Diploma of Phytotherapy
Professional Herbal Medicine & Herbalist Training in Canada
Program Overview
Train to become a professional herbalist through Pacific Rim College’s comprehensive Diploma of Phytotherapy (Herbal Medicine). The program combines traditional Western herbal medicine with contemporary scientific knowledge, biomedical sciences, plant identification, medicine making and extensive clinical education.
Students develop an in-depth understanding of medicinal plants and their therapeutic applications while studying materia medica, herbal therapeutics, botany, phytochemistry, anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, nutrition and professional practice.
Practical learning is central to the program. Students learn to identify and work directly with medicinal plants, prepare herbal medicines and progressively apply their knowledge through extensive supervised clinical education.
Available live online or on campus in Victoria, British Columbia, the Diploma of Phytotherapy (Herbal Medicine) is designed for students seeking comprehensive herbal medicine training and the knowledge, clinical experience and professional skills needed to pursue a career as a herbalist.
Credential: Diploma of Phytotherapy (Herbal Medicine)
Length: 6 semesters (2-3 years)
Study Options: Live online or on campus in Victoria, British Columbia
Intakes: January, May and September
Professional Focus: Western Herbal Medicine and clinical herbal practice
Professional Recognition: Graduates may be eligible for professional membership with applicable herbal medicine associations
Clinical Training: 510 hours
Total Training: 2130 hours
ONLINE learning available
Over these forty years of herbal practice and teaching clinical skills across the States, Europe and Canada I consider Pacific Rim College to offer a fully rounded experiential program. Traditional foundational studies are enlivened by harvesting thoughts and practices delving into, and masterfully blending, the deep connection to plants through spirit, history, science, advanced clinical studies with weathered herbalists and hands on practice with patients. Graduates are empowered and fully qualified to serve we humans in clinical practice in their own village or city. Then practice, practice, practice.
– Margi Flint, Author of The Practicing Herbalist
Become a Professional Herbalist
Professional herbalism combines detailed knowledge of medicinal plants with an understanding of the human body, health assessment, herbal therapeutics and clinical practice.
PRC’s Diploma of Phytotherapy takes students beyond introductory herbalism courses into comprehensive practitioner-level training. Students study an extensive Western herbal materia medica and learn how herbs are selected and combined while developing knowledge in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, biochemistry, phytochemistry, Western diagnosis and pharmacology.
Students also learn practical herbal medicine making, including the preparation and use of tinctures, teas, salves, compresses, lotions and other herbal preparations.
Clinical education allows students to bring these areas together, developing consultation, assessment and therapeutic-planning skills while gaining practical experience working with clients.
Study Herbal Medicine Live Online or in Victoria
The Diploma of Phytotherapy can be completed entirely through live-online education or on campus at Pacific Rim College in Victoria, British Columbia. Students may also combine live-online and on-campus study.
Live-online classes take place at scheduled times and provide real-time interaction with instructors and classmates rather than self-directed or pre-recorded learning.
Clinical training is also available to live-online students in accordance with PRC’s current online clinical policies and requirements.
This flexibility makes comprehensive professional herbal medicine education accessible to students across Canada and beyond without requiring students to relocate permanently to Victoria.
Why Study Herbal Medicine at Pacific Rim College?
What You’ll Learn in the Phytotherapy (Herbal Medicine) program:
Key Learning Outcome #1
Extensive knowledge of traditional herbal medicine practices from various cultures alongside contemporary applications of herbal therapies.
Key Learning Outcome #2
Thorough background of biomedical understanding of the human body, its structure, physiology, common pathologies, and also western diagnostic skills and pharmacotherapy.
Key Learning Outcome #3
A deep understanding of the comprehensive materia medica of western herbal medicine and the therapeutic applications of those herbs.
Key Learning Outcome #4
How to make tinctures, salves, compresses, teas, lotions and other products and applications of herbal medicine.
Key Learning Outcome #5
Wide-ranging professional skills from writing and communication to business development experience needed to establish a private herbal medicine practice or to join an integrative health centre.
