Naturopath/Clinical Herbalist
Diploma Program  (2,160 hr/2 yr)

Note: The school reserves the right to change “order, topics and teachers “ that may be listed in any schedule, at any time according to needs and availability within the school structure, as well as add or subtract required books with courteous and relevant notification. This information is an outline of the program focus, topic descriptions, and program benefits to students and staff.

Tuition $13,800 plus $1,700 lab fees

Pay in full or pay a $5,500 deposit with remainder in a Payment Plan (with full balances due in 12 months) An additional administrative fee is charged to set up a payment plan.

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Students may enter the Naturopath program in September or in January.

Deadlines for enrollment are as follows:
July 1st for September classes

December 15th for January classes

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Books, Equipment & Supplies

Students purchase their own books, equipment and supplies. These items must be obtained and on-hand prior to the start date of the program and will become part of your own professional collection to perform field work and clinic.   

 

Students may acquire the books, supplies and equipment wherever they wish. Provided shopping links are for your convenience only.

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Course Outline

First Year Focus

The Foundational Skills of Naturopath Practice  

  • Anatomy & Physiology - (125 hours minimum) composed of lecture, demonstration, and practicum, for basic and holistic Anatomy and Physiology Studies.

  • Pathology

  • Marketing and Business - Guidance, Exercises and Assignments in simple business structures and marketing approaches.

  • Clinical Skills

  • Naturopathic Physical Medicine - several models are presented to help students understand the important and vital differences inherent in natural medicine practice, as differ from allopathic medical practice. These models are simple, and useful for future reference when interpreting intakes and when communicating with clients about their health goals and progress.

  • Healing Diets

  • Herbal Medicine

  • Hydrotherapy

  • Assessment methods - An aspect of training which provides different, often cross-validating methods of gathering data, and includes reflex assessment, colon and abdominal palpation, soft tissue palpation , interview skills, written intakes, and Iris Analysis – using the study of Iridology to bring data about body tissue states , and consequently, methods to rejuvenate.

  • Energy medicine 

  • Medic Skills and Vital Signs - Naturopaths can learn to perform and employ an array of skills to measure physiological data, leading to the ability to counsel for wellness, and very possibly help clients avoid a life of medical drugs. These include and are not limited to Blood Pressure Readings, oximeter, pulses, listening to various body systems with a stethoscope, using an Otoscope and Ear Lavage

  • Ethics - Several texts, discussions, and lecture are employed to focus on the ethics, boundaries, and professional comportment of the healing arts professions we train for. A minimum of ten clock hours, and more with integrative discussion, is are devoted to Ethics. 

  • Naturopath “8 Pillars” Model and additional models of naturopath structure

  • Foundational skills - Numerous hands-on healing skills for applied natural therapeutics are taught in this area of study.

  • Faridean Constitutional Iris Analysis and Client Assessment - AASM follows primarily this structure for interpreting iris examination data to create an interface with clients and to provide a treatment plan structure and documentation for initial and future work, and as clinical training.

  • Identity -  is taught because we ARE different from allopathic doctors and nurses, we follow a different model of evaluation and treatment, we use different language and words, and as practitioners we benefit from the strength and structure of conveying who we are, what we can offer, and how we work - through learning the identity of this profession.

 

HERBAL MEDICINE: Be aware that ALL of natural medicine training serves as superior education for those wishing to orient as a professional herbalist, and that we are incorporating /integrating curriculum to fulfill and exceed AHG educational requirements. Be aware that Mary Light and Gaia Center/ AASM is pioneering educational methods and theories in this field. That said, AHG , and likely other future oversee/jobs, requires CLINICAL HOURS, which we can provide/supervise in our setting, beyond the natural medicine diploma program, as continuing education provided by master herbalist Mary Light in conjunction with Gaia Center activities.

 

Classes are scheduled from 10- 4:30 in a set schedule, which is not a weekly schedule, it is more of a twice a month module type schedule. We schedule modules Thursdays through Saturday, and, again, NOT every week, only TWICE a month, along with specific holiday breaks. Attendance is taken seriously, so students should consider that they can work their life, travels, and other plans around this professional program education schedule.

 

Second Year Focus  

The Naturopath Intern

  • Integration of Skills

  • Advanced Herbal Medicine Principles and Practices

  • Clinical Internship

  • Required Teaching for the Pillar of Education and Counsel

  • 8 month Master Thesis Research Project with Oral and written presentation

 

Students in their second year have a clinical class schedule, currently on alternative THURSDAYS, from 10:00-3. They no longer meet in the first year “module “ format.

Be aware that the ACTUAL SCHEDULE is made between the actual class participants, and Admin. which is why dates are not pre-selected and posted. This schedule favors time to conduct their Master Thesis research project, Clinical Internship Requirements, as well as access direct experience in a clinical and public setting with an herbal medicine apothecary and dispensary.

 

Senior Naturopaths have a TEACHING REQUIREMENT. This entails completing 20 hours of simple teaching with full guidance from the School. AASM schedules in options for senior students, and then the students can sign up for specific dates and times. The topics are drawn from FIRST YEAR material, and include participation in herbal medicine, bodywork, A & P, and other topics. Who are you presenting to? The new freshman class, under supervision- or another audience, including a public setting.