association sets its own educational standards for professional membership, and then assesses each applicant's training against those standards.
You’ll find a list of associations and schools in Canada below, but keep in mind that a school being on the list doesn’t guarantee membership in an association, it just means that provincial herbalism associations recognize it as a school whose programmes may meet its standards. Always check the programme against the association's current standards before enrolling, and ask the school directly how many supervised clinical hours it includes. Several programmes do not include the in-person clinical hours required by the associations.
Herbalism Study in Canada
Canada’s main herbalism schools include Dominion Herbal College (founded 1926, Burnaby, BC), Pacific Rim College (Victoria, BC), Wild Rose College (online, founded 1975), Flora Medicina (Quebec, online, in French) and the Herbal Medicine Academy of Ontario (Milton). Herbalism is not a regulated profession in Canada, so credentials come from provincial associations, not government licensing.
7
Current provincial associations listed, plus the national council (CCHA)
5
Canadian Herbalism Schools
100 years
The oldest herbalism school in Canada is Dominion College, founded in 1926.
1500 hours
The average standard for the raining hours required to be a herbalist, plus 500 supervised clinical hours.
On this page
Herbalist associations in Canada, by province
National — CCHA
British Columbia
Alberta
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Provinces & territories with none found
Herbalism schools in Canada
US and UK schools
Association education standards, compared
Before you enroll
Sources
What could not be verified
Herbalist Associations in Canada
Because herbalism is not a regulated profession in Canada the credentials listed below — Registered Herbalist, Registered Herbal Therapist, and so on — are association designations, not government licences. Every association is listed in the same format: name, province, founding date, membership size, membership cost, website, type, and credential.
All figures are in Canadian dollars. “Not published” means the figure was not found on the organisation’s website or in a reliable directory. Full details, fees, and caveats for each association are in the longer profiles below.
Associations at a glance
Pr
ovinceFoundedMembersAnnual fee (main categories)TypeCanadian Council of Herbalist Associations (CCHA)National2005 (inc. 2006)n/a — associationsn/a — no individual membershipNational umbrellaBritish Columbia Herbalists AssociationBC1973 (reg. 1972; renamed 2020)Not publishedRHT $130 · Advocate $130 · Associate $50 · Student $10 · Corporate $175Professional (RHT)Alberta Herbalists AssociationAB2016 (society 2017)Not published (70 in 2019)Not published (Associate $25 in 2019, dated)Professional (RH)Herb Society of ManitobaMB1995Not publishedIndividual $25 · Family $35 · Student $15 (2025–26)General-interestOntario Herbalists AssociationON1982 (inc. 1983)Not publishedProfessional $254.25 · Student $50.85 · General not publishedProfessional (RH)Guilde des herboristes du QuébecQC1995400+Regular $60 (PDF) / $80 (paper) / $85 (both)Professional + general (HTA)Herbalist Association of New BrunswickNBNot statedNot publishedNot publishedProfessional (RHP) + communityHerbalist Association of Nova ScotiaNS2002Not published (40+ undated)General $25 · Associate $50 · Practitioner $100 + $45 adminProfessional (RHP) + communitySaskatchewan Consultant Herbalist Assn.SKNot stated——Historical / defunct — not current
National
Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations (CCHA)
National umbrella
Province(s) covered
National — umbrella council of provincial/regional herbalist associations
Founded
Officially formed in Vancouver, BC, on 19–20 February 2005; incorporated as a national company in Ottawa, Ontario, on 16 January 2006 (CCHA Constitution, updated/amended August 2021)
Membership size
Not published — membership is by association, not by individual; its general members are provincial/regional herbalist organisations
Membership cost
Not applicable to individuals — the CCHA is a council of associations; no individual membership fee is published
Website
Type
National umbrella / professional council (not-for-profit). Represents member associations to government, including Health Canada, and guides member associations on standards
Credential / standards
Credentials no individuals itself. Its constitution requires member associations to have a code of ethics, code of practice, scope of practice, educational standards, and disciplinary procedures. It publishes no school list — no list of recognised schools was found on its website (checked 6 November 2026)
Member associations
As evidenced on its site: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec (Guilde des herboristes), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick (officially welcomed 2023, per CCHA Annual Summary Oct 2022–Oct 2023). Saskatchewan was represented at its founding in 2005 — see the Saskatchewan note below
No separate national “Canadian Herbalist Association” exists. The similar names are the CCHA (the national umbrella, above) and the former “Canadian Herbalists Association of BC (CHA of BC)” — the provincial BC association, renamed British Columbia Herbalists Association in 2020.
British Columbia
British Columbia Herbalists Association (BCHA)
Registered Herbal Therapist (RHT)Professional
Province(s) covered
British Columbia (non-residents of BC may apply for professional membership). Formerly the Canadian Herbalists Association of BC (CHA of BC)
Founded
Registered under the Societies Act of BC in November 1972 as the Canadian Herbalists Association of BC; incorporated February 1973; renamed British Columbia Herbalists Association by vote at the 2020 AGM (the old name misled people into thinking it was national)
Membership size
Not published
Membership cost
Join Us page, accessed 6 November 2026; subscription year from 1 June; no fee year stated on the page: Registered Herbal Therapist $130/year + one-time $45 admin fee · Professional Herbal Advocate $130/year · Associate $50/year + one-time $5 admin fee · Student $10/year + one-time $5 admin fee · Corporate Sponsor $175/year
Website
Type
Professional / self-regulating association (not-for-profit, volunteer-run) — “primarily a self-regulating professional association for practicing Registered Herbal Therapists (RHT)”
Credential / standards
Registered Herbal Therapist (RHT) — minimum 2,000 training hours in Western Herbal Medicine plus a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical experience (at least 250 of the 500 in person; up to 250 virtual); peer-review interview; 40 hours of continuing education per calendar year; Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. Also offers a Professional Herbal Advocate (HA) category (minimum 1,200 total hours — see standards). Claims to be “the oldest professional herbal association in North America” and “empowering herbalists… since 1973” (own website)
Alberta
Alberta Herbalists Association (AHA)
Registered Herbalist (RH)Professional
Province(s) covered
Alberta
Founded
First official Annual General Meeting 27 October 2016; “officially became a society in Alberta” in the summer of 2017
Membership size
Not published currently. Dated figure only: “AHA memberships numbers went up in 2019 to 70 members” (2020 AGM minutes, 17 October 2020) — do not treat as current
Membership cost
Not published on the association’s public website (membership forms sit behind its Join/Renew page and the fee is not shown on the public pages). Dated figure only: Associate Member $25/year (November 2019 blog post) — do not treat as current
Website
Type
Professional / self-regulating association (non-profit); also has student, associate, and business memberships
Credential / standards
Registered Herbalist (RH) — 1,500 hours of varied herbal medicine training including human sciences, plus supervised/semi-supervised clinical practicum (see standards for the current breakdown). The AHA states it is a self-governing organisation, not a regulatory body, and does not licence herbalists
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Consultant Herbalist Association Inc.
Historical only — do not list as current
Province(s) covered
Saskatchewan (historically)
Founded
Not stated in sources found
Membership size
Not published
Membership cost
Not published
Website
None found — no website could be located; only stale directory listings (Regina address/phone) exist
Type
Professional (historical) — represented by Flo Lavallie as a founding member association of the CCHA in February 2005; issued a Registered Clinical Herbalist (Reg.Clin.Herb.) designation
Credential / standards
Registered Clinical Herbalist (historical); current standards not verifiable
Status: No current website, no current activity, and no CCHA representation from Saskatchewan could be verified. Treat as defunct/unverifiable, not as a current association. No other Saskatchewan western-herbalist practitioner association was found. (The Saskatchewan Herb & Spice Association is a producer/industry body, not a practitioner association, and is excluded.)
