Is there a time limit for the program?
No, each student has as long as they need to complete the program.

How long does it take to finish the program?
Some students with past experience (massage therapy students, aromatherapists, doctors, etc…) have finished the program in six months working as full-time students. However, the average time it takes to finish the entire Naturopathic program* is:

1. 18 months for a student with previous experience and/or knowledge of anatomy.
2. 18 months for students who already have a BS degree or degree in a natural healing area.
3. 24 months for students who have experience as a hobby but without professional experience.
4. 36 months for students who have no prior experience.

*These times are based on averages of a student that works part-time. Most of our students study as part-time students. Since students work at their own pace the time it will take you to finish your coursework will be very personal. If you send us a bit of background information on yourself (including how many hours each week you plan to study) at: [email protected] we can give you a more accurate estimate.

But how does this translate into hours? How many hours each week do I need to work?

The classroom credit hours for the Naturopathic well-being course are listed as 1,696. This is based on the classroom hours it takes for students to attend the classes in person. In these cases the student is listening to a lecture on the course as well as reading the same information in the online and physical text books. When practical concepts are introduced there are sometimes many hours spent with one example before the student does their practical exercise.

When you take the courses online you are reading the texts rather than listing to lectures and watching video tutorials instead of watching the practical demonstrations in a classroom so the average actual hours you will spend on the course would be 565. Of those, approximately 424 are practical hours. 

However, even with these numbers you still need to subtract hours if you have already read one or more of the books, have taken previous courses in the subject, have previous experience with the subject, or have a related degree in the subject matter. 

Each student is unique. To receive a more accurate estimate of the time it would take you to complete the course you can send specific information about your background and previous experience to: [email protected].

Is there any additional cost to the program?
Everything is included in the tuition cost listed on the website. Physical books are included as well as the final certificate and transcript. There are no additional fees once you pay the tutition cost.

Can I transfer credits?
Yes, you may transfer credits from related subjects to our school. We will need your transcript or certificate and a description of the class to do this. You can also transfer credits out of our school. Many institutions (see the link above) have accepted our credits. As with classes from any university, what credits they accept are usually on a case-by-case basis.

Are there prerequisites to take Avicenna Institute courses?
There are no prerequisites. However, if you have previous experience you may work more quickly through the classes as a student. Additionally, once you are a student, you can submit samples of previous work or course certificates that may allow you to “test out” of one or more sections of the course.

Do I need a college degree to enroll?
No, our program takes you through the credits you need for a bachelor’s degree and then takes you through the masters and doctorate after that. Some students who already have a bachelor’s degree are able to test out of some of the classes.

What are the classes like? 
Classes are taught with written and audio lectures and assigned readings. There are also mini video classes of subjects that require visual instruction (ie: How to Give an Iridology Reading). One of the most beneficial aspects of the course, however, are the interactions you experience in the lively student forum and the personal comments and feedback you receive on each assignment and exam. There are exams or written assignments at the end of each module. These are all open-book exams/assignments.

What certification do I receive for each course?
Each course has its own certification title. However, if your county, state, country or region requires that a different title be placed on your certificate please let us know. We can usually accommodate changes to the certificates as long as the meaning is the same.