A graduation in herbal medicine and approval of National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) or the European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Association (EHTPA) is needed for professional medical herbalist. At least five GCSEs are needed for joining the herbalist courses. You can join as trainee with any professional herbalist before the course work. herbalist courses extend over a period of three years full time or six years part time. Relevant subjects like anatomy and physiology, botany, pharmacology, nutrition and conventional medical treatments are included in the course. In addition to this 500 hours of supervised patient contacts are also provided as part of course work. A trained medical professional can earn an m.sc in herbal medicine and start the career. NIMH and EHPTA set certain standards in phytotherapy and registration with these organizations will increase the patient number. You will also be asked for attending continuing career development programs. A professional herbal therapist can also register with Institute for Complementary Medicine (ICM), which runs the British Register of Complementary Practitioners or with Complementary Medical Association (CMA).