California Herbology Careers

Herbologists engage in the study and use of herbs and herbal preparations to maintain health and to prevent, alleviate, or cure disease. Herbology is used in a variety of alternative treatment and prevention approaches such as Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.  While herbology is highly regarded in these approaches, the medical world has yet to fully accept it as a safe alternative to traditional medicine. Some medical professionals may use herbology as a complement to traditional medicine, but it is rarely used in place of it.

Herbologists may work in homeopathic clinics and other wellness environments, in the wholesale business, as herbal consultants and more. However, most herbologists are self-employed.

Herbology Education and Training Programs

There are no formal education requirements for herbologists. However, just about every employer in this field requires advanced education and training. Many require certification as well. Further, most patients and peers prefer to work with Chinese Herbologists that carry a Diplomate of Chinese Herbology by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

According to the NCCAOM, these professionals have completed 3 to 4 academic years of education at the master’s degree level in an Oriental Medicine or Chinese Herbology Program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). They have also demonstrated professional competency by passing NCCAOM certification examinations in Foundations of Oriental Medicine, Chinese Herbology, and Biomedicine.

Professional herbologists, herbalists, herbal medicine practitioners, etc., have also completed several years of study and clinical work as well as an apprenticeship. Upon completion of these programs, the herbologists will receive a certificate. Coursework for an ACAOM accredited herbology program may include, but is not limited to, basic human sciences, anatomy, physiology, pathology, biochemistry, medical terminology, nutrition, botany and plant identification, therapeutic herbalism, pharmacy, pharmacognosy, and dispensing; and ethics.

Herbology Schools and Training Programs in California

Because the field of herbology is not as closely monitored as other fields in the healthcare industry, finding an accredited program can be challenging. Fortunately, we found two top schools with multiple accreditations and approvals. They are:

Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College-Berkeley, Berkeley, California (AIMC Berkeley)
Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, Santa Monica, CA (10 National and State Approvals)
 
AIMC Berkeley holds 4 national and state approvals, and Emperor's College holds 10.
Both colleges are ACAOM accredited and approved by the State of California Acupuncture Board and the NCCAOM.

Employment and Earnings Outlook for California Herbologists

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report employment and salary information for herbologists as a single group. It does, however, note that “Traditional Chinese Herbalists” are part of the broad group “Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupation Workers, All Other.”

At 5,610, the State of California has the 2nd highest employment level for professionals in this field. Illinois has the highest at 6,620. Although the population and salary for California-based practitioners has decreased since 2008, when the population was 7,580 averaging $71,970 per year, of the states with the highest employment levels for professionals in this field (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Tennessee), those that live in California still earn the highest average salary—$64,850 per year.

Several California Metro areas offer the highest employment level in this occupation. They are:

#3: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division, 1,460 employed, averaging $66,580 per year
#10: San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA, 790 employed, averaging $66,160 per year

The U.S. was home to 55,570 professionals in this career field averaging $50,510 per year in 2008. The population has decreased since then to 48,130 professionals. However, salaries are on the rise. In 2012, professionals in this occupation averaged $53,610.