Self-test: Is the "Phyototherapist Training (Phytotherapy / Herbal Medicine) (Cert.)" the right one for me?
Does working as a phytotherapist (certified) meet your expectations and needs? Take the free and non-binding self-test now and find out whether you are on the right path with a course leading to a "school certificate".
Phytotherapist: What does your day-to-day work look like?
Phytotherapists often work in a paramedical profession or have a naturopathic training within which they apply herbal medicine.
During the first consultation, they first gain an overview of the client's situation, record any health complaints and then carry out an examination using their individual methods. This can be a tongue and pulse diagnosis, a comprehensive blood count, palpation, listening or observation of breathing and voice. The therapist then develops an idea of possible clinical pictures or functional disorders and draws up a treatment plan. Herbal substances can be used or administered in a wide variety of forms. As teas or tablets, in oils and ointments, as wraps and compresses. The herbal active ingredients are often supplemented by further measures and recommendations. These may include dietary advice, exercise therapy or psychological counseling.
Question 1:
Do the activities described meet your expectations? Would you like to work as a phytotherapist?
Great! Continue with the test...
Do you like the activity in principle, but would prefer not to work with herbs, teas and ointments? Then take a look at the following similar training courses to see if there is a method that you like even better:
- Aromatherapy (Cert.)
- Ayurveda (Cert.)
- Bach Flowers (Cert.)
- Gemstone therapy (Cert.)
- Color therapist (certified)
- Homeopathy (Cert.)
- Psychosomatics (Cert.)
- Schüssler salts (cert.)
If you don't like the activities because you had completely different ideas about this profession, it may be a good idea to start again and look at other job profiles. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection.
Would you like to find your vocation first? OurGuide "Finding your own calling"can support you in this.
Target group and skills: Who is the phytotherapist training course suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?
The following target group is addressed with training in phytotherapy / herbal medicine:
- People who are interested in the applications of herbal medicine and would like to use them for themselves and their immediate environment
- Persons who would like to become self-employed in the field of health counseling
- People with basic medical qualifications, naturopaths or complementary therapists who would like to continue their training
The following qualities are required for a successful career as a phytotherapist:
- Affinity for herbal active ingredients and healing methods
- Interest in medical and psychological issues
- Enjoy working in an advisory capacity
- Sense of responsibility
- If you have your own practice: economic skills to run your own business
Question 2:
Do you belong to one of the target groups for this training course and do you have the necessary personal qualities?
Great! To the next step in the self-test.
- If you do not have the necessary personal qualities and skills, you will not be happy in this job. Look out for further training opportunities that offer a technical specialization that better suits your skills.
- If you are unsure whether you are suited to such a job, it is best to discuss this with your line manager or career advisor. You can find suitable providers of career advice and career coaching here:
Requirements for admission to phytotherapist training (cert.):
As a rule, phytotherapy / herbal medicine training is open to all interested persons. No specific previous training or professional experience is required.
Some schools require the following points for admission:
- Age of majority
- Apprenticeship qualification with federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ)
- Several years of professional experience
- Sufficient knowledge of German
In addition:
- Some courses require knowledge of the basics of conventional medicine; these can often be completed as part of the training
- Further training for medical staff requires basic paramedical training
Good to know:
As there are no protected professional designations or titles prior to the OdA AM industry certificate or the federal diploma for naturopaths, it is important to prove your own seriousness and professional competence in some other way. This is usually done by registering with the ASCA and/or the EMR.
For inclusion in the ASCA (Swiss Foundation for Complementary Medicine) and/or EMR register, a minimum level of basic medical knowledge (conventional medical knowledge / "Medical basics") and specialist training is required. You will find the relevant current information in the method lists.
Input: Why is registration in the ASCA and/or EMR registry important?
Both the ASCA and the EMR are quality labels for activities in experiential medicine. They both maintain a so-called list of methods, which specifies how many hours of basic medical training and specialist training (method) must be completed in order to be registered with the ASCA and/or EMR.
Many health insurance companies are based on the ASCA and EMR. This means that therapists who are registered with the ASCA and/or EMR can often work in a way that is recognized by health insurance companies (via supplementary insurance). But beware! This is not always the case.
More and more health insurance companies are demanding an industry certificate or a federal diploma from professional organizations (OdA AM, OdA KT, OdA MM, ODA ARTECURA, Swiss Association of Osteopaths FSO-SVO) in order to be able to work in a way that is recognized by health insurance companies. This will continue to increase in the future.
Question 3:
Do you meet the requirements for admission?
Great! You can start your training at the earliest possible date.
- If you are not yet of legal age, please ask the school. You may simply have to have reached the age of majority by the time you complete the course and can therefore start your phytotherapist training even if you are not yet of legal age at that time.
- If you do not have the required knowledge of German, then take thePlacement test.Hereyou will find schools with suitable German courses.
