The application deadline for our 2026 intake of the Family and Clinical Herbalist programs is August 15, 2025.
The next intake of the Herbal Roots Apprenticeship is March 15, 2026.
Program Prerequisites
Herbal Roots Apprenticeship
Our beginner’s course, the Herbal Roots Apprenticeship, is appropriate for anyone interested in getting their hands dirty in the company of other herb enthusiasts. There are no prerequisites for this program. We do ask that all students read and sign our Student Agreement and suggest that all applicants read and reflect on this statement of our values and guiding principals before applying. We want to be sure we’re the right fit for you!
Family Herbalist & Clinical Herbalist
Admission to our intermediate and advanced training programs (Family Herbalist & Clinical Herbalist) requires applicants to be prepared for and committed to the personal and academic journey that intensive study in healing work entails. Applicants should possess strong study habits, solid reading and writing skills (with fluency in English), and capacity for critical thinking. Equally important is each applicants’ willingness to engage in self-reflection, personal development, and effective communication as part of our learning community.
In reviewing each applicant, considerations include, but are not limited to: intellectual curiosity, motivation, tenacity, concern for and service to others, leadership, responsibility, creativity, emotional resilience and insight. We also ask that all students read and sign our Student Agreement and suggest that all applicants read and reflect on this statement of our values and guiding principals before applying. We want to be sure we’re the right fit for you!
In addition to the above qualitative characteristics and skills, admission requires clear documentation of prior formal or self-directed study and/or experience equivalent to our Herbal Roots Apprenticeship. This should include:
- hands-on learning, including dedicated time spent tending and harvesting medicinal plants, making a variety of remedies, deepening personal relationship with nature
- basic understanding of the function and care of human body systems for health maintenance and first aid
- understanding of herbal actions, basic energetics, and ecological principles
Experience or training in related fields (e.g. botany, environmental conservation, gardening/farming, healing arts, health care) will all be considered favorably, however will not replace the prerequisite herbal studies and experience.
Please submit documentation of prior study and experience with your application, if applicable. Faculty review of this information, in concert with the interview, assures proper placement for each student into the appropriate program.
In the spirit of Nature’s diversity, all individuals, regardless of race, color, religious or spiritual belief, cultural background, sexual orientation, gender identification, or relationship to any individual member of VCIH are eligible for admission to our programs and for services in our clinic.
Application Process
Before applying, we strongly suggest you read the FAQs relevant to the program to which you’re applying, along with our COVID policies (in effect when students are on campus for Roots or intensives). Feel free to get in touch with any outstanding questions you may have before submitting your application.
1. Please fill out the Application for Admission appropriate to the program you are interested in (Herbal Roots Apprenticeship or Family & Clinical Programs). These are online forms to which you can attach supporting documents.
2. The Student Agreement must be read and signed by all applicants.
3. You will be asked to pay a deposit of $250.00 to secure your place. The deposit is non-refundable once you are accepted into the program and will be applied to your tuition. In the event that you are not accepted, your deposit will be refunded to you in full.
4. Soon after the application deadline, we will contact you to schedule a formal admissions interview (conducted via video conference).
5. We also require that students observe a day of classes at VCIH (virtually) to ensure that online learning, along with our teaching style and format, are a good fit for you. There is no charge to attend this observation day.
6. We generally notify applicants to the Family and Clinical Herbalist programs of their status during the month of October.
Accessibility
We are guided by disability justice principles and strive to provide the information that prospective students need to assess whether their learning and physical needs will be met when they are engaging in our programs. Our Accessibility Information sheet provides details regarding our physical spaces (for folks coming to campus), as well as the technology that students can expect to encounter. If you have accessibility concerns, please contact us so we can discuss your needs further in advance of your application.
Tuition & Payment
Herbal Roots Apprenticeship: $2730
Family Herbalist: $4770
Clinical Herbalist: Year 1: $4770; Year 2: $8985; Year 3: $6465
The above rates are effective for the 2025 February-December year. Your tuition for all years of the Clinical program is “locked in” at the above rates once you receive admission to VCIH.
The tuition reflects a rate of $13/classroom hour for Herbal Roots Apprenticeship and $15/classroom hour for Family and Clinical Programs. We recognize that the total cost of attendance is significant and may appear to be higher than that of other advanced programs. We recommend researching the total number of classroom contact hours of all programs you are considering and comparing hourly rates for the most accurate cost comparison. In our research, we’ve found other live online or in-person clinically-oriented programs charge between $15 and $28/contact or classroom hour.
Tuition is due by the first day of classes for each year. No-interest payment plans are available. VSAC grants are available for Vermont residents and will cover much of the tuition cost for each year. Please contact us for more information about either of these options.
Books and materials are not included in the cost of tuition. Costs for the Herbal Roots Apprenticeship are approximately $100; costs for the Family Herbalist and Clinical Herbalist programs are roughly $300.00 per year (not including expenses for the field experience (camping trip) in the Clinical program).
Travel, housing and food during intensives are not covered by tuition.
Tuition Reduction / Financial Aid
VCIH offers BIPOC Reparations and Need-Based tuition reduction opportunities. Visit this page for more information and to apply. Applications should be completed at the same time as the admissions application. Unfortunately, tuition reduction is limited, so we highly recommend getting applications in on time to ensure consideration.
Refund Policy
Deposits are non-refundable once a student has been accepted into a program. If a student is not accepted, their deposit will be refunded.
In the event that a student withdraws prior to the beginning of class, any payments made in addition to the deposit will be returned in full. Once classes have begun, students who withdraw from the program within 15 days of the start date will receive a full refund, less a $100 withdrawal fee. Students who withdraw from the program after the first 15 days will not receive a tuition refund and any unpaid tuition will remain due.
Course Changes and Cancellations
VCIH reserves the right to make changes to our curriculum as deemed necessary, without compromising our stated mission and educational goals. In the unlikely event VCIH needs to cancel a program before it begins, students will be issued a full refund for any payments made.
