Herbalists and Herbal Practitioners: Training, Credentials and Regulation
What the title herbalist does and does not mean in the United States and the UK, how credentials and licenses differ, and what to ask before seeing a herbal practitioner.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read herb safety and interactions before you use anything on this page.
In the United States, the title "herbalist" is not a licensed profession. The American Herbalists Guild (AHG), a professional body for herbalists, states that there is currently no licensing or certification for herbalists in any state that precludes the rights of anyone to use, dispense, or recommend herbs.[1] The word alone does not tell you what training the person has had.
This page explains the kinds of credentials the sources describe. It does not list practitioners or recommend any. It is information only and is not a substitute for care from a licensed clinician.
Credentials, licenses and certification are different things
The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) explains that, in the United States, government agencies grant and monitor licenses, while professional organizations certify practitioners.[2] It also says there is no standardized national system for credentialing complementary health practitioners, and that state governments decide what credentials practitioners must have to work in that state.[2] Being licensed or certified is not always a guarantee of being qualified.[2]
| Title or credential | What the sources say | What it does not tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Herbalist, clinical herbalist | Not a licensed title in any state, per the AHG.[1] | Training, hours or safety knowledge. |
| Registered Herbalist (RH) | A voluntary, peer-reviewed credential from the AHG.[1] | The AHG describes it as voluntary, so it is not a requirement to practice. |
| Naturopathic doctor (ND) | In a small number of states such as California, naturopathic licensing laws include clauses that define natural remedies.[1] | Rules vary by state; see naturopathic botanical practice. |
| Licensed acupuncturist (LAc) | The AHG says there is no state-level licensing for herbalists other than those linked to an acupuncture license.[1] | Chinese herbal training differs from Western herbalism; see Chinese herbal medicine. |
| Physician, nurse practitioner, pharmacist | The AHG notes that generally only physicians (and in some cases others such as nurse practitioners) can legally diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure disease.[1] | A clinician may not have studied herbs in depth. Ask. |
A balance note: the AHG source above is a professional membership body, and its own page says it does not support the imposition of licensing for herbalists.[1] It is a primary source for how its credential works, but it holds a position on the question. NCCIH is the neutral source for how credentialing works across states.
What a herbalist can and cannot say
The AHG explains that, even without licensing, an herbalist's freedom to give health information is restricted by the necessity to avoid practicing medicine without a license.[1] For you, this means a herbalist may talk about traditional use and general wellness, but should not diagnose a condition or tell you to stop a prescribed medicine. If a symptom is new, severe or lasting, see a licensed clinician.
The United Kingdom
The NHS says herbal medicines are not available on the NHS, and that herbal medicines are not tested in the same way as standard medicines to see how well they work.[3] It advises checking that any herbal medicine has a traditional herbal registration (THR) mark and a product code.[3]
On practitioners, a 2013 letter in a medical journal, written by leaders of a herbal practitioners' association, argued for statutory regulation of herbal practitioners in the UK.[4] It said the only way all herbal practitioners can be required to take part in the UK Yellow Card Scheme is through statutory regulation.[4] We read only that advocacy letter, so the current legal status of herbal practitioners in the UK is not described in the sources we read. Check the current position with a UK health authority before relying on a title.
Other countries
Canada, Australia, the European Union and other jurisdictions: not described in the sources we read for this page. Rules differ by country, and many practitioners in other traditions, such as Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, have their own training and registration systems. See Ayurvedic practitioners outside India and acupuncture and herbal licensing by jurisdiction.
Questions worth asking any herbal practitioner
- What was your training, and which body, if any, certifies or licenses you?
- Do you ask about my medicines, pregnancy or breastfeeding, liver and kidney conditions, and planned surgery?
- Do you tell me when something needs a doctor?
- Will you share the botanical name and plant part of every product?
- Will you work with my doctor or pharmacist?
Write down every herb and supplement, including teas, and bring the list to your pharmacist or prescriber. See talking with a health professional and choosing a qualified practitioner.
Safety
A practitioner's friendly manner is not a safety check. Herbs can interact with medicines, and some are linked to liver injury. The NHS advises always checking with a pharmacist before taking a herbal medicine if already taking other medicine, including medicines you can get without a prescription.[3] See herb safety and interactions.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a license for herbalists in the United States?
Not for the herbalist title itself. The AHG says no licensing or certification for herbalists in any state precludes anyone from using, dispensing, or recommending herbs, though some naturopathic and acupuncture licenses include herbal remedies.[1]
What does "registered herbalist" mean?
It is a voluntary, peer-reviewed credential from the AHG.[1] It is not a government license.
Can a herbalist diagnose or treat my condition?
The AHG source says generally only physicians and some other licensed clinicians can legally diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure disease.[1] Ask about scope, and see a licensed clinician for a diagnosis.
Are herbal medicines available through the NHS?
The NHS says they are not.[3] It advises looking for a THR mark and product code on herbal medicines.[3]
How do I know a practitioner is qualified?
NCCIH notes that being licensed or certified is not always a guarantee of being qualified.[2] Proper evidence not found for a single rating that works across all herbalists; we searched NCCIH, the AHG and the NHS. Ask about training, see a pharmacist, and read credentials and scope of practice.
References
- American Herbalists Guild, Legal and Regulatory FAQs (US; professional membership body). American Herbalists Guild, Legal and Regulatory FAQs (US; professional membership body). Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Credentialing, Licensing, and Education (US). NCCIH, Credentialing, Licensing, and Education (US). Read 2026-10-23.
- NHS, Herbal medicines and complementary therapies (UK). NHS, Herbal medicines and complementary therapies (UK). Read 2026-10-23.
- Mcintyre M, Flower A. The RCP should support the statutory regulation of herbal practitioners. Clin Med 2013 (UK; letter by practitioner-association authors). Mcintyre M, Flower A. The RCP should support the statutory regulation of herbal practitioners. Clin Med 2013 (UK; letter by practitioner-association authors). Read 2026-10-23.