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Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) Program

Free Webinar

Program Overview - April 16 @ 8am Pacific

Learn everything you need to know about our beginner certifications, have your questions answered and meet our Enrollment Advisors.

Ignite the healer within and inspire others to live in harmony with nature and their true selves

All Online & Hybrid - 600-692 Hours - 1 year
Now is an exciting time for embracing the ancient traditions. Also known as “the common sense science,” Ayurveda has been continuously practiced for thousands of years. It is a universal lifestyle science that empowers individuals to new levels of health and to lead more impactful lives.

Spring 2024 applications open

Seasonal Special: $125 off tuition

Transferring from an equivalent program? Complete our Transfer App here »

Course Information

The AAC Track (692 hours) of the Ayurvedic Health Counselor program is required to qualify to sit for the National Ayurvedic Medical Association Certification Board (NAMACB) certification exam as an Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC). The Ayurvedic Accreditation Commission (AAC) sets competency standards for professional Ayurvedic education. All Online & Hybrid students may transition to the AAC Track with additional in person training hours, at an additional cost. Learn more in our Format section.

Prerequisites

No former knowledge of Ayurveda is required to join this program – we begin with the fundamentals.

  • A high school diploma or equivalent is required to join this program.
  • Anatomy & Physiology is required for completion of the AHC program, though it’s not required to join. Click here to learn more > 

 

The AHC programs is a beginner level certification with professional potential and is a prerequisite to our more advanced level II and III certification programs.

Scope of Practice

Upon graduation, Ayurvedic Health Counselors can:

  • Determine and analyze a client’s unique mind-body constitution
  • Conduct Ayurvedic lifestyle consultations
  • Provide Ayurvedic guidance on daily routines, diet, Yoga and meditation
  • Offer recommendations on special Ayurvedic therapies and herbal home remedies

For more detail, please see the complete Scope of Practice: Ayurvedic Health Counselor.

Professional possibilities

What can I do with my Ayurvedic Health Counselor certificate?

  • Transform your wellbeing with profound self-understanding. You’ll gain knowledge that you can apply for a lifetime of greater wellness, success, and peace.
  • Start a wellness counseling business or align with other wellness professionals to create an integrative practice.
  • Teach workshops and run wellness programs based on Ayurvedic principles for health and wellbeing. 
  • Apply your knowledge to cultivate a niche for your existing career. Any career can be healing when you combine Ayurveda with it! Our graduates include chefs, graphic designers, fitness instructors, accountants, engineers, educators, interior designers, entrepreneurs, and many other walks of life.
  • Licensed Healthcare Practitioners and healers from all backgrounds can apply their Ayurvedic knowledge to enhance their current practice. This is the perfect complement for Yoga Teachers & Therapists, Medical Health Professionals, Nurse Practitioners, Medical Doctors, Chiropractors, Nutritionists, Herbalists, Dieticians, Reiki Practitioners and more!
  • Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers can expand their services offering Ayurvedic techniques and deepen potential results for their clients.
  • Estheticians may enhance their treatments, services, and products to include an Ayurvedic approach as well as target the root cause of common skin and beauty concerns.
  • Get creative! Artists, writers and creatives may publish articles and produce content for sharing Ayurvedic wisdom, practices and remedies.

Schedule & Format

The Ayurvedic Health Counselor program is designed for maximum flexibility with an AAC-recognized format option. Your training includes online learning, evening and weekend class times, and live streaming technology. You’ll receive both theoretical and practical training, with a blend of live lectures, recorded lectures, clinical encounters and assignments.

General Format

1 year – 600-692 Hours

11 Weekend Intensives – in person or live streamed*

Two 5-Day Practical Immersions – in person or live streamed*

1-Day Clinical Practicum – in person or live streamed*

28 Tuesday Virtual Classes* – live streamed*

6 Monday Virtual Classes* – live streamed*

10 Group Mentoring Sessions – live streamed* 

Online Recorded Lectures – elearning: self-paced*

Assignments – elearning: self-paced*

Optional AAC Track: Two 5-Day AHC Clinical Internships – in person

 

*Internet connection required

 