- If you do not have a basic vocational qualification with a federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ), then look for a suitable training opportunity. It is also possible to catch up on the EFZ or an equivalent qualification as an adult. You can find out more about catch-up training for adults in ourGuide "The Swiss education system at a glance".
- If you have too little or no (relevant) professional experience, you have the following options:
- Use professional job boards to search for suitable jobs where you can gain experience.Hereyou will find helpful information.
- If someone in your private or professional environment is already working in the field of phytotherapy / herbal medicine, ask them for tips and whether they would support you in your job search. He/she will certainly have the relevant contacts and connections.
- If you lack the required basic medical hours to be placed on the ASCA and/or EMR registry, then make them up.Hereyou will find corresponding offers and suitable providers.
- If you are not yet of legal age, please ask the school. You may simply have to have reached the age of majority by the time you complete the course and can therefore start your phytotherapist training even if you are not yet of legal age at that time.
- If you do not have the required knowledge of German, then take thePlacement test.Hereyou will find schools with suitable German courses.
- If you do not have a basic vocational qualification with a federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ), then look for a suitable training opportunity. It is also possible to obtain the EFZ or an equivalent qualification as an adult. You can find out more about catch-up training for adults in ourGuide "The Swiss education system at a glance".
- If you have too little or no (relevant) professional experience, you have the following options:
- Use professional job boards to search for suitable jobs where you can gain experience.Hereyou will find helpful information.
- If someone in your private or professional environment is already working in the field of phytotherapy / herbal medicine, ask them for tips and whether they would support you in your job search. He/she will certainly have the relevant contacts and connections.
- If you lack the required basic medical hours to be placed on the ASCA and/or EMR registry, then make them up.Hereyou will find corresponding offers and suitable providers.
Subject matter and content of the training
The subject matter of a phytotherapist training course is determined independently by the schools; it can therefore vary.
The following topics are often covered in the course:
- Basics of phytotherapy / herbal medicine (origin, history and development)
- Life cycle, metabolism, growth and structure of plants
- Medicinal plants according to disease (cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, thyroid, nervous system, skin diseases, etc.)
- Principles, concepts, possible applications, effect and purpose of the treatment
- Structure of a consultation / treatment (anamnesis, diagnostics, communication)
- Processing techniques (teas, tablets, oils, ointments, wraps, compresses, etc.)
- Indicators, contraindicators and limits of treatment
- As a rule, there are also various excursions, for example to botanical gardens.
Note: Courses that also include the "Medical Basics" (as a prerequisite for admission to the ASCA and/or EMR register) usually deal with these in a separate module.
Question 4:
Are you interested in this content, would you like to acquire knowledge in these subject areas?
Great! You can look forward to exciting and instructive hours in which you will broaden your knowledge horizon and skills - aspects that are in demand on the job market and increase your career and salary opportunities.
If you are only partially interested in the content of the phytotherapist training course, take a look at other training and further education courses in related fields. You may find a course that suits you better.
For example:
Obviously the typical subject areas of phytotherapy / herbal medicine training are not your thing. Take a look at other training courses instead. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a wide range of options.
Costs and financing of further training
How much a phytotherapist training course costs is determined by the schools themselves. The costs can therefore vary from provider to provider.
You can expect the following costs for basic specialist training:
- Course feesBetween CHF 4'800.- and CHF 16'000.-, which usually also includes theExamination feeincluded.
Note: There are also so-called introductory or in-depth courses that last a few days and cost less: between CHF 300 and CHF 1,500.
But be careful with introductory courses if you want to register with the ASCA and/or the EMR! You may not get the required hours of specialist training.
- Some providers requireExtra costsfor
- Teaching aids
- Training documents
Please contact the provider of your choice directly for information on possible extra costs.
Question 5:
Are you able to pay for the course?
Great! Here's another tip: If you are able to pay the full amount in advance, ask the school of your choice whether they offer a special discount for full payment in advance.
You can find information on financial support options from your employer, the federal government, the canton, foundations or loans from the EducaSwiss Foundation in ourGuide "How to finance your further training properly".
- Most schools allow you to pay the course costs in installments. Most schools charge a small surcharge for payment in installments.
- Ask your employer whether they will contribute to the costs.
- Perhaps there is someone in your private circle who will support your further education project with a loan. A bank or credit institution may also be able to support you with an educational loan.
- You can find information on financial support options from your employer, the federal government, the canton, foundations or loans from the EducaSwiss Foundation in ourGuide "How to finance your further training properly".
- Information on financial support for temporary workers from "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, can be found athere.
- Most schools allow you to pay the course costs in installments. Most schools charge a small surcharge for payment in installments.
- Ask your employer whether they will contribute to the costs.
- Perhaps there is someone in your private circle who will support your further education project with a loan. A bank or credit institution may also be able to support you with an educational loan.
- You can find information on financial support options from your employer, the federal government, the canton, foundations or loans from the EducaSwiss Foundation in ourGuide "How to finance your further training properly".
