RH Application Status Update: April 7, 2026
As of March 2026, Patricia Kyritsi Howell has resumed her role as Coordinator of the Admission Review Advisory Committee. Working together with ARAC chairs Thomas Avery Garran and Andrew Appello, and Executive Director Erika Galentin, we expect to finalize updates and reopen the application process by July 2026, if not earlier.
Once these updates and improvements are complete, ARAC will promptly review all applications submitted since August 2024 and any previously scored as Pending.
Following this, ARAC will resume accepting applications and return to our annual review cycle with three deadlines each year.
Part 1 Applicants: If you have submitted Part 1, Patricia is reviewing your application and will notify you promptly regarding your eligibility.
Part 2 Applicants: If you have started Part 2, your application remains secure on our platform. When the portal reopens, you can access and edit your application without redoing any work you have already completed.
Pending Applications: If your Part 2 application was scored as Pending, please email the Admissions Coordinator for next steps.
We will continue to provide the AHG community with regular updates on application process changes and reopening timelines, both here and in the AHG newsletter. Thank you for your patience and support.
Questions? Please email Patricia.
What is a Registered Herbalist?
We offer Registered Herbalist Membership as a way for herbalists to demonstrate core knowledge and experience in herbal practice that establishes a meaningful competency standard for themselves, their communities, and other health professionals and institutions.
We recognize that there are many skilled herbalists worldwide, and choosing to become registered with the American Herbalists Guild is only one of many ways herbalists may demonstrate their skills. For those who welcome review by their peers as confirmation of their clinical skills, the designation ‘Registered Herbalist’ establishes a recognized level of expertise and commitment to herbalism.
How to Apply for RH Membership
The applications for AHG Registered Herbalist membership are fully digital.
Before applying, please view the instructional video here.
Questions? Feel free to contact the AHG Admissions Coordinator.
Who Can Apply?
Clinical herbalists who have completed specific hours of herbal education and clinical practice are eligible to apply. Please see the Criteria for Registered Herbalist Membership Criteria and Application Process for complete details.
The Application Review Process
All applications are submitted digitally through the AHG website. There are two parts to the RH application; see details below.
Applicants may work on applications and upload application documents at their own pace.There is no time limit for completing and submitting either Part 1 or 2 of the RH application.
Part One: The first step is to complete Part One of the Application providing details about botanical medicine education, clinical training and experience. There is no fee required to submit Part One. Once the Admissions Coordinator has reviewed the information provided to verify that it meets the criteria for RH membership, applicants are emailed a notification with a link to complete Part 2 of the application process. You can view Part 1 of the application before starting your application using this link. It typically takes us two to three weeks to review Part 1 of the application.
Part Two: In the second part of the RH application, applicants provide three case histories from their practice, two letters of recommendation from former teachers or other herbal practitioners, demonstrate their ability to assess several sample cases we provide, and their knowledge of materia medica. They must also describe their clinical practice, caseload, personal philosophy, and other details about their work as a clinical herbalist, along with a non-refundable application fee ($100 for members, $175 for non-members). Use this link to review helpful details about the Application Process. Deadlines for Part 2 submissions are March 15, July 15, and November 15 each year.
The Admissions Coordinator reviews all Part 2 applications to ensure they are complete before sending them to the Admissions Review Advisory Committee for scoring. The application review process takes approximately three months: March application results are shared via email in late June, July applications in late October and November applications in late February.
Each application is scored by 3 to 5 ARAC members. The Admissions Committee Chair oversees the ARAC meetings, application discussions at the three yearly ARAC meetings, and any changes to admissions policies and procedures.
About the ARAC Committee
The current ARAC committee comprises eleven Registered Herbalists, the Admissions Committee Coordinator and the Admissions Committee Chair. ARAC members serve a 3-year term as volunteers, agree to maintain complete confidentiality for all ARAC matters and are required to recuse themselves from scoring applications submitted by anyone that would present a conflict of interest (former students, personal friends, colleagues, etc.)
For questions about the RH application process, send us an email.