If you are interested in joining a worldwide industry focused on combining different approaches to healthcare, then an integrative medicine certificate may be right for you.
Healthcare is a field that has gone through many changes over time. Today is no different, with exciting new approaches, like integrative medicine, quickly gaining popularity. Integrative medicine practitioners offer a whole-person health approach that looks to cure much more than just disease.
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A graduate certificate in this field could help healthcare and related professionals implement integrative medicine to their area of work.
Online Integrative Medicine Certificate Programs
Graduate certificate programs in integrative health are typically designed for practicing healthcare professionals looking to develop a more holistic approach to medicine. Because integrative medicine focuses on whole person care, integrative medicine colleges teach coordination between care by conventional medicine and complementary medicine.
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Coursework for integrative medicine programs is centered on learning the important concepts and strategies of the field. Topics commonly covered include:
- Foundational concepts of integrative medicine
- The mind-body connection
- Nutrition
- Applications of integrative medicine
- Ethics in integrative medicine
The skills these programs emphasize are client-centered rather than administrative or clerical in nature. So, graduates often work in occupations that deal directly with people. Professionals who work in nursing, medicine, palliative care, allied health, wellness, and related fields are all target candidates for integrated medicine grad cert programs.
Students of integrative medicine certificate programs may also work in substance and behavioral disorder care, physical therapy, or athletic training. In addition, some integrative medicine programs offer specializations in nutrition. By choosing to focus on integrative nutrition, you could learn how to apply basic nutritional and lifestyle concepts to improve overall health.
Integrative Medicine Careers & Salaries
An integrative medicine graduate certificate could complement your current career path in healthcare, community and social services, or a related field.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, integrative medicine can complement and be applied to a wide range of career paths, such as the following.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $101,340 |
| Registered Nurses | $77,600 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $61,650 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides | $61,520 |
| Health Education Specialists | $60,600 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides | $49,180 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $48,520 |
| Athletic Trainers | $48,420 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $47,940 |
| Massage Therapists | $46,910 |
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 13% job growth for healthcare professions over the next decade. This is faster than the average for all occupations.
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The career paths you can qualify for will likely depend on your prior education, work experience, and area of specialty.
Integrative Medicine Certificate Curriculum & Courses
Integrative medicine certificate programs focus on the concepts, applications, and developments in the field. As a student in an integrative medicine certificate program, you may be required to take some courses like the ones below:
- Foundations of Integrative Medicine: This course serves as an overview of the field of integrative medicine, providing you with basic theories and approaches.
- Self Care for Healthcare Professionals: This course surveys and teaches self-care strategies for healthcare professionals working in demanding jobs.
- Integrative Medicine Ethics: This course looks at the ethical and legal issues that arise when practicing integrative medicine.
- Nutrition and Metabolism: This course describes the impact of nutrition on a person’s metabolism and how the body’s systems are connected with disease.
- Integrative Medicine Business: This class studies how integrative medicine professionals can develop business competence to implement integrative medicine in their practice.
- Applications of Integrative Medicine: This course is designed for you to see how integrative medicine is applied in a day-to-day manner.
- Biochemistry: This course is meant to study biochemistry as it relates to integrative medicine, particularly approaches in nutrition.
- Immunology: This course is an overview of the body’s immune system and how integrative medicine approaches can be used to strengthen it.
- Integrative Mind-Body Approaches: This course describes the relationship between the connection of the mind and the body and their relation to integrative medicine.
- Health and Wellness Coaching: This course gives you an overview of health and wellness coaching strategies and how you can guide patients toward healthier lifestyles.
Coursework and focuses can vary from school to school, but they’ll typically retain a focus on the application of integrative medicine.
Admissions Requirements
Though admissions requirements for integrative health certification vary from school to school, most retain some common elements.
You may be required to submit one or more of the following as part of your application:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school
- Resume
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
Missing materials may affect your chances of acceptance, so it’s important to ensure all your application materials are submitted. You can check each prospective school’s website for their specific admissions requirements.
Accreditation
Regional accreditation is a way to ensure a college or university follows certain standardized practices and achieves necessary learning outcomes. In other words, accreditation can ensure that the school you’re applying to is legitimate and academically serious.
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Earning a certificate in integrative medicine from an unaccredited school may affect your chances of employment or your chances of counting your credits toward a graduate degree in the field. You can visit the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s website to verify the accreditation status of the school you are applying to.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Paying for college is often one of the biggest roadblocks students face in their educational careers. Thankfully, there are financial aid options that can help make higher education more affordable.
One of the most common forms of assistance is student loans, given out by the federal and state governments. While they have to be repaid after graduation, they often have lower-interest rates. You can create an account on the Federal Student Aid’s website to find out what type of federal assistance you may be eligible for. State financial aid services have their own websites.
Private organizations and foundations may also offer scholarship opportunities for students who qualify. In addition, you can see what financial aid options your school has for graduate students. Employers may also offer professional development programs or other forms of assistance for their employees to attain more education.
What Is an Integrative Health Practitioner?
An integrative health practitioner is a medical professional who uses both traditional and complementary therapies to heal and promote efficient health.
Integrative health practitioners take a holistic approach when dealing with patients’ health. They look to improve the overall health of a person by looking at biological, social, behavioral, and environmental aspects. Integrative health practitioners may work with patients who suffer from conditions like the following:
- Weight gain or loss
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Digestive issues
- Eczema or other skin conditions
- Chronic fatigue
- Fibromyalgia
Integrative health works to address these issues through a whole body approach.
What Can You Do with a Certificate in Integrative Medicine?
An integrative medicine certificate may open the door to rewarding opportunities to help patients overcome ailments and improve their overall health.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts strong job growth over the coming years for healthcare professions, and professionals with expertise in integrative medicine are in demand. Integrative medicine is complementary to a number of diverse fields, such as nutrition, nursing, exercise and training, and therapeutic services.