Manitoba
Herb Society of Manitoba
General-interestNo professional credential
Province(s) covered
Manitoba
Founded
1995 (Government of Canada TERMIUM record: “The Herb Society of Manitoba was formed in 1995”). One secondary source (a 2007 magazine article) says “est. 1996” — conflicting; 1995 is used here as the government terminology record states it
Membership size
Not published
Membership cost
2025–2026 membership form, on the society’s own site: Individual $25/year · Family $35/year (max. 4 at the same address) · Student $15/year (age 16+ with student ID) · non-member meeting admission $5
Website
Type
General-interest herb society (education, programs, research, herb garden at Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg) — not a professional/registered association; no professional credential
Credential / standards
None. No professional herbalist association for Manitoba was found
Ontario
Ontario Herbalists Association (OHA)
Registered Herbalist (RH)Professional
Province(s) covered
Ontario (general membership open to applicants residing in Canada; professional membership includes an out-of-province category)
Founded
Formed 1982 (“In 1982, a group of herbalists came together to form an association”); incorporated as a non-profit in 1983; 40th anniversary in 2022
Membership size
Not published (the OHA describes itself as “the oldest and one of the largest herbal associations in Canada” — its own claim, no number given)
Membership cost
OHA website, accessed 6 November 2026; professional/student fees include HST as stated: Professional (Registered Herbalist) $254.25/year ($225.00 + $29.25 HST), plus a non-refundable professional application processing fee of $56.50 ($50 + $6.50 HST); renewals due 31 October each year, membership year 1 November–31 October. Student $50.85/year ($45.00 + $5.85 HST); student year 1 October–30 September. General membership fee: not published on the website — the General Membership page gives payment instructions but no amount
Website
Type
Professional / self-governing association for professional herbalists, with general and student memberships alongside
Credential / standards
Registered Herbalist (RH) — minimum 1,500 hours of education/training including a minimum of 350 hours of supervised clinical practice (at least 250 hours in person, up to 100 online); Code of Ethics, Code of Practice, Scope of Practice; 40 hours of continuing professional development per year. See standards for the full breakdown
Quebec
Guilde des herboristes du Québec
Herboriste-thérapeute accrédité (HTA)Professional + general
Province(s) covered
Quebec (French-language). In English: Guild of Herbalists of Quebec
Founded
1995
Membership size
More than 400 members (Guilde’s own mission page: “la Guilde compte maintenant plus de 400 membres”)
Membership cost
Official online shop, accessed 6 November 2026; 1-year membership, auto-renewing: Regular member $60/year (PDF magazine) · $80/year (paper magazine) · $85/year (paper + PDF). Accredited herbalist-therapist (HTA) membership fee: not verified — not found on the membership pages checked
Website
Type
Professional association and general-interest guild — it describes itself as a professional association that supports and frames the therapist profession while also gathering enthusiasts, gardeners, students, and consumers of medicinal plants; it accredits herbalist-therapists by peer review
Credential / standards
Herboriste-thérapeute accrédité (HTA) — accredited herbalist-therapist, by peer-evaluated dossier under a code of ethics; the Guilde has accredited herbalist-therapists since 2006. The hour requirement for HTA accreditation was not stated in the sources found
New Brunswick
Herbalist Association of New Brunswick (HANB)
Registered Herbal Practitioner (RHP)Professional + community
Province(s) covered
New Brunswick. French name: L’Association des herboristes du Nouveau-Brunswick (AHNB)
Founded
Not stated — no founding date found on its website; the association was active by 2018 (herb walks that summer), its president Tatum Andrews is described as a founding member, and it was officially welcomed to the CCHA in 2023
Membership size
Not published
Membership cost
Not published on the association’s website (no fee schedule found). Indirect evidence only: a 2026 Herb Fair ticket including one-year membership was advertised at $50 (Instagram, June 2026) — do not treat as the membership fee
Website
Type
Professional + community association (non-profit; general membership plus a professional Registered Herbal Practitioner stream; member of United Plant Savers)
Credential / standards
Registered Herbal Practitioner (RHP) — professional membership for herbalists who have completed “the appropriate training/accreditation hours”; the hour total was not published on the pages found
Nova Scotia
Herbalist Association of Nova Scotia (HANS)
Registered Herbal Practitioner (RHP)Professional + community
Province(s) covered
Nova Scotia (members “throughout Nova Scotia and around the world”)
Founded
1 November 2002 (founding members signed the Registry of Joint Stock documents; first meeting 18 October 2002 at Dalhousie University). Roots: an informal Nova Scotia Herbalist Association formed in 1997, which went dormant — now defunct; do not confuse it with HANS
Membership size
Not published currently. Dated figure only: “HANS now has over 40 members” (association history page, undated) — do not treat as current
Membership cost
Become a Member / Professional Membership pages, accessed 6 November 2026: General $25/year · Associate $50/year · Professional (Registered Herbal Practitioner) $100/year + one-time $45 administration fee. Membership year is stated as 1 June–31 May for general/associate and 1 July–30 June for professional — the two statements conflict as published
Website
Type
Professional + community association (volunteer-run non-profit; affiliated with the CCHA and United Plant Savers)
Credential / standards
Registered Herbal Practitioner (RHP) — professional membership with a register of practitioners; current hour requirements were under review against updated CCHA standards at the time of checking, and the hour total was not published on the current pages. 40 hours of professional development per year is stated for maintaining professional membership. Professional applications were described in 2025 as paused/under review pending updated CCHA educational standards
No association found
Prince Edward Island
No herbalist association for Prince Edward Island was found (searched November 2026)
Newfoundland & Labrador
No herbalist association for Newfoundland and Labrador was found (searched November 2026). Related but not herbalist associations: the Newfoundland Horticultural Society (gardening) and the Botanical Art Society of Newfoundland and Labrador — both excluded as non-herbalist bodies
Territories
No herbalist association for Yukon, the Northwest Territories, or Nunavut was found. Note: Robin Round of the Yukon appears in the CCHA’s past board members list as an individual director — that is a person, not a territorial association
Historical / defunct bodies — do not list as current
Canadian Association of Herbal Practitioners — non-profit founded 1965, Calgary, AB (HerbNET directory, c. 2004). No current website or activity found; status unverifiable — treat as historical/defunct.
Canadian Herb Society — national non-profit, c/o VanDusen Botanical Gardens, Vancouver, BC (HerbNET directory, c. 2004). No current website found; treat as historical/defunct.
Central Canadian Herbal Practitioners Association — co-founded 1993 (per Rick DeSylva bio); no current trace found.
Nova Scotia Herbalist Association (1997) — informal group, went dormant; superseded by HANS (2002).
Deliberately excluded: traditional Chinese medicine, naturopathic, and broad alternative-medicine bodies (e.g. the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors; Quebec naturotherapy bodies such as RITMA, ANQ, ACNN, AQTN; the Canadian Association of Alternative Medicine and Allied Healthcare Professionals; the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada Association; the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada) — none of these is a western-herbalist association.
2. Herbalism schools in Canada
If you want to study herbal medicine properly — not just read about herbs, but train to practise — the first thing to know is that herbal medicine is not a regulated profession in Canada or the United States. There is no licence to practise, and no single national body that accredits herbalism schools the way a university degree is accredited. What exists instead is self-regulation through provincial herbalist associations. Each association sets its own educational standards for professional membership, and then assesses each applicant’s training against those standards. A school being listed below means an association has named it as a school whose programmes may meet its standards — it is not a guarantee of membership. Always check the programme against the association’s current standards before enrolling, and ask the school directly how many supervised clinical hours it includes. Several programmes do not include the in-person clinical hours the associations require.
Every school is listed in the same format: name, founding date, location, delivery, programmes with study hours for each, tuition, website, reputation/standing, and what is recognised by which association.
