Independent Study Guidelines

Your independent study should directly enhance your knowledge and skills in clinical herbalism and therapeutic herbalism. We accept independent study hours only for topics that fall within these four categories:

Basic Sciences
Anatomy, physiology, pathology, chemistry, nutrition, and other relevant human sciences.

Materia Medica / Therapeutic Herbalism
Herbal actions, energetics, materia medica, therapeutic herbalism, formulation, and clinical application of herbs.

Apothecary Management
Herbal preparation and extraction methods, quality control, safety, general apothecary management practices and record keeping, and relevant regulatory considerations.

Botany Studies
Plant identification, taxonomy, fieldwork and sustainable harvesting practices, and other botanical knowledge relevant to the use of medicinal herbs.

The following subjects may not be included as herbal education hours:

• Gardening and permaculture
• General plant sciences that are not directly relevant to herbal practice
• Massage and bodywork
• Aromatherapy
• Flower-essence therapy
• Gemmotherapy
• Homeopathy
• Reiki
• Craniosacral therapy
• Iridology
• Acupressure
• Kinesiology
• Astrology
• Chakra or crystal healing

Keep your documentation concise and organized, including certificates, transcripts, registration confirmations, reading logs, and other documents. Don’t wait until you’re ready to apply to start documenting your education history. Maintaining a simple independent study log will make documenting hours for your application much easier. You may be asked to provide supporting documentation during the application process. See Organizing Your Independent Study example below.

General Herbal Studies

For each educational activity documented, include:

• Course or event name
• Instructor, when applicable
• Sponsoring organization and its website
• Date completed
• Total hours completed

Do not include detailed course descriptions or curricula. A concise description is all that’s needed; if we need more details, we’ll contact you. If you were provided certificates of completion for any education you completed, you will have the opportunity to include them in your application. 

Conferences & Symposia

For any herb conference or symposium you attend, list the event name, dates, total hours attended, and event website, if available. Do not list individual sessions attended.

Books & Journals

List the title and author for books, or the journal title for journal study, along with approximate hours of study.

Include only reading directly relevant to clinical herbalism, therapeutic herbalism, or clinical practice skills. Do not list every book you have ever read about plants or herbs

The example below shows how to organize your independent study for inclusion in the RH application. 

Conferences & Symposia, Approximately 45 hours

International Herb Symposium, September 2025, internationalherbsymposium.com Great Lakes Herb Faire, September 2025, greatlakesherbfaire.org Great Lakes Herb Faire, September 2023, greatlakesherbfaire.org American Herbalists Guild Symposium, October 2023, americanherbalistsguild.com

Online Webinars / Recordings 14.5 hours

• Low Dose Botanicals, Jane Hawthorn, 4 hours, HawthornHerbs.com
• Alternatives to Statin Drugs, Jane Hawthorn, 2 hours, HawthornHerbs.com
• Respiratory Tonics in Practice, Bob Elecampane, 2 hours, BobsHerbs.com
• Internal and External Approaches to Wound Healing, Susan Calendula, 2 hours, herbalfirstaid.com 
• What Do the FDA Good Manufacturing Practices Mean for Herbalists? Roy Dandelion, 1.5 hours, YouTube 
• Tincturing Herbs with High Tannin Content, Sandy Lobelia, 1 hour, YouTube
• Working with Medicinal Resins, Tom Frankincense, 2 hours, Herb Rally YouTube

Self-Study: Books and Journals Approximately 150 hours

Books

• Holmes, P. The Energetics of Western Herbs, Vols. 1 & 2
• Kuhn, M. & Winston, D. Herbal Therapy & Supplements
• Skenderi, G. Herbal Vade Mecum
• Groves, Maria Noel, Body in Balance
• Tilgner, Sharol, Herbal Medicine: From the Heart of the Earth
• Brinker, F. Herbal Contraindications and Drug Interactions
• Cech, R. Making Plant Medicine
• Hoffmann, D. Medical Herbalism
• Moore, M. Herb Formulas for Clinic and Home
• Moore, M. Herbal Materia Medica
• Moore, M. Herbal/Medical Contraindications
• Moore, M. Specific Indications for Herbs in General Use
• Bickley, L. Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination & History Taking
• Burka Wild, D. The Skin, Tongue, and Nails Speak
• Flint, M. The Practicing Herbalist: Meeting with Clients, Reading the Body
• Elpel, T. Botany in a Day

 Journals

• Journal of the American Herbalists Guild (2019 to present)
• Herbalgram, American Botanical Council (2020 to present)

Clinical Mentorships and Apprenticeships, Approximately 350 hours

• Mentorship with Jane Skullcap, RH (AHG), covering case review, protocol development, interviewing skills, physical assessment, laboratory findings, dosing strategies, informed consent, recordkeeping, and nutritional and wellness advocacy. January 2021 to October 2023. Approximately 100+ hours. JaneSkullcap.com 
• Apprenticeship with Free Clinic For All, Atlanta, GA. Trained in making glycerite extracts, skin salves, cough remedies, and medicinal tea blends. Provided support for herbalists in mobile clinics serving approximately 25 clients per day. April 2024 to present. Approximately 250+ hours. FreeClinicforAll.org 

Plant Walks, 7 hours

• Southern Medicinal Herbs, Mary Peppermint, 2 hours
• Woody Shrubs with Healing Powers, Mary Peppermint, 2 hours
• Sustainable Harvesting Methods, Bob Passionflower, 3 hours