Earning a graduate certificate in integrative medicine could help you advance your professional expertise and qualifications in your current field.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Integrative Medicine Online Certificate?
The length of time it takes to complete an integrative medicine certificate online may depend on the program you attend and how you juggle work and studies together.
In general, these graduate certificates can take anywhere from 8 months to 2 years to complete. This timeline can vary from program to program, especially as some include more courses than others. However, this is much less time that it takes to earn an online health services degree.
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When comparing schools, it’s helpful to read the details of each program to see how long the certificate will take to complete and how flexible the university allows you to be with scheduling. Part-time enrollment will often extend your time to completion, but it can also allow you to finish your studies at your own convenience.
What’s the Difference Between Functional Medicine vs. Integrative Medicine?
Here are some of the main differences between functional and integrative medicine.
| Integrative Medicine | Functional Medicine |
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Integrative medicine seeks to both help the patient with their immediate concern and improve the patient’s overall health. In comparison, functional medicine seeks to identify exactly what you are suffering from and implement the correct treatment strategies.
What’s the Difference Between an Integrative Medicine Certification vs. Certificate?
An integrative medicine certificate is an academic award, while an integrative health certification is a professional certification.
Here are some key differences between the two.
| Academic Graduate Certificate | Professional Certification |
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Employers may require or encourage employees to undergo training to earn professional certification.
Is an Integrative Medicine Certificate Worth It?
Yes, an integrative medicine certificate is worth it for many students. Overall, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 13% job growth for healthcare occupations over the next ten years, which is much faster than average.
Healthcare is also a rewarding field for many. As an integrative medicine professional, you may have the opportunity to work closely with patients. In addition to helping patients cure or manage current ailments, you could also help them achieve a new standard of overall health.
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Integrative health practitioners work with a wide variety of traditional and complementary treatments, employing multiple approaches to hit all aspects of a patient’s health.
Universities Offering Online Graduate Certificate in Integrative Medicine Program
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
Campbell University offers a fully online program for a Graduate Certificate in Botanical and Holistic Health. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of alternative medicines and healing.
To earn the certificate, students must complete 12 credit hours. Classes cover concepts like herbal medicines, dietary supplements, botanical and alternative medicines, physical and spiritual modalities, and botanical therapeutics.
Campbell University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Creighton University offers a Lifestyle Medicine Graduate Certificate. Individuals working in the field of healthcare who are passionate about health and wellness may find an ideal next step in this program. New students can begin classes at one of five yearly start dates. The program utilizes a convenient, 100% online learning model.
Creighton University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
George Washington University offers a Graduate Certificate in Integrative Medicine, Nutrition, and Lifestyle Medicine.
The program may be especially beneficial for providers in fields like dietetics, chiropractic care, acupuncture, health coaching, or occupational therapy. The program’s 15 credit curriculum is interdisciplinary and emphasizes evidence-based approaches. Students can complete the program’s requirements in an entirely online attendance model.
George Washington University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Georgian Court University offers an online program for an Integrative Health Graduate Certificate. This program may be an excellent fit for healthcare professionals interested in building expertise without completing a master’s degree.
To earn the certificate, students must complete a minimum of 18 credits. After completing courses in holistic healing and anatomy, students can select electives according to their professional goals.
Georgian Court University is accredited by The Middle States Commission on Higher
St. Catherine University offers an online program for a Graduate Certificate in Holistic Health Studies. The curriculum is centered on the intersection of health across borders, disciplines, religions, and healing methods. On average, students can complete the program’s 12 required credit hours in 1 year. New students can begin classes in the fall or spring.
St. Catherine University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Colorado—Denver offers an Integrative Health and Medicine Graduate Certificate. The program aims to educate students in the safe usage of integrative medicine for nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, and dentists. The program can be completed entirely online. To earn the certificate, students must complete 9 credits, which can typically be done in 1 year.
The University of Colorado – Denver is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
The University of Kansas offers a Graduate Certificate in Dietetics and Integrative Medicine. Many graduates pursue careers as health advisors, patient advocates, and collaborative team members in healthcare settings.
The program is housed fully online. To earn the certificate, students must complete 12 credits. The curriculum consists of courses like Dietary and Herbal Supplements, Nutrition for Inflammation and Immune Regulation, and Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics.
The University of Kansas is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Maine offers a 100% online program for a Graduate Certificate in Human Nutrition. This program is designed for students currently holding a bachelor’s degree who have completed prerequisite courses in required disciplines. The program admits new students three times each year. Students must complete at least 12 credit hours to earn the certificate.
The University of Maine is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
The University of Maryland offers an Integrative Health and Wellness Graduate Certificate. This program may be an ideal next step for students pursuing broader knowledge and career advancement in healthcare. Students can complete the program’s 12 required credits in an asynchronous, online learning format. On average, the program can be finished in 9 months.
The University of Maryland is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Virginia Commonwealth University offers a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Innovation that can be earned online. The program aims to equip students with specialized skills in problem identification, product development, testing, marketing, and intellectual property. To earn the certificate, students must complete 12 credit hours. Most students can complete the program’s requirements in 4 semesters.
Virginia Commonwealth University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Getting Your Integrative Medicine Certificate Online
If you are ready to help others achieve their health goals through a whole body approach, then integrative medicine may be right for you.
Integrative medicine graduate certificate programs are typically designed for current medical or healthcare professionals. They can train you in applying both traditional and complementary treatments to address issues as well as encourage overall health. If you’re interested in earning an integrative medicine certificate, it could be helpful to first assess what your professional and educational goals are.
You can then explore accredited schools to see which online grad certificates in integrative medicine best match your interests and ambitions.