Canadian schools at a glanceSchoolFoundedLocationDeliveryMain programme(s) & hoursTuition (total)Dominion Herbal College1926Burnaby, BCOnline + blended (CHT)Chartered 600 h · Master 600 h · Herbal Consulting 1,320 h · Clinical Herbal Therapy 4 yrsChartered $995 · Master $995 · Herbal Consulting $7,203–$7,403 (2025–26) · CHT not publishedPacific Rim College2006Victoria, BCOn-campus / live-online; onlinePhytotherapy Diploma 128 credits / 3 yrs · Community Herbalist Cert 4 mo · Online Community 80+ h · Home 46+ hPhytotherapy $31,780 · Community Cert $4,400 domestic ($3,960 early) · Duals $50,670 / $53,730Wild Rose College1975Online (founded in Calgary)Online, self-pacedPractical 1,000+ h, 1–3 yrs · Master 960 h, 1–3 yrsPractical $3,497 / $3,780 plan · Master $2,997 / $3,228 planFlora Medicina1999Saint-André-Avellin, QC100% online (French)Community 826+ h, ~1 yr · Advisor 2,450 h, 3.5 yrs · Therapist 3,335 h, 5 yrsPer course CA$500 · no programme total publishedHerbal Medicine Academy of OntarioNot statedMilton, ONHybrid (online + 1 weekend/mo in person)Clinical Herbalist Diploma, 2 yrs, 350+ clinical hoursNot published
Dominion Herbal College
Burnaby, BCOnline + blendedFounded 1926
Founded
1926 — founded in Vancouver by Dr. Herbert Nowell; reorganised by Ella Birzneck from 1962
Address / location
#271-5489 Byrne Road, Burnaby, BC V5J 3J1, Canada
Delivery
Online (Chartered Herbalist, Master Herbalist, Herbal Consulting). Clinical Herbal Therapy is largely distance education with four 5-day on-site seminars and supervised clinical training at DHC-approved clinics — i.e. blended
Programmes & hours
Chartered Herbalist Diploma — 600 hours / 52 weeks (online)
Master Herbalist Diploma — 600 hours / 52 weeks (online; research + thesis; requires the Chartered Herbalist Diploma)
Herbal Consulting Diploma — 1,320 hours / 52 weeks (online)
Clinical Herbal Therapy Diploma — 4 years; includes 500+ supervised clinical hours in years 2–4 (per older programme descriptions) and 180 clinical hours in Year 4 (per a 2024–25 BC regulator decision). Total clock hours for the whole programme: not published. Alberta’s ALIS listing (updated 26 February 2025) describes it as four years, combined delivery, with 510 hours of supervised clinical training at approved clinics in Alberta
Prerequisite Chemistry Course — 120 hours / 26 weeks (for students needing the chemistry prerequisite)
Tuition
Chartered Herbalist: $995 total (Option A: online with online books — $250 registration + $745 tuition); Option B (hard-copy books): $1,145 total for Canadian students ($1,195 US / $1,245 international) — 2024 contract
Master Herbalist: $995 total ($250 registration + $745 tuition) — 2024 contract
Herbal Consulting: $7,203 total for Canadian students / $7,603 international (tuition $6,953 / $7,253 + registration $250 / $350), plus a $200 administration fee = $7,403 / $7,803 total under the contract — 2025–26 contract (1 September 2025 – 31 August 2026)
Clinical Herbal Therapy: no current published tuition schedule found. Historical per-year contract figures only (from BC Private Training Institutions Branch trustee decisions, 2021–2024 contracts): Year 1 $4,925; Year 2 $6,395–$6,545; Year 3 $6,920; Year 4 $10,152 (plus $250 registration). The programme was suspended for 2023–24 and resumed 1 February 2024 “with increased fees” — do not treat the historical figures as current
Website
dominionherbalcollege.com (formerly dominionherbal.com)
Reputation / standing
Self-described as “North America’s Oldest School of Herbal Medicine” (founded 1926 — longevity verifiable from its own history and independent directories). It is a BC Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designated institution and a designated institution with BC’s Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB; formerly described as the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit). “Thousands of graduates” (own claim). Graduate testimonials are published on its own website only. No independent reviews or rankings were found — reputation beyond longevity and PTIB certification is not independently verifiable.
Recognised by
Ontario Herbalists Association — lists Dominion on its Herbal Education page: “Clinical Herbal Therapy Diploma Program — Three-year, in-class program” and “Chartered Herbalist Diploma Program, 1 Year Distance Learning.” The OHA’s “three-year” description conflicts with DHC’s current “4-year” programme description (Dominion’s own FAQ, checked 5 November 2026, says four years, and Alberta’s ALIS listing agrees)
British Columbia Herbalists Association — DHC’s homepage displays the BCHA logo and DHC is listed in directories as a member of the (former) CHA of BC; a formal recognition statement for DHC graduates was not verified on the BCHA site. Dominion’s own FAQ says graduates of its Clinical Herbal Therapy Diploma are eligible for professional membership with the American Herbalists Guild, the OHA, and the BCHA — that is the college’s statement
American Herbalists Guild (US) — DHC homepage displays the AHG school badge
Pacific Rim College
Victoria, BCOn-campus / live-online + onlineFounded 2006
Founded
2006 (“Since 2006 Pacific Rim College has educated thousands of students” — Pacific Rim College Online, About page)
Address / location
229-560 Johnson Street (Market Square), Victoria, BC V8W 3C6, Canada. School of Western Herbal Medicine (Phytotherapy); also Pacific Rim College Online (PRCOnline)
Delivery
On-campus or live-online (Diploma of Phytotherapy; Community Herbalist Certificate); online, self-paced (Home Herbalist and Community Herbalist Online programmes via PRCOnline)
Programmes & hours
Diploma of Phytotherapy — 128 credits, 3 years (6 semesters, 14 weeks/semester); full-time or part-time (up to 5 academic years; 3.5 years year-round). Covers North American and European herbs, traditional and scientific knowledge, with supervised clinical practice. Clock hours: not published — the college publishes credits, not hours
Community Herbalist Certificate (on-campus/live-online) — 4 months (14 weeks excluding breaks); clock hours not published. A different offering from the online programme below
Community Herbalist Online Program — 80+ hours of video lessons (21 courses, 398 lessons); 2 years to complete for the certificate
Home Herbalist Online Program — 46+ hours of video lessons (10 courses); 9 months to complete
Dual Diplomas of Phytotherapy & Holistic Nutrition — 203 credits, 5 years (10 semesters)
Dual Diplomas of Acupuncture & Phytotherapy — 216 credits, 5 years (10 semesters)
Tuition
From the college’s official Tuition Breakdown document, accessed 6 November 2026 — no year is stated on the document:
Diploma of Phytotherapy: $31,780 total ($245/credit for courses and lower-level clinics, $275/credit for higher-level clinics); $5,297 per semester (+ $200 books, $35 fees per semester). Re-checked 5 November 2026 — re-check at enrolment time, as tuition changes
Community Herbalist Certificate: $4,400 total (domestic, regular) / $3,960 early registration; $4,150 international (regular) / $3,735 early (+ books $150; fees $465 domestic / $715 international)
Dual Diplomas of Phytotherapy & Holistic Nutrition: $50,670 total ($5,067/semester)
Dual Diplomas of Acupuncture & Phytotherapy: $53,730 total ($5,373/semester)
Community Herbalist Online Program / Home Herbalist Online Program: tuition not published on the programme pages found
Website
pacificrimcollege.com · online: pacificrimcollege.online
Reputation / standing
Pacific Rim College describes itself as a government-accredited institution. Own claim: the Diploma of Phytotherapy is “the most comprehensive program of Western Herbal Medicine in North America”; in operation since 2006. Note: PRCOnline states its Community Herbalist certificate “should not be confused with professional licensure or a regulated healthcare credential.” No independent reviews or rankings were found — reputation beyond the college’s own claims is not independently verifiable.