Format Options

All Online

600 hours

Weekend Intensives and Practical Immersions attended via live streaming

No AHC Clinical Internships

Not AAC-recognized

Hybrid

600 hours

Weekend Intensives and Practical Immersions attended in person or live streaming

No AHC Clinical Internships

Not AAC-recognized

AAC Track

692 hours

Weekend Intensives attended in person or live streaming

Practical Immersions attended in person

AHC Clinical Internships attended in person

The AAC Track of the Ayurvedic Health Counselor program is required to qualify to sit for the National Ayurvedic Medical Association Certification Board (NAMACB) certification exam as an Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC). The Ayurvedic Accreditation Commission (AAC) sets competency standards for professional Ayurvedic education. All Online & Hybrid students may transition to the AAC Track with additional in person training hours, at an additional cost.

Schedule

Spring 2024 program begins April 9, 2024

Our Academy & Wellness Center

In person classes are offered at our flagship U.S. Academy and Wellness Center located in the heart of Silicon Valley, nestled between the golden-green East Bay Hills, majestic Santa Cruz Mountains and beautiful San Francisco Bay.

The Kerala Ayurveda office is located on the second floor and includes a spacious classroom for lectures, conference room, consultation and Panchakarma rooms, Wellness lounge for our clients and Panchakarma kitchen/restrooms for treatment use. Our building offers additional conference and auditorium spaces.

Amenities include free wifi, tea and spring water station, break room and ample parking space. The center is located near several hotels, restaurants and shopping centers, with widely available ride sharing options. Nearby airports include: San Jose International (SJC), San Francisco International (SFO) and Oakland International (OAK). Our Student Support team can provide more information and local guidance for planning your visit.

Live streaming technology

We introduced live streaming technology to our Ayurvedic education in 2015. Our classes are currently conducted using Zoom and provide students an opportunity to study live and interact with faculty. Zoom can be accessed on mobile, tablets, laptops and desktop devices. Class moderators support our larger class sessions to provide a smooth technical experience. All live streamed classes are recorded for later viewing in our elearning system.

Elearning

Our courses are powered by a robust elearning system that connects our global community of students and faculty. The elearning portal is where students may access all of their course information, materials and curriculum, including: course syllabus, schedule, coursed manual PDFs, class slide decks, class notes and links to live streaming class sessions. The elearning portal is also where tests and assignments are conducted, and students may submit questions.

Curriculum

Kerala Ayurveda Academy specializes in providing a comprehensive curriculum that is taught by highly experienced Ayurvedic scholars and clinicians. The Ayurvedic Health Counselor program includes principles taught in Indian Ayurvedic universities, structured according to US competencies, and all based on the root texts of Ayurveda, the ancient Vedas.

Our AHC students begin their journey studying the foundational principles, history and philosophy of Ayurveda. The year-long course builds upon this foundation with deeper studies in Ayurvedic physiology, psychology, nutrition, seasonal practices, Yoga, Panchakarma detoxification and clinical techniques. Ayurvedic Health Counselors are encouraged to apply their knowledge for their own self-healing, and gradually expand to supporting family, friends, their community and clients. Their training includes a combination of live classes, recorded lectures, assignments, clinical encounters and hands-on clinical training. 

For more information about the curriculum, please consult the course catalog.

Topics

The history of Ayurvedic science

Journey into the world of traditional Indian medicine, the oldest known documented healthcare system alive today. This profound indigenous wisdom is your new home. You are a torch bearer of a long and rich lineage.

Core principles of Ayurveda

Build a foundation for holistic wisdom with Ayurveda’s building blocks including Sankhya philosophy, Ayurveda’s definition of health, the elements, Doshas and Ayurvedic constitution.

Ayurvedic Physiology and Psychology

Explore how Ayurvedic science connects the many layers of our existence and acknowledges our multifaceted consciousness. You’ll deepen your mind-body connection as you tune into the subtle energetics that greatly impact our health.

Cooking and Nutrition

No rules, just guidelines - Ayurveda can inspire everyone to adapt their eating habits for optimal wellness. You’ll learn about the mind-body-gut connection, best lifestyle practices for digestion, how to personalize a diet and work with healing spices. Recipes included!

Seasonal and Preventive Care

Ayurveda is inherently sustainable with applied seasonal care guided by its foundational principles of the elements and Doshas. Learn how to adapt your lifestyle and guide others to live more harmoniously within any ecosystem, season to season.

