GOOD TO KNOW: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS DOCTORATE

You can find module requirements and syllabi below these question-and-answer entries, so feel free to scroll down if you're in a rush and just want to see the syllabus. We know that's the best part.

 

HOW CAN I BECOME A HOLISTIC PROVIDER OR HOLISTIC DOCTOR?

Honor the breadth and depth of your calling by earning one or more holistic doctorates at Rockwell. Review this entire page and read our FAQ to understand this process fully.

 

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? 

We are a U.S.-based holistic educator, established in 2015 as an online school; we do not have a physical location. However, we will soon celebrate our 2025 10th anniversary with an annual fall conference, clinicals, and a graduation ceremony in the United States. The specific location for these events is yet to be determined.

 

HOW MUCH DOES THIS PROGRAM COST?

Each holistic doctorate is currently priced at $2,222. The tri-doctorate, which includes three of the five holistic doctorates and one practice minor each, is available for $4,444. Enrollment links and tuition payment plans are at the bottom of this and all holistic doctorate pages, or just click ENROLL in the menu above.

 

This is our lowest cost of entry, as prices will increase in the fall with the completion of our 10th-anniversary updates to support our 2025 annual conference, clinicals, and graduate ceremony. 

 

ARE YOU ACCREDITED?

Like most schools of this class and type, we are multi-professionally accredited.

 

You can view our accreditations on our home page under 'Accreditations & Affiliations.' Schools that teach natural, functional, holistic, nutritional, and botanical medicine are only eligible for professional accreditation, not regional, which conventional colleges receive. See more below.

     

DO YOU OFFER FINANCIAL AID, GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, OR TAKE THE GI BILL? 

Regional accreditation enables traditional educators to access government funding such as FAFSA and GI Bill, while professionally accredited educators cannot offer or receive these types of educational funding and student grants. 

 

In addition, many educators of this class and type easily charge between $4,000 and $6,000 for a single natural health and herbal program or $5,000 to $11,000 for functional programs. At Rockwell, our tuition is a fraction of the price, sometimes one-third of what other educators charge.

 

Since our inception, we've awarded over $100,000 in scholarships, but because we already price our programs so affordably to promote maximum economic inclusion, we will no longer offer scholarships from 2024 and beyond.

 

IS IT LEGAL TO CALL YOURSELF A DOCTOR? IS THIS A REAL PhD?

Before the establishment of Rockwell over a decade ago, the natural health industry had existed for over 30 years, with individuals referring to themselves as 'doctors' as teachers, the term's original meaning in Latin from the word 'docere.' This is also 'doctor as non-physician.' You can read more about this from our very first graduate in the piece, 'Why I Should Be Addressed As Doctor.'

 

Some schools offer Master's degrees in herbalism, natural health PhDs, or metaphysician titles, but at Rockwell, we specifically offer holistic doctorates and practice minors. After obtaining board certification, most certifying boards award the provider additional doctoral titles. It's not a new thing.

 

Each school of this class and type offers its own graduate titles and professional designations. Some program titles overlap, while others do not. For example, some board certifiers offer dual title in naturopathy and natural medicine, depending. Learn more about board certification for holistic providers below.

 

HOW DOES BOARD CERTIFICATION & LICENSING WORK?

The natural health industry has existed for decades. Despite operating in an educationally and professionally unregulated industry, we have a thriving community complete with holistic educators, accreditors, board certifiers, insurers, and licensing agencies.

 

We're holistic educators and do not offer board certification or licensing. Holistic providers receive board certification and licensing from third-party agencies and organizations rather than through us or state boards. These organizations advocate for our right to practice and access natural, functional, holistic medicine. You can become holistically board-certified by numerous organizations; exam and non-exam options exist.

 

Some require proxy testing, while others offer online testing. Our graduates have achieved a 100% pass rate. Board certifiers that require or offer testing will provide you with study guides. 

