What Are the Requirements to Become a Natural Health Consultant?
Natural health consultants work in natural health and medicine. They may be self-employed and often advise clients on the efficacy of various natural remedies and practices. Although there are no specific education requirements for natural health consultants, they should have an understanding of a variety of natural health methodologies. A degree or certificate from a natural health college may help consultants secure a job or develop a clientele list.
Education
<p>Currently, there are no specific education requirements for becoming a natural health consultant. However, a degree or certificate in natural health might give applicants an edge and the knowledge they need to be effective consultants. A handful of natural health colleges offer a number of degree and certificate programs.
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<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisCareer">Important Facts about this Career</h3>
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<table border="1"><tr><td>Prerequisites</td><td> High school diploma</td></tr>
<tr><td>Continuing Education</td><td> Continuing study encouraged to keep up with recent research and business findings</td></tr>
<tr><td>Online Availability</td><td> Limited availability; bachelor's and master's of nutrition available online</td></tr>
<tr><td>Concentrations</td><td> Nutrition, herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, naturopathy</td></tr>
<tr><td> Median Salary (2022) </td><td> $54,439 (<i>for wellness consultants</i>)*</td></tr>
<tr><td> Job Outlook (2021-2031) </td><td> 0% (<i>for health diagnosing and treating practitioners, all other</i>)**</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Sources: *PayScale.com, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
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<h3 id="section---DegreeOptions">Degree Options</h3>
<p>While there are no accredited programs offering degrees to become a natural health consultant, there are programs that can train students in several aspects of natural health, including herbal medicines, nutrition, and naturopathy. The National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon offers Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, Master of Science in Oriental Medicine, and Master of Acupuncture degrees. Many natural health consultants hold a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. Students may take classes in homeopathy, nutrition, natural childbirth, cosmology, biomedicine, and classical Chinese medicine.
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<h3 id="section---CertificatePrograms">Certificate Programs</h3>
<p>Certificate programs in natural health are also available; these programs give current workers professional development and can help job applicants enhance their resume. Along with its many degree programs, Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington, offers continuing education and certificate programs in natural health. Its home study courses are available on CD or DVD and provide a continuing education certificate upon completion of the course. In addition to home study courses, Bastyr University provides on-site continuing education in natural health. Moreover, Bastyr University offers a certificate in Chinese herbal medicine, a graduate certificate in midwifery and a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) summer program for allopathic medical students.</p>