Yoga and the Mind

Yoga is Ayurveda’s sister science and provides complementary practices for wellness including the well-known poses, breathwork and meditation techniques. It also offers a roadmap for calming the mind, reducing stress and improving focus for living your best life.

Ayurvedic Coaching

Once you start studying Ayurveda, we’re positive you’ll want to share it. Applying all you have learned, hands-on training will allow you to practice assessing and helping others to improve their lifestyles using Ayurvedic wisdom.

Panchakarma, Detoxification & Bodywork

Ayurveda’s hallmark detoxification system offers the deepest healing potential with custom healing diets, herbalized bodywork therapies, and Yoga. You’ll build a foundation for advanced Panchakarma knowledge, including which simple techniques you can recommend or practice, and when to refer clients to Panchakarma and advanced specialists.

Ayurvedic Counseling and Clinical Management

Ayurvedic principles of living are combined with clinical assessment techniques to build a client support toolkit. Lectures, clinical encounters and hands-on training will guide you in the art of Ayurvedic counseling. You’ll learn how to assess individuals, offer lifestyle guidance, and manage minor Dosha imbalances.

Need more information or ready to apply?

Faculty

Kerala Ayurveda Academy offers a premier faculty lineup including Ayurvedic doctors and practitioners  with vast clinical expertise in both India and the U.S. They are accomplished researchers,  educators and speakers, and are passionate supporters of spreading the wisdom of Ayurveda to health seekers and professionals in training.

For more information about our Faculty, please visit our Faculty page.

Our students are for life

Student & Alumni benefits
  • MENTORING: Student Mentors available for enrolled students to support your learning journey. Our skilled mentors are trained and certified Ayurvedic practitioners who all love Ayurveda as much as they enjoy guiding others in learning it. 

  • COURSE SUPPORT: Our Student Support Services team is available anytime to assist with course administration, tuition management and planning your visits to our centers.

  • EDUCATIONAL PLANNING: Enrollment Advisors on our Admissions team are available for 1-on-1 coaching to plan your Ayurvedic educational journey and support you in reaching your personal goals.

  • ALUMNI DATABASE LISTING: Graduates are eligible to be listed in our online alumni database. Connect with your Ayurvedic peers and be part of a searchable database for health seekers to find Ayurvedic professionals! 

  • DISCOUNTS on Kerala Ayurveda courses, products and services.

Join the program

Seasonal Special: $125 off tuition

Transferring from another level I program?

