Your journey into the profound wisdom of Ayurveda begins with choosing the right path for you. Whether you’re drawn to our 6-month Holistic Ayurvedic Coach (HAC) certification or our 1-year Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) program, you’re about to step into ancient knowledge that has been healing lives for thousands of years.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between these two transformative certifications. The great news? Our program is designed with you in mind—you don’t have to make the final choice right now. By starting with HAC, you can seamlessly transition to AHC and continue your Ayurvedic journey deeper.
The Basics: What You Need To Know First
HAC is the first half of AHC
HAC is is our Basic Certification
HAC is for any level of learning, and it’s not designed to match the professional membership designations of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association
AHC is our Level I Certification
AHC is approved by the National Ayurvedic Medical Association’s for the first level of professional membership.
The Coach (HAC) program offers a strong foundation for personal learning.
The Counselor (AHC) program is the first level recognized by NAMA for professional Ayurvedic practice (and is AAC-recognized, qualifying graduates to sit for the NAMACB certification exam).
Which means you can seamlessly transition from your Coach certification to Level I AHC when you decide to continue your studies
Which means you can seamlessly transition from your Coach certification to Level I AHC when you decide to continue your studies
How Our Programs Evolved With You
Since opening our doors in 2006, Kerala Ayurveda Academy has grown alongside the flourishing Ayurvedic profession in America. We began with a single 500-hour Level I AHC program, but as the field matured and professional standards evolved through the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA), we expanded our offerings to meet both emerging requirements and your evolving needs.
Today, we offer a complete pathway from beginner to the highest level of certification in the US – including specialized continuing education workshops and online series developed directly from student and graduate feedback. But we also recognized something important: not everyone was ready to dive into a full year-long commitment. That’s why we created the Holistic Ayurvedic Coach program—to open the door wider for newcomers seeking authentic Ayurvedic teachings in a more accessible format.
We created the Holistic Ayurvedic Coach program for students who:
- Want to explore Ayurveda deeply but aren’t ready for a full year commitment
- Are curious about professional practice but want to test the waters first
- Prefer to learn and apply foundational principles before deciding on advanced study
- Seek authentic Ayurvedic training that fits their current life circumstances
The Program Format And Curriculum
Learning Together, Growing Together
Since the Coach program forms the foundation of our Counselor certification, HAC and AHC students begin their journey side by side. For the first six transformative months, you’ll learn together, share insights, and build lasting connections with fellow students from both programs.
After completing your Coach certification, you can choose to continue alongside your Counselor classmates for the advanced six-month portion, deepening your practice and expanding your expertise.
Time-Based Program Components at a Glance
Weekend Intensives | Tuesday Virtual Classes | Mentoring Sessions | Practical Training | |
HAC (6 Months) | KAA101-106 | 12 | 5 | (1) One 1-day Clinical Practicum |
AHC (1 Year) | KAA101-111 | 28 | 11 | (1) One 1-day Clinical Practicum (1) One 5-day AHC Practical |
Program Curriculum Comparison
The Coach program curriculum is identical to the first half of the Counselor program. Both programs are built around our monthly Weekend Intensives – comprehensive Saturday-Sunday sessions (8am-6pm Pacific) that you can attend in-person or online. Coach students complete the first 6 Weekend Intensives, while Counselor students continue through all 11 modules.
Beyond the Weekend Intensives, both programs include Tuesday evening virtual classes and self-paced online lectures. For complete curriculum details, see our course catalog and program schedules.
What's The Scope Of Practice For Ayurvedic Coaches And Counselors?
The key distinction is that a Holistic Ayurvedic Coach (HAC) focuses on assessing and understanding an individual’s natural constitution (prakruti).
An Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) builds on this foundation by also identifying current imbalances (vikruti) and learning to guide clients through the first three stages of the disease process.
Scope of practice comparison: HAC vs AHC
Coach (HAC) | Counselor (AHC) | |
Educate clients and general public on Ayurvedic principles including the holistic view of health, the elements, Doshas, Ayurvedic diet, daily and nightly routines, and living in alignment with nature’s rhythms | ✓ | ✓ |
Explain the connection between body, mind and spirit and how various natural tools and principles can enhance the quality of life | ✓ | ✓ |
Take health history of a client’s personal and family wellness | ✓ | ✓ |
Analyze a client’s unique mind-body constitution according to Ayurvedic principles | ✓ | ✓ |
Advise clients on dietary choices based on their constitution and the six tastes | ✓ | ✓ |
Create daily, nightly and seasonal routines for clients based on their constitution and age | ✓ | ✓ |
Recommend simple yoga and breathing techniques for improved health | ✓ | ✓ |
Offer talks, workshops and write articles about principles of Ayurvedic living, cooking, preventive practices, simple yoga and breathing techniques | ✓ | ✓ |
Recommend common rejuvenative (Rasayana) herbs for preventative health and life enhancement | ✓ | |
Recommend basic Ayurvedic bodywork therapies | ✓ | |
Assess common Dosha imbalances in individuals, and learn to guide clients through the first three stages of the disease process. | ✓ | |
Offer supportive recommendations in diet, daily and seasonal practices | ✓ | |
Offer simple yoga and breathing | ✓ | |
Offer common rejuvenative herbs and basic Ayurvedic bodywork therapies | ✓ |
Holistic Ayurvedic Coaches are trained to assess individual constitution and recommend lifestyle changes including daily routines, nutrition, exercise, and yoga practices.
Counselors share this foundational scope but go deeper, studying Ayurvedic herbs (Dravya Guna Shastra), bodywork therapies (Panchakarma), and clinical assessment and management (Roga Nidan and Kayachikitsa). This advanced training allows Counselors to recommend specific herbs, therapies, and targeted support for dosha imbalances.
For detailed scope of practice information, visit the Holistic Ayurvedic Coach program and Ayurvedic Health Counselor program pages.
Professional Applications Of Ayurveda
Ayurveda is powerful on its own and beautifully complements other healing modalities. Earning your Coach or Counselor certification can enrich your existing practice and help you carve out a unique niche. Our graduates come from diverse backgrounds, including:
- Yoga Instructors and Therapists
- Massage Therapists, Chiropractors and Bodyworkers
- Medical Practitioners
- Reiki and Energy Practitioners
- Nutritionists and Dieticians
- Life Coaches
- Psychologists and Counselors
The ancient Vedic texts describe Ayurveda’s first goal as Swasthasya Swasthya Rakshanam—to preserve the health of the healthy. This principle is the foundation of our Level I Ayurvedic Health Counselor program, which also guides the Coach training.
At this level, Coaches and Counselors focus on lifestyle shifts that prevent disease rather than treating illness. Level I Counselors learn to recognize common Dosha imbalances, recommend lifestyle changes, and understand when referral is needed. To work with existing disease conditions, advancement to Level II Practitioner training is required.
If your certification will support your professional practice, let the scope of practice help guide your choice of program.
And remember: if you’re unsure where to begin, start with the Holistic Ayurvedic Coach program. You’ll have the option to transition into the year-long Health Counselor program before your Coach training ends. If you need to pause, don’t worry—we offer Counselor programs every spring and fall, so your next opportunity will always be just around the corner.
Coach and Counselor Certifications at Kerala Ayurveda Academy
Kerala Ayurveda Academy offers Certifications for both a 300 hour Holistic Ayurvedic Coach(HAC) and a 600 hour Ayurvedic Health Counselor(AHC). New cohorts begin every Spring and Fall.
Need more guidance?
Our Enrollment Advisors Can Assist You
Our Enrollment Advisors are available via email and phone to answer your questions and provide 1-on-1 guidance.