Recognised by
Ontario Herbalists Association — lists Pacific Rim College on its Herbal Education page: “Offers a three year Diploma of Phytotherapy that explores the medicinal uses of North American and European herbs”
British Columbia Herbalists Association — no formal recognition statement for PRC graduates was verified on the BCHA site. PRCOnline states the online Community Herbalist programme’s credits can transfer into the Diploma of Phytotherapy (13 credits) — that is a transfer arrangement, not a BCHA recognition statement
Wild Rose College of Herbal Medicine
Online (founded in Calgary, AB)Online, self-pacedFounded 1975
Founded
1975 — Terry Willard began teaching herbology workshops in Calgary in 1975 under the name Wild Rose; the college states it has been “training herbalists since 1975.” Formerly Wild Rose College of Natural Healing
Address / location
Online — formerly brick-and-mortar in Calgary, AB and Vancouver, BC; now an online college. Current mailing address: not verified on the main site (a site footer gives Box 789, Cumberland, BC V0R 1S0 — unverified on the live site)
Delivery
Online, self-paced (video lessons, live instructor Q&As, monthly roundtables for Master Herbalist); in-person and online clinical intensives/apprenticeship for clinical training (per the college’s own programme history). Since 2022 it has offered online clinical blocks for its clinical training
Programmes & hours
Practical Herbalist Diploma — 1,000+ hours of herbal learning (an earlier brochure said 900+ hours / 125+ plants); 1–3 years to complete (as little as 1 year; 3 years allowed, with extensions)
Master Herbalist Diploma — 960 hours (as shown on graduate diplomas — secondary evidence; the programme page itself does not state total hours); 1–3 years to complete; only open to Practical Herbalist students/graduates (or equivalent education)
Clinical Herbalist Apprenticeship Program — relaunched 2019 after a pause; online clinical blocks from 2022. Hours and current status: not verified
Stand-alone professional/continuing-education courses (e.g. Western Energetics, Herbal Pharmacy, Materia Medica, Applied Phytotherapeutics) — individual course hours vary; not listed individually here
Tuition
From the programme pages, accessed 6 November 2026 — no year stated on the pages:
Practical Herbalist Diploma: $3,497 pay in full, or $3,780 on the 12-month plan (12 Ă— $315); printed manuals optional extra
Master Herbalist Diploma: $2,997 pay in full, or $3,228 on the 12-month plan (12 Ă— $269); printed manuals optional extra. Senior citizens (60+) get 10% off full-price tuition
Website
Reputation / standing
Longevity is verifiable (operating since 1975). Founder Dr. Terry Willard, Cl.H., Ph.D., is described on the college site as “one of North America’s leading Clinical Herbalists” with 40+ years of clinical practice and teaching; he is a past president of the CCHA and of the (defunct) Canadian Association of Herbal Practitioners, and a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. The college is run today by Terry Willard and his son Yarrow Willard. This is the Alberta-rooted option on this list — it began as a Calgary brick-and-mortar school — but it is now an online college, so check the current clinical/practicum arrangements against the association standard you are aiming for before enrolling. No independent reviews or rankings were found — reputation beyond longevity and the founder’s record is not independently verifiable.
Recognised by
Ontario Herbalists Association — lists Wild Rose College on its Herbal Education page: “Online Herbal Medicine Diploma Programs — Practical Herbalist Diploma Program (1-3 years); Master Herbalist Diploma Program (1-3 years)”
Alberta Herbalists Association — Wild Rose College was described as the AHA’s “newest business member” in the AHA Spring Newsletter 2022 (business membership, not a recognition of graduates)
Availability note: the Master Herbalist programme page at one point said the programme was “undergoing an update and will [be] available again on January 20th 2026” while also saying “Enrolment … is now open” — treat availability as verify-at-enrolment.
Flora Medicina — École d’herboristerie
Saint-André-Avellin, QC100% online · in FrenchFounded 1999
Founded
1999 (Caroline Gagnon: “I started a school in 1999, which is online since 2012”)
Address / location
13, rue St-André, Saint-André-Avellin, QC J0V 1W0, Canada
Delivery
100% online (pre-recorded courses, course forums and messaging, live meetings, community space); in French. Website confirmed live 5 November 2026
Programmes & hours
Diplôme d’herboriste communautaire (Community Herbalist Diploma) — 826+ hours; suggested route ~1 year (5 courses; full-time at 20 h/week for ~40 weeks)
Diplôme d’herboriste conseiller·ère (Herbalist Advisor Diploma) — 2,450 hours; suggested route 3.5 years (15 courses; full-time at 20 h/week, ~40 weeks/year)
Diplôme de naturopathe herboriste-thérapeute (Naturopath Herbalist-Therapist Diploma) — 3,335 hours; suggested route 5 years (18 courses, including supervised clinical practice)
Introductory classes and practicums are also offered
Tuition
Courses are paid individually per course — most courses are CA$500 each (12-month access; some courses shown at CA$200 on special offer — sale pricing). No programme total is published for any of the three diplomas
Website
Reputation / standing
Co-founder and director Caroline Gagnon is a clinical herbalist with 30 years of practice (own site/interviews); the school has operated since 1999 and teaches French-speaking students worldwide. No independent reviews or rankings were found — reputation beyond longevity and the director’s record is not independently verifiable.
Recognised by
Ontario Herbalists Association — lists Flora Medicina on its Herbal Education page: “Offers introductory level classes and practicums, plus a three-year, 1000+ hours training course for practitioners (in French).” This description is now outdated against the school’s current offering (the clinical diploma is now a 5-year, 3,335-hour programme)
Guilde des herboristes du Québec — Flora Medicina states its Naturopathe herboriste-thérapeute diploma is recognised by the Guilde for the title of Herboriste-thérapeute accrédité (HTA), and its diplomas are recognised by Quebec naturotherapy associations (ANQ, ACNN, AQTN) and by RITMA for the naturopath (Nd) title (source: the school’s own diploma pages). These are the school’s claims; the Guilde’s own site was not found to confirm the recognition
Herbal Medicine Academy of Ontario
Milton, ONHybrid
Founded
Not stated (founder Patrizia Pinto, RH, has been an OHA professional member since 2014; she established the Vedalift clinic in Milton in 2013)
Address / location
Milton, Ontario (in-person training at Vedalift, Milton). Telephone: 905-875-4114
Delivery
Hybrid (blended) — self-paced online text-based curriculum plus in-person clinical training one weekend per month; 350+ clinical hours
Programmes & hours
Clinical Herbalist Diploma Program — 2 years (six-semester intensive designed to train professional herbalists); 350+ clinical hours; 150+ herbs studied. Total programme hours: not stated. The programme was previously offered in Toronto by Diane Kent, R.H., M.N.I.M.H., and is now offered by Patrizia Pinto, R.H.
Tuition
Not published — no tuition figure appears on the academy’s website or in any source found; contact the academy
Website
Reputation / standing
Not verifiable beyond the founder’s credentials (Registered Herbalist, OHA professional member since 2014; “over 25 years experience in healthcare”). No independent reviews were found.
Recognised by
Ontario Herbalists Association — lists the Herbal Medicine Academy of Ontario on its Herbal Education page: “Clinical Herbalist Diploma Program, Milton, Ontario” — the current offering of the former Diane Kent Clinical Herbalist Diploma Program (two-year, 6-semester intensive), now offered by Patrizia Pinto, RH
Also on the Canadian list
Mohawk College of Applied Arts & Technology (Hamilton, ON) — listed for completeness only: its herbal programme is no longer available. Previous graduates may still be eligible for OHA professional membership (OHA Herbal Education page). Do not list as a current school.
Athabasca University (Biology 321) — a wildflower correspondence course with a 10-day field-study component; the OHA lists it under associated interest courses. Useful learning, not a professional herbalist programme or a route to professional membership on its own.
