Diploma in Clinical Herbal Medicine

The qualification
Diploma in Clinical Herbal Medicine
Canterbury College of Natural Medicine
Phone: 03 366 0373
Earning: $50 to $90 an hour

The course
Fifty-five people have graduated with the Canterbury College of Natural Medicine's Diploma in Clinical Herbal Medicine in the seven years the course has been offered.

Before the present diploma began in 1997, the Christchurch-based college offered a Diploma in Naturopathy.

The first two years of study for the qualification are done mainly by correspondence.

In the third year, students undertake full-time clinical training. Study time is typically as much as 52 hours a week - 17 hours at the college and about 35 hours of private study.

The NZQA-approved course is recognised by the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists and the National Herbalists Association of Australia and receives Ministry of Education funding.

Students learn such practical skills as taking case histories and doing physical examinations, urinalysis, doing B12 intra-muscular injections, making medicine and dispensing supplements and herbal tinctures.

Theory studied includes anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, botany, philosophy, bach-flower remedies, pathophysiology, client assessment, nutritional biochemistry, herbal therapeutics, communication skills and ethics, allopathic prescriptions, practice management, clinical practice and case management. In the third year there is supervised clinical work.

Assessment is on assignments and mid-year and end-of-year examinations in the first and second years. In the third year, there are assignments, three formal assessments and an oral examination.

Students can go on to study for a graduate diploma, bachelor's and master's degrees and a PhD.

The course is limited to 24 students each year and entrants need sixth-form biology, chemistry and English or the equivalent level of education. Late enrolments for February intake are being accepted now.

Graduates find work as independent clinical herbalists, in dispensaries, in technical support provision, in education, manufacturing and research, and in integrated practices with pharmacists, nurses, GPs and other health professionals.

Entry-level private practitioners can expect to earn $50 an hour and clinically experienced practitioners $90 an hour or more.

What students think


Christine Tuffnell, 55
Clinical medical herbalist
Nelson
Graduated 2003

"It's really an intensive course and gives a good background in all the modalities of studies you need.

"I already had a Bachelor of Nursing, a Diploma of Herbal Studies and Diploma in Quality Assurance and I found the training rigorous.

"The first two years I did mainly by correspondence and in the third year, which is all clinical work, I commuted weekly from my home in Nelson. It was an invigorating year and it was great to have the security of doing clinical work under supervision.

"There is always a tutor and two other students there when you are seeing clients. I have a lot of confidence in the course. A lot of people don't understand the level of training involved because they may only be familiar with self-prescribing at the health-food shop. We have a different approach that a lot of people welcome because we spend a lot of time looking at client's health, family, food and lifestyle.

"There's probably a lot of education to be done on our part to explain how we work, but other health professionals - including GPs - are encouraging.

"I would absolutely recommend the course - but it's hard work, so don't go into it lightly. During my studies I began to collect herbs and started growing them for teas, later selling them locally and on the internet as Hart Road Tea. I now have a private clinic in Nelson."

Rachel Symonds, 29
Clinical Medical Herbalist
Christchurch
Graduated 2001

"I was always interested in health, wellbeing and helping people be healthier. I worked in childcare and hospitality before doing my diploma. I started in Melbourne, then transferred to the Christchurch college. It was different, challenging and very rewarding. It was a lot of work. You had to be very clear about your aims.

"A lot of discipline is required, and time-management, because of the intensity of the papers. It's quite in-depth. If I could make any changes to the course I'd make it more hands-on and have more in-college learning.

"The Melbourne course was more in the classroom and to switch to correspondence for the first two years was very challenging - but, then, I like hands-on. The college has really good criteria and they give you everything to enable you to practise professionally. Classes are small, which allows you to focus and is good for individual learning in the third year when you need that guidance. They have good tutors.

"As a student I worked in the herbal dispensary and I still do that as well as have private patients. I've also created a range of handmade herbal chocolate truffles using Swiss chocolate and herbal extracts and oils, which I can make to order."