 

We connect you with the most reputable board certifiers in the business emporium, which is accessible to all students and graduates. Our graduates can pursue board certification with any organization that grants it to holistic providers, whether or not we receive accreditation from the organization.

 

Some organizations provide board certification only, while others also offer accreditation to holistic educators. You can find information about board certifiers and our professional accreditors on our home and sitemap pages. Board certification is optional but allows you to identify yourself as a board-certified holistic doctor.

 

Check out our licensing and board certification page.

 

HOW MUCH DOES BOARD CERTIFICATION COST?

Board certification initially costs $300-600 and includes annual re-certification fees. Some holistic educators charge their own in-house recertification fees, but we don't. Many of our graduates are double and triple-board-certified. Anyone can get board certification. There's no formal application process. You just follow the steps. Most providers will send you a certificate.

 

HOLISTIC PROVIDER LICENSING

Did you know that holistic providers can obtain a special type of licensing? Two agencies offer this licensing, and once you participate, your name and picture will be featured on their website.

 

Moreover, they act as a legal supporting body that protects your right to access and practice natural, functional, holistic medicine (natural health). There's no formal application process. You simply enroll. 

 

We will link you to all regulatory bodies within the business emporium, but you can find their logos on our home and sitemap pages.

 

The licensing agency will provide further education on your rights as a holistic provider so you can work within your scope of practice. Licensing is optional but allows you to say you're a licensed holistic doctor and board-certified if that's also true.

 

Knowing that an organization supports your right to practice and access natural, functional, and holistic medicine is reassuring. Holistic provider licensing is especially important for our licensed medical professional graduates because it protects their right to practice outside their normal standards of care. 

 

HOW MUCH DOES LICENSING COST?

It costs a monthly fee of around $50-60. 

 

HOW MANY GRADUATES DO YOU HAVE?

Our current student body is 1000 or fewer. However, based on current marketing, advertising, and prospective student enrollment indicators, we are projected to reach over 2000 student enrollments this year and triple these numbers by 2025 for those who are curious. 

 

WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE MAKE UP YOUR STUDENT BODY? 

Our student body includes a diverse range of individuals, from laypersons to licensed medical professionals. These professionals include pharmacists, MDs, NPs, autonomous NPs, PAs, RNs, and LPNs.

 

We also have students who are current or future holistic providers, individuals from various backgrounds, such as stay-at-home moms with some college experience, and recent high school graduates seeking an alternative vocational track outside of dental hygiene and automotive and for whom conventional college doesn't resonate. 

 

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO FINISH?

The time required to complete each holistic doctorate varies for each person. 

 

We offer fast-track options with durations of 3-6 months and slower-paced 12 and 24-month options for individuals who require or prefer more time for reflection and application of their knowledge.

 

The accelerated track for our natural medicine program takes approximately 3-6 months to complete. The nutritional and botanical medicine program takes 6-9 months, while the spiritual and functional medicine programs take 1-3 months, depending on your availability.

 

Conventional doctorates are based on years of experience. However, natural, functional, and holistic medicine falls within an educationally unregulated industry. This means we can eliminate repetitive general requirements and set up our own, allowing you to focus solely on what you wish to learn.

 

WHAT'S THE PROGRAM FORMAT?

Our coursework includes video lectures, lesson body content, scientific journals, studies, downloadable PDF resources, required reading, learning objectives, and outcomes assessment.

 

WHAT ARE THE ENROLLMENT PREREQUISITES?

Many people are unsure whether enrollment requires a master's degree or a medical license. 

 

While our student body includes various licensed medical professionals, it's not necessary to be one. 

 

Unlike law, conventional medicine, real estate, and even massage therapy, natural, functional, and holistic medicine falls within an educationally unregulated industry, which allows us to dictate our entry and graduate requirements. 

 

Since it's not a federally mandated field, we'd be remiss not to allow someone to study natural, functional, and holistic medicine to enrich and enhance their personal and professional lives. 

 

WHAT'S REQUIRED TO GRADUATE?