Health Schools Australia (Queensland, Australia) — listed on the OHA page under “International”: Advanced Diploma in Western Herbal Medicine, 300 seminar + clinic hours, correspondence, NHAA-approved course. Tuition: not verified. Included only because a Canadian association (OHA) points to it.
3. US and UK schools (secondary list)
The Ontario Herbalists Association does not name individual US schools. For the US it points readers to the American Herbalists Guild’s Directory of Herbal Education, and for the UK it points readers to programmes accredited by the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH). Being listed in the Guild’s directory is a listing, not Canadian recognition — and the OHA states that membership in another association does not mean automatic acceptance as an OHA professional member. The schools below are representative examples from those two directories; they are not individually named by the OHA, and no Canadian association recognition of their graduates was verified.
What about the popular online schools?
Schools such as the Herbal Academy and the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine are well known and widely used for learning herbalism at home. They are not on the Ontario Herbalists Association’s list of schools whose programmes may meet its professional-membership standards, and no evidence was found that they meet the associations’ professional requirements (around 1,500+ hours including supervised clinical practice). That does not make them bad courses; it makes them a different thing — general herbal education, not professional clinical training. If a school’s website does not state its total hours and its supervised clinical hours, ask before you enrol.
United States
The Herbal Academy
USAOnline, self-paced
Founded
2010 (secondary source — the school’s own founding date was not verified on its site)
Address / location
USA (online school); street address not verified
Delivery
Online, self-paced, lifetime access to purchased courses; student community and instructor access
Programmes & hours
Introductory Herbal Course — self-paced; the school suggests ~4–6 months to complete (access for up to 1 year). Clock hours: not published
Intermediate Herbal Course — suggests ~6–8 months (access up to 2 years). Clock hours: not published
Business Herbal Course — access up to 2 years. Clock hours: not published
Advanced Herbal Course (freshly expanded) — access up to 3 years. Clock hours: not published
Clinical Skills Herbal Course — new; details and hours not published on the pages found
Herbal Path Packages (bundles): Family Herbalist (Intro + Intermediate), Entrepreneur Herbalist (Intro + Intermediate + Business), Professional Herbalist (Intermediate + Advanced), Clinical Herbalist (Intro + Intermediate + Advanced + Clinical Skills)
Short courses (e.g. Botanical Skin Care, Foraging, Mushroom, Tea Blending 101) — prices vary; not listed individually
Tuition (USD)
Conflicting sources — verify at checkout. BestColleges (updated 22 May 2026) lists: Introductory $349 · Intermediate $647 · Business $799 · Advanced $1,999 · Path Packages — Family $996, Entrepreneur $1,795, Professional $2,644, Clinical $3,249. The Academy’s own support pages show older, lower figures (Advanced $1,549; a 2024 transfer page prices the new Advanced + Clinical Skills courses at $2,497), and its course pages do not display prices in text. Payment plans are available. The BestColleges figures are used here as the most recent dated source
Website
Reputation / standing
One of the largest US online herbal schools; widely listed in “best herbalism courses” round-ups. No independent reviews were verified for this page.
Recognised by
None by name. Included only because the OHA points US readers to the American Herbalists Guild’s Directory of Herbal Education, in which US schools such as the Herbal Academy are listed. No Canadian association recognition of Herbal Academy graduates was verified
Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine
Asheville, NC, USAOnline, self-pacedFounded 2007
Founded
2007 (own website: “teaching herbalism since 2007”; founded by Juliet Blankespoor). Some secondary sources say 1998 — conflicting; 2007 is the school’s own statement
Address / location
Asheville, North Carolina, USA (Cherokee Nation territory / Southern Appalachian Mountains); courses online
Delivery
Online, self-paced
Programmes & hours
Online Herbal Immersion Program — 1,200 hours; usually takes ~2.5 years
Online Herbal Medicine Making Course — 150 hours
Foraging Course: Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants — hours not verified
Herbal Medicine for Beginners — hours not verified
Free Herbal Immersion Program Sampler — free introductory course
Tuition (USD)
Conflicting/secondary sources — verify at checkout. Herbal Immersion Program: $3,399 or $159/month for 24 months (Botanical Institute round-up, undated); a 2023 giveaway page valued one enrolment at $2,499 (conflicts). Medicine Making Course: $599 (payment plans from $52/month) per a secondary funnel page. Herbal Medicine for Beginners: $119 × 6 monthly payments (secondary round-up). No tuition figure was verified on the school’s own site
Website
Reputation / standing
Described in round-ups as “a leader in herbal education” and “one of the best online herbalism schools”; founder Juliet Blankespoor is a published herbal author. No independent reviews were verified for this page.
Recognised by
None by name — included only via the OHA’s pointer to the American Herbalists Guild directory. No Canadian association recognition verified
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism (VCIH)
Montpelier, VT, USABlended
Founded
Not stated (not verified)
Address / location
Montpelier, Vermont, USA (intensives held in Vermont)
Delivery
Blended — live online weekly classes (65% live attendance required) plus a required 6-day in-person summer intensive in Vermont
Programmes & hours
Herbal Roots Apprenticeship — 188 hours, 7 months (Sundays, April–November; stand-alone or prerequisite)
Family Herbalist — 358.25 hours, 10.5 months
Clinical Herbalist — 1,626 hours, 3 years (includes the Family Herbalist year)
Tuition (USD)
Rates effective for the 2027 February–December year, locked in on admission:
Herbal Roots Apprenticeship: $2,820
Family Herbalist: $5,050
Clinical Herbalist: Year 1 $5,050; Year 2 $9,665; Year 3 $9,050 — total $23,765
Books/materials not included (~$300/year for Family/Clinical; ~$100 for Herbal Roots); travel/housing/food for intensives not included. An older comparison chart showed lower figures — superseded by the 2027 rates above.
Website
Reputation / standing
Not independently verified
Recognised by
None by name — included only via the OHA’s pointer to the American Herbalists Guild directory. No Canadian association recognition verified
United Kingdom — NIMH-accredited programmes
These are UK programmes accredited by the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, the body the OHA points to.
Lincoln College University Centre — BSc (Hons) Clinical Herbalism
Lincoln, England, UKIn-person, full-time
Founded
Not stated (the college’s herbalism course is not dated in the sources found)
Address / location
Lincoln, England, UK (in-person). Direct programme page: lincolncollege.ac.uk (UCAS course code B342)
Delivery
In-person, full-time (3 years). The degree is validated by the Open University (per the college’s course page)
Programmes & hours
BSc (Hons) Clinical Herbalism — 3 years full-time; nearly 500 hours of clinical training at the college’s own complementary medicine clinic. Total programme hours: not published as a single figure
Tuition (GBP)
Conflicting UCAS snapshots — verify. UCAS 2026 entry: England £9,790/year; EU/International £9,995/year. UCAS 2025 entry showed England £9,250/year (and £9,535 in another snapshot). Use the 2026-entry figure and re-check
Website
Reputation / standing
Described by Herbal Reality as “the last remaining degree course in Medical Herbalism in the UK.” Accredited by NIMH and EHTPA (UCAS lists both; Lincoln College’s own course page lists EHTPA accreditation and says graduates are eligible to join NIMH, CPP, or URHP). No independent reviews were verified.