- Information on financial support for temporary workers from "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, can be found athere.
Course structure, duration of study, training options, teaching format and learning effort
- Study structurePhytotherapist training is generally designed to be part-time and has a modular structure. This means that each module is taken and completed individually.
- Duration of studyThe duration of specialist courses in the field of phytotherapy varies greatly and depends on the provider, range and level: As a rule, courses last between a few months to three years.
- Training optionsWhen the lessons take place is decided by the schools themselves. Some courses offer lessons two days a week and on selected Saturdays. Others only offer lessons one day a week. Others also offer intensive variants.
- Teaching formatHerbal medicine training generally takes place in face-to-face classes. However, there are also schools that offer online courses (e.g. for the theory part)
- Learning effort: You should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your previous knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week as a precaution.
Question 6:
Can you find the time for lessons and self-study?
Great!
Tip for self-study: It often helps to organize yourself into study groups. It also makes sense to stick with it right from the start and schedule fixed study times. Good learning effects can be achieved by creating summaries and mind maps. Flashcard systems help with memorization. There are many tools and ideas to make learning easier.
If you do not have that much time, contact the providers and clarify whether you can possibly complete the training over more than the specified time.
If you still don't have enough time, check whether you can create space for yourself elsewhere. Perhaps someone close to you can take on certain tasks for you for the duration of your training?
Degree, diploma and title
Those who have successfully passed all modules of the phytotherapist training course are admitted to the final examination.
A written and oral examination is usually taken to obtain the diploma. Depending on the course, further achievements may be required, such as
- Creating a herbarium with 60 plants
- Written and photographic plant observation over the course of a year
- Term papers
- Presentation of the plant observation
Diploma and title
Successful graduates receive a certificate / diploma from the respective school: "Phyto-Therapist [name of school]" or "Phytotherapy / Herbal Medicine [name of school]" or also "Dipl. Phytotherapist [name of school]".
Question 7:
Do you have the confidence to do the continuous work and pass the final exams?
Great!
Here are some general success factors on the way to a new training qualification:
- Regular attendance of lessons
- Actively contribute your questions, don't leave anything half-understood in the room!
- Interest in the topic and active participation in class
- Detailed preparation and follow-up of the lesson material at home
- Committed cooperation in group work, processing of case studies, etc.
- Participation in learning groups for regular exchange
- Intensive exam preparation: practise exam situations and gain exam experience, e.g. in simulation exams.
If you are unsure, we recommend that you attend an information event on this course.
Arrange a personal consultation appointment with the school of your choice. Explain your interest and your concerns and see how your counterpart reacts to which points and what they recommend.
Ask the school management about support options. Also consider whether you would like other support, for example from learning therapists or coaches, autogenic or mental training.
Here are some general success factors on the way to a new training qualification:
- Regular attendance of lessons
- Actively contribute your questions, don't leave anything half-understood in the room!
- Interest in the topic and active participation in class
- Detailed preparation and follow-up of the lesson material at home
- Committed cooperation in group work, processing of case studies, etc.
- Participation in learning groups for regular exchange
- Intensive exam preparation: practise exam situations and gain exam experience, e.g. in simulation exams.
If you are not at all confident about passing the final exam but would like to complete the training, it is best to arrange a personal consultation appointment with a school. Explain your interest and your concerns and see how your counterpart reacts to which points and what they recommend.
Ask the school of your choice whether there are any support options for you.
Also consider whether you would like other support, for example from learning therapists or coaches, autogenic or mental training. You can find suitable offers here:
No, the phytotherapist training does not suit you. What a pity? - Maybe not, because there are so many other options for further training. One or the other will certainly suit you much better.
Check which other further training courses are suitable for you. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
The phytotherapist training is probably not the right further training goal for you.
Are you surprised or disappointed? Perhaps take the test again and see where your ideas or possibilities deviate from the ideal job. Perhaps this will point you in the direction of more suitable further training.
Then see which other further training courses interest you. ToEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
This is a half-hearted result: the phytotherapist training does not seem ideal for you. Or is it perhaps the form of training that doesn't suit you or doesn't fit well in terms of organization?
See which other further training courses are suitable for you. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
Training in phytotherapy is not ideal for you - or is it?
If you are unsure, it is best to attend the providers' information events. There you can find out more about further training and discuss your personal options and questions directly with the specialist representatives present.
Directly to the schools:
"Phytotherapist training (phytotherapy / herbal medicine) (cert.)"
This training seems to suit you.
As a next step, we recommend that you attend an information event at suitable schools and obtain details of the exact costs and dates.
Directly to the schools:
"Phytotherapist training (phytotherapy / herbal medicine) (cert.)"
Brilliant, this course seems to be made for you!
The best thing to do now is to attend information events at the schools you are interested in and find out everything you need to know about the specific content, costs and dates.
Directly to the schools:
"Phytotherapist training (phytotherapy / herbal medicine) (cert.)"