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Accreditations and Certifications:

 

Your Journey with Natural Life Tree Academy

At Natural Life Tree Academy, our commitment is to offer you a cutting-edge education that prepares you to be an Awakened Survivor in the world of natural therapies. Our programs are rigorously designed to help you achieve your professional and personal goals and to enable you to pursue the certifications that best align with your path.

 

Understanding Accreditation:
 

Quality and Professional Recognition

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive at Natural Life Tree Academy is about accreditation. Understanding what it means is critical when exploring non-traditional schools, like ours, that empower you with knowledge for a life in harmony with nature.

General Definition: Accreditation is the public recognition that an educational program meets the administrative, organizational, and financial criteria of a recognized agency. It is a mark of quality and trust.

Recognized Agencies: In the United States, educational standards are set by a network of agencies approved by the U.S. Office of Education (USOE) or the Council for the Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation (CORPA). It is important to understand that the USOE or CORPA do not accredit individual schools; rather, they approve national and regional agencies that do. Almost all of these agencies are voluntary and non-governmental in nature.

Professional Accreditation vs. Government Accreditation: It is crucial to differentiate. Government accreditation is linked to traditional university institutions and the U.S. Department of Education. Our academy focuses on Professional Accreditation, which is voluntary and not directly recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. This allows us to maintain our unique philosophy of holistic education, outside of conventional academic frameworks, but with a firm commitment to professional excellence.

Some of the professional associations (among many others) that grant accreditation and/or certification, and are not recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, include:

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  • American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP)

  • The American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners (AANWP)

  • Hygienic Doctors Association (HDA)

  • American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board (ANMAB)

  • American Naturopathic Certification Board (ANCB)

  • International College of Holistic Medicine (ICHM)

  • American Council for Holistic Medicine (ACHM)

  • International Association of Natural Health Practitioners (IANHP)

  • National Association for Nutrition Professionals (NANP)

 

Accreditation for natural health programs in the United States is a completely voluntary process.

 

Our Accreditations and Your Professional Qualification

 

We are proud that our programs in herbology, aromatherapy, and holistic wellness are designed to enable our graduates to qualify and apply for professional board certifications.

  • Primary Accreditation: American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP)

  • All of our diploma programs meet the high standards of the AADP. This prestigious professional certification and accreditation board validates both educational institutions and practitioners. Upon graduation, you can apply directly for board certification with the AADP.

  • The American Alternative Medical Association (AAMA) is part of the AADP ecosystem, expanding your opportunities for professional recognition.

  • In Process: American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners (AANWP)

  • We are actively applying for certification with the American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners (AANWP)! This is a key association for natural wellness certification. The AANWP values all education in the field, with or without prior school accreditation, which complements our inclusive philosophy. We will keep you informed about the progress of this important approval.

 

Other Options for Our Graduates:

  • The quality of your training at Natural Life Tree Academy will allow you to qualify for certifications with a variety of professional organizations. In addition to the AADP and AANWP, our students may also consider pursuing certifications with organizations that recognize the value of a comprehensive natural health education.

  • Important: Our individual certification classes or mini-courses are designed to complement your in-depth learning; however, they do not directly lead to professional board certification. They are an excellent resource for specific knowledge.

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The quality of your training at Natural Life Tree Academy will allow you to qualify for certifications with a variety of professional organizations. In addition to the AADP and AANWP, our students may also consider pursuing certifications with organizations that recognize the value of a comprehensive natural health education.

 

Important:

Our individual certification classes or mini-courses are designed to complement your in-depth learning; however, they do not lead directly to professional board certification. They are an excellent resource for specific knowledge.

 

Graduates:

Boards and Certifications – What You Need to Know

When a student has completed all program requirements and receives a diploma from a non-traditional school (not a state college or university), you are eligible to apply for Board Certification from a professional group. It is important to emphasize that this certification is NOT a legal requirement to work as an herbalist or other natural health practitioners.

The purpose of this section is to provide complete transparency. We are not against certification organizations; in fact, we support them. However, we want our students to fully understand what certification is and is not.

 

Key Points about Certification:

Certification is a voluntary process. This means that it is not a legal requirement and is not mandatory to practice in the field of natural health. It involves your desire to obtain a certificate stating that you are "board certified," and your willingness to apply for it, pay the appropriate fees, and maintain that certification.

Certification is not a legal permit to practice, but rather a declaration of completion of studies or qualifications.

Certification is a private matter, issued by a private organization. It does not involve direct regulation by the state.

 

Licensing (vs. Certification):

Licensing is a non-voluntary process by which a government agency regulates a profession. It grants permission to an individual to practice an occupation if it determines that the applicant has attained the level of competency required by law. Once a licensing law is passed, it becomes unlawful for anyone to engage in that occupation unless they are licensed.

 

Freedom of Speech and Practice (U.S.):

In the absence of licensure, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects our freedom of speech to provide information to clients related to their health. However, this freedom is restricted by the need to prevent the practice of medicine without a license.

 

Naturopathic Physicians (NDs) vs. Traditional Naturopathy:

Currently, 17 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have licensing or regulatory laws for naturopathic physicians (NDs). In these states, naturopathic physicians are required to graduate from an accredited four-year residential naturopathic medical school and pass a comprehensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) to obtain licensure. (Source: naturopathic.org)

Natural Life Tree Academy teaches traditional naturopathy, which focuses on holistic principles and connection with nature, without pursuing medical licensure. In our view, traditional naturopathy is distinct from licensed naturopathic medicine.

 

CRITICAL INFORMATION FOR OUR STUDENTS!

It is ESSENTIAL that you consult your state's laws regarding naturopathy. This information is vital to your practice. You can find a complete and up-to-date guide here:

Naturopathy Laws by State (ANCB): https://ancb.net/legislative-action-and-advocacy/naturopathy-laws-state-by-state/

Board Certification for Herbalists and Natural Health Practitioners:

Board certification for herbalists, nutrition practitioners, holistic naturopathy, etc., is not a requirement to open an office/start a business, work for another natural health practitioner, attend continuing education classes, teach seminars and classes, write articles, among other activities.

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Herbal Practice in the U.S.:

Currently, herbalists are not licensed in any U.S. state (to our knowledge), nor do states issue licenses to certified herbalists. Practitioners only need a license if they plan to practice herbology alongside acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, or other forms of licensed alternative medicine.

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However, if a state has a nutrition-only practice licensing law (usually indicated by red or orange on nutrition law maps), then it is illegal for herbalists to provide nutritional advice unless they obtain a nutrition license or fall under an explicit exemption (which is rare).

Practicing herbalists MUST review the scope of their state's nutrition law, including all exceptions and exemptions, to assess whether they are legally qualified to use nutritional tools in their practice. Seeking legal advice can help determine whether the laws governing nutritional care would be violated by the use of nutritional tools in an herbal practice. (Source: https://americanherbalistsguild.com/member-resources/legal-and-regulatory-faqs/)

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