Recognised by
None by name — included because the OHA points UK readers to NIMH-accredited programmes, and this course is accredited by NIMH (and EHTPA); graduates are eligible for NIMH, CPP and URHP membership
Betonica School of Herbal Medicine
UKBlendedFounded 2016
Founded
2016 (community interest company; “founded in 2016” per the school’s own pages)
Address / location
UK (seminar weekends and clinic days in person; exact address not verified)
Delivery
Blended — online learning plus in-person seminar weekends and clinic days
Programmes & hours
Medical Herbalist Training Programme (Professional Diploma in Herbal Medicine) — 4 years (3 years with direct access to Year 2 if prerequisites met); minimum 500 clinical training hours (Year 2: 100 h; Year 3: 200 h; Year 4: 200 h); degree-level (Level 6, same level as a bachelor’s degree); covers pathology, anatomy, botany, pharmacology, and materia medica. Total programme hours: not published as a single figure
Home Herbalist courses (online and in-person) — 1 year, 13 modules (hours not verified)
Tuition (GBP)
Academic year September 2026 – July 2027, from the school’s Fees & Financial Support page:
Medical Herbalist Programme: Year 1 £3,550; Year 2 £4,000; Year 3 £4,450; Year 4 £4,550 — total £16,550; non-refundable deposit £350. Fees are reviewed annually and expected to rise; a fixed-fee option (same monthly amount for all four years) is offered. A £1,000/year Herbal Reality bursary exists for one Year 1 student
Home Herbalist course: £450 total (secondary source, Substack July 2025 — not verified on the school’s own site)
Website
Reputation / standing
The school states it is “the only herbal medicine school in the UK accredited by both the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and the European Health and Traditional Practitioners Association”; NIMH-accredited September 2021, EHTPA-accredited August 2026. No independent reviews were verified.
Recognised by
None by name — included via the OHA’s pointer to NIMH-accredited programmes. Its NIMH accreditation is the link, not a Canadian recognition
Heartwood Education
UKBlended — online + face-to-face clinicalFounded 2016
Founded
2016 (“Heartwood Education was established in 2016”). It is the flagship education project of the Herbal Medicine Trust, formerly the NIMH Education Fund
Address / location
UK (online + face-to-face clinical training locations; exact address not verified)
Delivery
Blended — online education plus face-to-face clinical training; open to students outside the UK
Programmes & hours
Foundation Course in Herbal Medicine — 1 year, online (12 units); stepping stone to the Professional Course. Hours: not published as a total
Professional Course in Herbal Medicine (Diploma in Herbal Medicine) — 4-year or 6-year pathway; study at Level 6 (BSc level) with a clinical apprenticeship, across 17 modules. The school’s Professional Course page describes it as ~3,600 academic study hours plus 500 clinical training hours; the research for this page did not find a single published total programme-hours figure. Recommended study 21–30 h/week (4-year) or 14–21 h/week (6-year)
Advanced Foundation Course and CPD short courses — various; not listed individually
Tuition (GBP)
September 2026 intake, from the school’s fees pages:
Foundation Course: ÂŁ499 in full (enrolment fee ÂŁ99 non-refundable; remainder ÂŁ400)
Professional Course, 4-year pathway: £3,711.75/year — total £14,847 (payable per term £1,237.25 or monthly £309.32)
Professional Course, 6-year pathway: £2,807.84/year — total £16,847 (per term £935.95 or monthly £233.99)
Enrolment fee ÂŁ150 (non-refundable) for the Professional Course; a ÂŁ4,000 Herbal Medicine Trust bursary is offered to one student per intake.
Website
Reputation / standing
Established by the Herbal Medicine Trust after university herbal-medicine degrees closed in the UK. Accredited by NIMH — Heartwood’s own Professional Course page states this directly, and a National Institute of Medical Herbalists conference page also describes it as the “NIMH-accredited Heartwood Professional Course.” The Professional Course diploma “confers eligibility to apply for membership of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.” No independent reviews were verified.
Recognised by
None by name — included via the OHA’s pointer to NIMH-accredited programmes; the NIMH-eligibility link is the connection, not a Canadian recognition
Also noted (UK, not fully profiled): School of Herbal Medicine (UK, founded 2015) — six-year professional Advanced Diploma in Medical Herbalism, working towards accreditation (Herbal Reality). Tuition not verified — not profiled in full because accreditation and fees could not be verified.
4. Association education standards, compared
These are the standards the schools above are measured against. Every association that publishes education standards is listed in the same format: credential, total hours, the hour breakdown, the in-person clinical requirement, whether membership in another association counts, and the source.
Standards at a glanceAssociationCredentialTotal hoursCore herbalHealth sciencesSupervised clinicalIn-person clinical minimumOHA (ON)RH1,500min 500min 350min 350min 250 of 350 in personBCHA (BC)RHT2,000 training + 500 clinicalnot statednot statedmin 500min 250 of 500 in personBCHA (BC)HAmin 1,200500 (incl. materia medica min 250)350not verifiednot statedAHA (AB)RH1,500500*350*100 supervised (from Feb 2021)not statedAHA (AB)RH———+ 200 semi-supervised = 300 practicum total—HANS (NS)RHPnot published (under review)not statednot statednot statednot statedHANB (NB)RHPnot publishednot statednot statednot statednot statedGuilde (QC)HTAnot statednot statednot statednot statednot statedCCHA—n/an/an/an/an/a
* AHA core/sciences split: the 500 core / 350 health-sciences / 350 additional-subjects breakdown comes from the AHA Education Standards document summarised in the original draft of this page; the newer research could not re-verify the split from public sources (the detailed standards sit behind the AHA member login). The updated clinical standard (100 supervised + 200 semi-supervised, from 1 February 2021) is from the AHA’s own 2020 AGM minutes. See the AHA card below.
Ontario Herbalists Association — Registered Herbalist (RH)
1,500 hours total
Total hours
Minimum 1,500 hours (single programme of education; four sub-categories exist, including equivalents — category 1(a) is set out here)
Core herbal subjects
Minimum 500 hours (materia medica, herbal therapeutics, herbal pharmacology, herbal pharmacy, history and philosophy of herbalism, herbal energetics, field identification; focused primarily on a single herbal tradition, e.g. Western herbalism)
Health sciences
Minimum 350 hours (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, nutrition)
Supervised clinical
Minimum 350 hours of practical supervised clinic (client/patient consultations, assessment, protocol development, remedy formulation, herbal dispensing, record keeping, follow-up). Practicum hours are included in the 350 — no separate practicum figure
Other / complementary
The balance of the 1,500 — at least 1,100 hours of instruction/training in total, of which the 500 core + 350 sciences are minima (the remaining ~250 hours are not allocated by the standards — “not stated” as a category)
In-person clinical
At least 250 of the 350 supervised clinical hours must be completed in person; up to 100 hours may be completed online. Warning (OHA Herbal Education page): “Please note many programs do not include the required in-person clinical hours. The OHA is currently in the process of creating additional opportunities for students to get clinical hours, including supervised hours with Registered Herbalists and hands-on experience through the upcoming Clinical Herb Camp.”
Other association?
No — not automatically. “Please note that membership in other professional associations, regardless of required standards, does not necessarily mean automatic acceptance as a professional member of the OHA.” (Applying for Professional Membership page)
Source
Education Standards for Professional Membership (standards updated January 2011); application procedure
British Columbia Herbalists Association — RHT & HA
RHT: 2,000 + 500 hoursHA: min 1,200 hours
Total hours
RHT: minimum 2,000 training hours plus minimum 500 hours of supervised clinical experience (whether the 500 clinical hours sit inside or on top of the 2,000 is not stated on the RHT page). HA: minimum 1,200 total hours (BCHA HA Education Guidelines)
Core herbal subjects
RHT split: not stated on the RHT membership page (the page links to separate education-requirements documents that were not verified). HA: 500 hours (including Materia Medica and Herbal Therapeutics, minimum 250 hours; also philosophy of Western herbalism, plant chemistry, history, ethics, pharmacology, safe use, interactions, pharmacokinetics, energetics)
Health sciences
RHT split: not stated. HA: 350 hours (anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, histology, embryology, microbiology, pediatrics, gynecology, geriatrics, dermatology, biochemistry, midwifery, psychology, etc.)