Complete our transfer application

Frequently Asked Questions

Please consult our most recent course catalog for information about tuition and fees.
Kerala Ayurveda Academy does not offer state or federal financial aid to students at this time. If a student obtains a loan to pay for an educational program, the student will have the responsibility to repay the full amount of the loan plus interest, less the amount of any refund. If the student has received federal student financial aid funds, the student is entitled to a refund of the moneys not paid from federal student financial aid program funds. If a student is eligible for a loan guaranteed by the federal or state government and the student defaults on the loan, both of the following may occur:
  1. The federal or state government or a loan guarantee agency may take action against the student, including applying any income tax refund to which the person is entitled to reduce the balance owed on the loan.
  2. The student may not be eligible for any other federal student financial aid at another institution or other government assistance until the loan is repaid.
NOTICE - Any holder of this consumer credit contract is subject to all claims and defenses that the debtor could assert against the seller of the goods or services obtained pursuant hereto or with the proceeds hereof, recovery hereunder by the debtor shall not exceed amounts paid by the debtor hereunder. Kerala Ayurveda Academy does not have a pending petition in bankruptcy, is not operating as a debtor in possession, has not filed a petition within the preceding five years, and has not had a petition in bankruptcy filed against it within the preceding five years that resulted in reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (11U.S.C. Sec. 1101 et seq.).
  • The level I Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) program is 600-692 hours.
  • AHC is a prerequisite for the level II Ayurvedic Practitioner (AP) program, which is 910 hours.
  • AP is a prerequisite for the level III Ayurvedic Clinical Specialist (ACS) program, which is 2,500 hours.
Each of the three levels of professional certification are a prerequisite for the next level, so students must complete the Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) certification before the Ayurvedic Practitioner (AP) program. Likewise, AP is a prerequisite to the Ayurvedic Clinical Specialist (ACS) program.
  • Holistic Ayurvedic Coach (HAC) offers All Online and Hybrid Tracks. HAC can be taken entirely online. In person attendance is optional.
  • Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) offers All Online, Hybrid and AAC Tracks.
    • In person attendance is optional to complete the All Online and Hybrid Formats.
    • The AAC Track is required to qualify to sit for the National Ayurvedic Medical Association Certification Board (NAMACB) certification exam as an Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC). The National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) sets competency standards for professional Ayurvedic education. All Online & Hybrid students may transition to the AAC Track with additional in person training hours, at an additional cost.
  • Ayurvedic Practitioner and Ayurvedic Clinical Specialist (ACS) certification programs require partial in person attendance. They cannot be taken entirely online.
A college degree is only required for our level III certification. Program-specific requirements are as follows:
  • For all of our Training Porgrams, students are required to possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • Holistic Ayurvedic Coach (HAC) and Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) certification programs: no licenses or certifications in any field are required.
  • Ayurvedic Practitioner (AP) requires an Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) certificate or equivalent.
  • Ayurvedic Clinical Specialist (ACS) requires a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent.
  • Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC), Ayurvedic Practitioner (AP), and Ayurvedic Clinical Specialist (ACS) all require Anatomy & Physiology as a corequisite. This means that the A&P requirement can be fulfilled during the course and must be completed prior to completion to meet the graduation requirements. Learn more about the Anatomy & Physiology requirements here.
Yes! The minimum admissions requirement for our Ayurvedic Trainings is a high school diploma or equivalent.
General Policy: Attendance is monitored via attendance taken in-class and during live streamed sessions. Each certification program has a unique Attendance Policy. Please consult the most recent course catalog for details. If a student is absent from an in person or live streamed session, they may make it up at any KAA training location or via live streamed session, free of charge. If a student wishes to retake an in-class session, a make-up fee may apply. To make arrangements for all make-up or retake sessions, please contact Student Support at support@keralaayurveda.us.
A notebook and writing implement. KAA will provide classroom facilities and course manuals. The classes are taught in traditional, clean, well-lit classroom settings with tables and chairs for your comfort.
Please try not to feel anxious about the tests. The testing is conducted online in our elearning system at the student’s pace. There are (5) attempts available for taking the test, and the highest score is recorded. The tests provide the student and the academy an opportunity to verify learning benchmarks are achieved for successful course progress.
Yes, since Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) covers all the curriculum of the Holistic Ayurvedic Coach (HAC) program, you will be eligible to receive the HAC certification once all the requirements are completed.
Digital copies of our course manuals are included in tuition for all programs. Print manuals are available at an additional cost. See individual Program Tuition and Fees in the course catalog for more information.
For students attending on-site, complementary water and tea is available at our center. Classes are scheduled between 8:00am-6:00pm U.S. Pacific Time. A 1-hour lunch break is provided. Students may bring lunch and are welcome to eat in our classroom. A breakroom is available in the building with a refrigerator, sink and microwave. KAA can provide recommendations for local restaurants.
Ayurvedic Doctors with a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS) degree may join the Ayurvedic Clinical Specialist (ACS) program directly as all the prerequisites are satisfied by their degree. An application is still required.
Vaidya is a Sanskrit word which translates to healer. It has been used as a designation for Ayurvedic physicians for thousands of years and signifies an Ayurvedic lineage. You may notice that many of our faculty hold this designation, in addition to their BAMS degrees, and this is due to their personal lineage, coming from families of Ayurvedic healers. Out of respect for the Ayurvedic family lineages, the title Vaidya is not used based on degree alone.
Ayurveda is not a licensed medical field, and therefore this Ayurvedic Clinical Specialist (ACS) program, formerly titled Ayurvedic Doctor (AD), does not offer graduates a Doctorate degree. Graduates cannot use the designation “Dr.” in their name.
This program is designed to satisfy the Ayurvedic Clinical Specialist (ACS) scope of practice in the US, as determined by the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA). It does not qualify you for practice in India as a BAMS Ayurvedic Doctor, nor does it qualify you to practice in any other location. Please check in with the regulations of your local state or country to determine your available scope of practice and whether this program will meet your needs