Core College
Become a Master Herbalist
Study traditional herbalism in a progressive environment with a focus on clinical training in a working herbal clinic
Herbal Medicine Practitioner
Course Delivery
Online with Site Based Clinical Training
Duration
4 Years
Start Date
September, 2026
The Licentiate is designed to prepare the student for clinical practice as a Medical Herbalist in the tradition of Master Herbalism. As such it covers the subject of herbal medicine in depth with a particular emphasis on the use of herbs that grow in Ireland.
The Herbal Medicine Programme
There is a growing demand for this kind of professional service, as people are increasingly seeking safer, more effective, and less invasive forms of healing. While the primary focus of this course is on herbalism, it also covers natural healing protocols, vitalist nutrition, and detoxification regimes.
Master Herbalists use Iridology as a health assessment tool, and students become qualified in this modality during the first two years of the course. Iridology is a non-invasive natural diagnostic tool. It is used to suggest a particular healing regime for each patient. This assessment tool highlights the key areas of a person's emotional and physical health that may require attention and suggests specific methods of treatment.
Most participants in this course are mature people, often in full-time employment, raising a family, or both. With this in mind, the academic content is delivered entirely through online learning, allowing for the face-to-face experiences of the student to be entirely dedicated to clinical training.
Clinical Training
Course Format
The Herbal Medicine Practioner programme is designed as a part-time course in terms of attendance but demands a level of study commitment equivalent to a full-time programme.
The academic content is delivered entirely online, making extensive use of digital resources, including podcasts, videos, and discussion forums. Each student is assigned a personal tutor who moderates group activities and online discussions while being readily available to address individual queries. This structure fosters a sense of connection to a wider academic community, enabling students to engage with peers regularly.
Thanks to the online format, in-person attendance is focused entirely on meeting the programme's requirement of 600 clinical training hours. These are held at the school's clinic and at Maynooth Campus.
Students are expected to attend an average of twelve days per academic year at the college clinic, in addition to two weekends at Maynooth Campus.
For overseas students travelling long distances, clinical training can be scheduled in two intensive blocks, conveniently aligned with the Maynooth weekends.
Module Schedule
First Year
Second Year
Third Year
Fourth Year
Qualification
On successful completion of the course, the examination, and clinical training, students will receive a Licentiate in Master Herbalism from the Irish School of Herbal Medicine. Graduates can join The Irish Association of Master Medical Herbalists in Ireland and the Association of Master Herbalists in the UK.
Book a Discovery Call
Not sure if this is the right path for you? A Discovery Call is the best place to start.
A 20-minute Discovery Call gives you the opportunity to ask questions, understand how the course works in practice, and get a clear sense of whether it is the right step for you.
There is no pressure and no obligation. Many students tell us that this conversation simply made the decision feel clear.
You can simply phone the college during office hours to arrange this. The phone number is +353 56 4440254.
Fees
Study fees are €4,350 per year. This includes full clinical training each year. An optional payment plan is available on request.
Start Date
Courses start twice yearly. The next course commences in September 2026.