Supervised clinical
RHT: minimum 500 hours. HA practicum/clinical hours: the HA guidelines’ clinical-practice component was not fully extracted — not verified. Other/complementary (HA): additional hours above the minima or advanced training in the listed categories may count as elective hours
In-person clinical
RHT — a minimum of 250 of the 500 supervised clinical hours must take place with the student and supervisor physically in person together; up to 250 may be virtual. No general warning about programmes lacking in-person hours was found on the BCHA pages checked. The BCHA also states it does not endorse particular schooling and looks at the entirety of an applicant’s training
Other association?
Not stated on the pages checked
Source
RHT membership · HA Education Guidelines (PDF) · FAQ (unregulated status)
Alberta Herbalists Association — Registered Herbalist (RH)
1,500 hours total
Total hours
1,500 hours of varied herbal medicine training (including human sciences)
Core herbal subjects
Split not stated in the newer sources found. The original draft of this page, from the AHA Education Standards document, gives: at least 500 hours core herbal subjects, 350 hours health sciences, and 350 hours additional/complementary subjects — retained here; the detailed standards document now sits behind the AHA member login and was not re-verified
Health sciences
Included in the 1,500 (“that also includes human sciences”) — hour figure not stated in the newer sources (350 hours per the draft breakdown above)
Supervised clinical
50 hours supervised + 100 hours semi-supervised clinic (older summary, Wild Rose College professionalism document, c. 2021) — superseded, see below
Updated standard
AHA 2020 AGM minutes record that the continuing-education standard rises to 40 h/year and “the new standard will be: Minimum 100 hours of supervised clinical practice + 200 hours semisupervised clinical practice for a total of 300 hours”, effective 1 February 2021 (new members; existing professional members grandfathered). Training from a programme not recognised by the AHA is assessed individually on detailed transcripts
In-person clinical
Not stated in the sources found — no in-person minimum for the practicum was found
Other association?
Not stated in the sources found
Source
Wild Rose College summary of the three associations (PDF) · AHA 2020 AGM minutes (PDF) · AHA professional requirements hub (detailed Education Standards document sits behind the member login — not verified)
Herbalist Association of Nova Scotia — Registered Herbal Practitioner (RHP)
Hours not published — under review
Total hours
Not published on the current pages — the association states the CCHA “is currently in the process of updating the federal educational standard recommendations for herbalist practitioners” and that professional applications are being reviewed under “adjusted standards” (the Become-a-Member page said applications were paused until a new process launched “later in 2025”; the Professional Membership page says “WE ARE REVIEWING APPLICATIONS” — the two pages conflict as published)
Hour breakdown
Core herbal subjects: not stated · health sciences: not stated · supervised clinical hours: not stated · practicum hours: not stated · other/complementary hours: not stated
In-person clinical
Not stated
Other association?
Not stated
Source
Become a Member · Professional Membership
Herbalist Association of New Brunswick — Registered Herbal Practitioner (RHP)
Hours not published
Total hours
Not published — the association says professional membership is for those who have “completed the appropriate training/accreditation hours” without stating the number
Hour breakdown
Core herbal subjects: not stated · health sciences: not stated · supervised clinical hours: not stated · practicum hours: not stated · other/complementary hours: not stated
In-person clinical
Not stated
Other association?
Not stated
Source
haofnb.ca · practitioner directory
Guilde des herboristes du Québec — Herboriste-thérapeute accrédité (HTA)
Hours not stated
Total hours
Not stated in the sources found. Accreditation is by peer-evaluated dossier; the Guilde has accredited herbalist-therapists since 2006
Hour breakdown
Core herbal subjects: not stated · health sciences: not stated · supervised clinical hours: not stated · practicum hours: not stated · other/complementary hours: not stated
In-person clinical
Not stated
Other association?
Not stated
Source
guildedesherboristes.org (mission). Note: Flora Medicina states its 3,335-hour Naturopathe herboriste-thérapeute diploma is recognised by the Guilde for the HTA title (school’s own claim — see schools)
Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations — no individual standard
Credentials no individuals
Credential
None — the CCHA credentials no individuals
Total hours
Not applicable. But the CCHA is the body updating the federal educational-standard recommendations that HANS refers to
School list
The CCHA publishes no school list (checked 6 November 2026 — no list of recognised schools was found on its website)
Source
herbalccha.org/about · Constitution (PDF)
5. Before you enrol: regulation, clinical hours and recognition
Herbalism is not regulated in Canada or the US. No government licence is required — or available — to practise as a herbalist in Canada; the provincial associations above are self-regulating bodies. A school diploma alone does not make someone a Registered Herbalist / Registered Herbal Therapist; the credential comes from meeting a provincial association’s education standards and peer-review process.
Check the in-person clinical hours. The OHA requires at least 250 in-person supervised clinical hours out of 350; the BCHA requires at least 250 in-person out of 500. The OHA warns that “many programs do not include the required in-person clinical hours” — fully online programmes (e.g. Wild Rose, Flora Medicina, Herbal Academy, Chestnut) may not by themselves satisfy a provincial association’s clinical requirement. Ask the school how its graduates meet the clinical hours, and ask the association before enrolling.
Check recognition with the association you intend to join. The OHA lists schools that “may offer programs that meet these qualifications” and tells applicants to consult its Educational Standards to confirm. The CCHA publishes no school list. Recognition claims in the schools section are sourced per claim; where a claim is the school’s own statement, that is flagged.
Verify tuition at enrolment. Several figures on this page come from enrolment contracts, dated fee schedules, or dated secondary round-ups (flagged in place); fees change annually and sale prices appear on some school sites. Where tuition is “not published”, contact the school.
Membership in one association does not transfer automatically. The OHA states expressly that membership in another professional association does not necessarily mean automatic acceptance; the position of the other associations was not stated in the sources found.
Three questions to ask any school
How many total hours is the programme, and how many are supervised clinical hours with real clients?
Does the programme meet the educational standards of the association I want to join (OHA, BCHA, or AHA)?
Can graduates show me where they are now — practising, insured, and members of a professional association?
6. Sources
All URLs accessed/read 6 November 2026 unless noted. Research compiled 6 November 2026; the original draft of this page was prepared 5 November 2026 and checked against the sources listed in it. Currency: Canadian dollars (CAD) unless stated otherwise.