My proudest achievement is having studied at Pacific Rim College and completing the Diploma of Phytotherapy program. Pacific Rim College attracts the most passionate teachers, students, and healers, and that strong, positive energy is apparent on the PRC campus. I feel honoured to have learned from amazing teachers about the human body, ancient traditions and herbal folklore, modern scientific research, and in depth information on herbs and working with people from all backgrounds and health concerns. Years after graduation, I still find myself on campus often, visiting the herbal dispensary and utilizing the amazing student clinics. I am forever grateful for the knowledge I’ve gained and the amazing community of people I am a part of because of Pacific Rim College.
– Lauren Truscott, Alumnus, Herbalist, Practitioner at Body Blueprint Fitness, Wellness, & Education
Core Program Instructors
Curriculum
Below is a list of all courses that must be completed for a student to be eligible for graduation with a Diploma of Phytotherapy. Some course prerequisites do exist, and it is the responsibility of students to ensure that they are eligible to enrol in any particular course. The Course Descriptions page indicates course prerequisites. Please see Study Options below for more information on course selection.
Biomedical/Biological Sciences
Elective
Nutrition
Phytotherapy Clinical Practice
Professional Development
Western Herbal Sciences
Total Requirements
Clinical Training
Students in the Diploma of Phytotherapy program can complete all clinical training in PRC’s on-campus Student Clinic, or can participate in our Clinical Externship Program (CEP). Students must complete at least one-half of all required independent-level clinical training in PRC’s Student Clinic (online or on-campus), and the other half is available to be taken via the CEP.
Admissions
Pacific Rim College is committed to educating the highest quality industry professionals, and we offer priority acceptance to applicants who demonstrate the highest potential for success. Admission into the Diploma of Phytotherapy at Pacific Rim College is on a competitive basis, and applicants will be evaluated based on academic achievement, humanitarian activities, community involvement, program-related experience, communication skills, professionalism, emotional maturity, independence, ambition, and passion.
Admissions Criteria and Application Requirements
Admission requires successfully meeting the following minimum criteria:
- Applicants must be 19 years of age or older, or have completed high school or an equivalent, such as the GED or CAEC. Applicants who are 19 or older without a high school diploma or equivalent may be considered for mature student status and will be required to complete an essay provided by the college.
- A minimum grade of 70% in previous coursework. All grades will be taken into consideration with emphasis on related language and science-based courses, such as but not limited to general English, general science, creative and professional writing, biology, and chemistry.
English Language Proficiency Requirements:
Prior to acceptance applicants must meet at least one of the following language proficiency requirements:
- Completion of grades 9-11, including English 11 with a grade of ‘60%’ or higher from a country where English is one of the principal languages, or
- Completion of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction, or
- Provide verified results for one of the English language proficiency tests listed below. Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) – An applicant must earn a score of no less than 16 out of 30 on any of the 4 test sections and a total score of no less than 75 out of 120.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic – An applicant must earn an overall score of 5.5 or higher.
- Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Test – An applicant must earn an overall score of 40 or higher.
- Duolingo English Test – An applicant must earn an overall score of 95 or higher.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition is based on a per credit system. Although the college provides guidance for the order of course completion within each program, ultimately each student determines personal course load and schedule and thus per semester tuition. Audited credits do not apply towards graduation requirements. All prices listed are in Canadian dollars. For each semester, full tuition payment is due on the first day of the semester.
Please click here for a description of Academic Fees in PDF format.
Financial Aid
This program is approved for Canada Student Loans. British Columbia residents can apply for student loans online through StudentAid BC. For non-British Columbia residents, please visit hrsdc.gc.ca for information about Canada Student Loans.
For a list of all financial aid programs available to PRC students, please visit our Financial Aid page.
Post-Graduation
Graduates of the Diploma of Phytotherapy can use knowledge and experience gained to establish a professional herbal clinic to assist clients with health issues, work in the health and wellness retail sector, grow and maintain herbal gardens, create herbal preparations, provide consultancy services to the herbal industry and work with natural health regulatory bodies.
Graduates are eligible for membership into the Canadian Herbalists Association of British Columbia (CHA of BC), the American Herbalists Guild (AHG), and the Ontario Herbalists Association (OHA).
Licensing Requirements
Practitioner licensing requirements vary based on region of governance. Currently there are no government restrictions to the practice of Western Herbal Medicine in Canada. It is students’ responsibility to ensure they meet eligibility criteria in their chosen region.