Associations
CCHA — About: herbalccha.org/about · Constitution (Aug 2021, PDF): herbalccha.org · Annual Summary Oct 2022–Oct 2023 (PDF): herbalccha.org · Board of Directors: herbalccha.org/about/board-of-directors · Inaugural meeting report, Feb 2005 (PDF): herbalccha.org/media/report1.pdf
BCHA — The Association (history): bcherbalists.ca/The-Association · Join us (fees): bcherbalists.ca/join-us · RHT Membership: bcherbalists.ca/page-18090 · Associate Membership: bcherbalists.ca/page-18092 · Student Membership: bcha.wildapricot.org/page-18093 · FAQ: bcherbalists.ca/Faq-Page · HA Education Guidelines (PDF): bcherbalists.ca
AHA — Who We Are: albertaherbalists.com/who-we-are · Why Join?: albertaherbalists.com/why-become-a-member · Join/Renew: albertaherbalists.com/join-renew · Professional Membership Requirements: albertaherbalists.com · 2020 AGM minutes (PDF): albertaherbalists.com · Associate Member Form: albertaherbalists.com · Education Standards (PDF, via original draft): albertaherbalists.com · 2019 history/fees (secondary blog): sensesofthesoul.ca
Herb Society of Manitoba — Programming/fees: herbsocietymb.com/programming.html · Membership form 2025–2026 (PDF): herbsocietymb.com · TERMIUM record (founded 1995): btb.termiumplus.gc.ca
OHA — Home: ontarioherbalists.ca/oha · Membership: ontarioherbalists.ca/oha-membership · General Membership: ontarioherbalists.ca · Student Membership: ontarioherbalists.ca · Professional Membership: ontarioherbalists.ca · Applying for Professional Membership: ontarioherbalists.ca · Application Procedure: ontarioherbalists.ca · Education Standards: ontarioherbalists.ca · President’s Remarks, AGM 2021 (founded 1982/inc. 1983): ontarioherbalists.ca · Herbal Education (school list): ontarioherbalists.ca/herbalism/herbal-education
Guilde des herboristes du Québec — Mission (founded 1995; 400+ members): guildedesherboristes.org/pages/mission · Regular member shop page (fees $60/$80/$85): guildedesherboristes.org · Background (Plantes et Santé interview): plantes-et-sante.fr
HANB — Home: haofnb.ca · Practitioner directory: haofnb.ca/hanb-directory · Herbal Education: haofnb.ca/herbal-education
HANS — Home: herbalns.org · History: herbalns.org · Become a Member: herbalns.org · Professional Membership: herbalns.org · Practitioners: herbalns.org/practitioners
Saskatchewan Consultant Herbalist Association — CCHA inaugural report (founding member, 2005): herbalccha.org/media/report1.pdf · CCHA Council of Elders, Flo Lavallie: herbalccha.org
Historical bodies — Canadian Association of Herbal Practitioners / Canadian Herb Society (HerbNET directory c. 2004): pdfroom.com
Wild Rose College professionalism/standards summary (OHA/BCHA/AHA compared): uploads.wildrosecollege.com (PDF)
Schools — Canada
Dominion Herbal College — home/programmes & FAQ: dominionherbalcollege.com · Chartered Herbalist contract 2024 (PDF): dominionherbalcollege.com · Master Herbalist contract 2024 (PDF): dominionherbalcollege.com · Herbal Consulting contract 2025–26 (PDF): dominionherbalcollege.com · Clinical Herbal Therapy per-year fees (BC PTIB trustee decisions 2024–2025): privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca · privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca · ALIS (Government of Alberta), Clinical Herbal Therapy: alis.alberta.ca
Pacific Rim College — School of Western Herbal Medicine: pacificrimcollege.com · Tuition Breakdown (PDF): portal.pacificrimcollege.com · PRCOnline Community Herbalist: pacificrimcollege.online · Home Herbalist: pacificrimcollege.online · About: pacificrimcollege.online/about
Wild Rose College — Practical Herbalist Diploma: wildrosecollege.com · Master Herbalist Diploma: wildrosecollege.com · About Us / history: wildrosecollege.com/about-us · Dr. Terry Willard: wildrosecollege.com · Canadian Herb Conference profile (founded 1975): herbconference.com/marketplace
Flora Medicina — Herboriste communautaire: floramedicina.com · Herboriste conseiller·ère: floramedicina.com · Naturopathe herboriste-thérapeute: floramedicina.com
Herbal Medicine Academy of Ontario: herbalmedicine.academy · founder (Vedalift): vedalift.com/our-team
Schools — US / UK (secondary)
Herbal Academy — courses: theherbalacademy.com · Introductory Herbal Course: theherbalacademy.com · prices (BestColleges, updated 22 May 2026): bestcolleges.com · course lengths/prices (official support): herbalacademy.freshdesk.com
Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine — Online Herbal Immersion Program: chestnutherbs.com · prices (Botanical Institute round-up): botanicalinstitute.org
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism — Admission Procedure/tuition: vtherbcenter.org · FAQs: vtherbcenter.org · Herbal Roots: vtherbcenter.org
Lincoln College BSc Clinical Herbalism — UCAS, 2026 entry: explore.ucas.com · direct programme page (via original draft): lincolncollege.ac.uk
Betonica School of Herbal Medicine — Fees & Financial Support (2026–27): betonica.co.uk · About the Professional Programme: betonica.co.uk
Heartwood Education — Fees and Enrolment: heartwoodeducation.net · Professional Course fees Sept 2026 (PDF): heartwoodeducation.net · Course Prospectus: heartwoodeducation.net · Professional Course page (NIMH accreditation, via original draft): heartwoodeducation.net
Herbal Reality — UK herbal schools list: herbalreality.com · American Herbalists Guild (directory pointer): americanherbalistsguild.com · National Institute of Medical Herbalists (accreditation pointer): nimh.org.uk
7. What could not be verified
Stated plainly, so nothing on this page rests on a guess:
AHA (Alberta) current membership fees — not published on the association’s public website; only a dated Associate $25/year (2019) found. AHA current membership size — only 70 members in 2019 found. AHA detailed hour split (core vs sciences within the 1,500 hours) and any in-person clinical minimum — not found in newer sources; its detailed Education Standards document sits behind the member login (the draft’s 500/350/350 split is retained and flagged in place).
OHA General Membership fee — not stated on the OHA website’s General Membership page (professional $254.25 and student $50.85 are published).
BCHA membership size — not published. BCHA RHT detailed hour split (core vs sciences) — the RHT page links to education-requirements documents that were not verified.
Guilde HTA membership fee and HTA hour requirement — not found on the Guilde’s site.
HANB founding year, membership fees and RHP hour requirement — not stated/published on its website.
HANS current membership size and RHP hour requirement — history page says “over 40 members” (undated); professional standards are under CCHA review and the two HANS pages conflict on whether applications are paused or being reviewed.
Saskatchewan — no current western-herbalist practitioner association could be verified; the Saskatchewan Consultant Herbalist Association appears defunct (no website/activity).
PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, NWT, Nunavut — no herbalist associations found.
Dominion Clinical Herbal Therapy current tuition — no current schedule published; only historical per-year contract figures (2021–2024). Dominion CHT total programme hours — not published as a single figure.
Pacific Rim College online (PRCOnline) programme tuition (Home/Community Herbalist Online) — not published on the programme pages found. PRC Phytotherapy clock hours — college publishes credits (128), not hours. PRC founding — 2006 per PRCOnline (an agent ad said “Est. 2015” — not used).
Wild Rose Master Herbalist total hours (960) — shown on graduate diplomas (secondary evidence), not stated on the programme page. Wild Rose Clinical Herbalist Apprenticeship current status/hours — not verified. Wild Rose current mailing address — not verified on the live site.
Flora Medicina programme totals — courses are priced individually (CA$500 each); no total per diploma is published.
Herbal Medicine Academy of Ontario tuition, total programme hours, and founding date — not published/not stated anywhere found.
Herbal Academy prices — conflicting sources (BestColleges May 2026 vs the Academy’s own older support pages; course pages show no prices in text). Herbal Academy founding date (2010) and address — secondary/unverified.
Chestnut School tuition — conflicting secondary figures ($3,399 vs a $2,499 valuation); nothing verified on the school’s own site. Founding-year conflict (2007 own site vs 1998 in secondary sources).
Lincoln College tuition — UCAS 2026 entry (£9,790 England) conflicts with 2025-entry snapshots (£9,250/£9,535); re-check before relying on it.
Betonica Home Herbalist price (£450) — secondary source only, not verified on the school’s site.
Reputation/reviews for all schools — no independent reviews, rankings, or alumni-outcome data were found for any school; reputation statements are limited to verifiable longevity, founder records, accreditation, and the schools’ own claims, as flagged in place.
“Canadian Herbalist Association” as a distinct national body — no such current body was found; the name traces to the former BC provincial association.
CCHA member-association list — no single current membership list page was found on the CCHA site; membership is evidenced from board representation and annual summaries.
Herb Society of Manitoba founding year — 1995 (TERMIUM) vs “est. 1996” (2007 magazine article); 1995 used, conflict flagged.
HANS membership-year dates — general/associate 1 June–31 May vs professional 1 July–30 June as published; conflict flagged.
Compiled 6 November 2026 from the associations’ and schools’ own websites and the directories cited above; incorporates the Rocky Mountain Herbs draft of 5 November 2026 in full — nothing from it was removed. Figures marked “not published”, “not stated”, or “not verified” were not found in the sources checked — they are gaps, not zeros. Fees and tuition change; verify at enrolment.