To obtain certification in this holistic doctorate program, you must complete two modules:

 

Module 1: Science & Medicine—This module covers our core curriculum and foundational sciences. It's our version of what we think real medical school look like, and we're very proud of it. You'll learn anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pathophysiology. 

  

Module 2: Natural Medicine - This module offers a cutting-edge take on anti-aging, youth preservation, quality of life, and longevity.

 

You must complete your chosen doctorate module and module one to obtain any holistic doctorate.  

 

AUDIT VS. ACCESS & TITLE 

You can audit anything you don't wish to certify in and still apply to practice. What does it mean to audit? Auditing involves completing coursework but not receiving credit or title for it.

 

You must formally enroll and certify to gain access to our modality-dependent vendors, such as Rupa Health, Evexia, Desert Biologicals (DesBio), Lifewave, AO Scan, and Full Script.

 

WHICH PROGRAM OR PROGRAMS SHOULD I ENROLL?

 

How can you determine which program or programs are best for you? Most individuals are fairly certain about one, if not both, of their holistic doctorate modalities.

 

Those unsure of their second and third educational tracks can explore the tri-doctorate after enrollment to decide which programs most resonate. You're always free to change your mind on which programs you want to do until you formally certify and request your certificate of completion.

 

Those who are fascinated with manifesting their full health potential will resonate most with our natural medicine program, which has a cutting-edge focus on anti-aging, youth preservation, longevity, and quality of life. 

 

People with a pharmaceutical background tend to gravitate to our botanical medicine program, which teaches herbal pharmacy, herbal beauty, and plant medicine.

 

People who love nutrition would benefit from our advanced holistic nutrition program, which goes beyond the trending buzzwords of functional nutrition. 

 

After completing this program, we guarantee that you will have a deeper understanding of nutrition than anyone else in the room unless they, too, have completed the program. That's our promise to you. You can read a short article by one of our graduates, Piper Gibson, who is also featured on our Graduate Reviews and Provider Success Stories pages.

 

Our spiritual medicine program focuses on plant, flower, and mineral essences as energetic tipping points. You'll learn how adverse childhood events and toxic interpersonal relationships affect adult cancer rates and autoimmunity. And you'll study psychological acupressure for immediate relief of emotional distress.

 

For functional blood chemistry, you'll learn all about tests, test manufacturers, and distributors, as well as the difference between functional and conventional ranges and key tests and how to order and interpret labs. This is the ultimate program to enhance your healthcare freedom.

 

Never again will you have to beg, grovel, or plead with your PCP to prove to insurance why you need or want a test. At Rockwell, you'll be free to access physician-only testing and get any test you want, anytime you want. This is one of our most self-empowering holistic doctorates.

 

After completing this program, you'll gain access to both Rupa Health and Evexia functional testing platforms, which offer physician-only testing through built-in medical director programs and physician networks, enabling you to independently order and interpret labs.

   

PRACTICE MINORS, CONFERENCE, CLINICALS, & OUR ANNUAL GRADUATE CEREMONY

Each holistic doctoral program includes one practice minor, which can be chosen before or after enrollment. Practice minors are listed below. Additional practice minors are available for purchase at any time. We'll release a dozen or so additional practice minors between now and our 10th anniversary in 2025, during which we plan to host our first annual conference, clinicals, and graduate ceremony.

 

WHAT'S IDEAL HEALTH THEORY?

You can read all about Ideal Health Theory® here.

 

GRADUATE REQUIREMENTS & HOW TO CERTIFY 

To certify in any doctorate modality, a student will complete Module 1: Science & Medicine, our core curriculum representing our version of what we think real medical school should look like, after which you'll complete your doctorate module of choice. 

 

These required modules can be completed in any order, but completion of both is required to certify. To graduate, you must complete all required modules, tests, quizzes, and exams and then submit a graduation request. This request should include a brief essay summarizing your key takeaways.

 

You'll receive feedback on your essay to help you improve your written communication skills. After that, your graduate request will be forwarded to our certificate issuance department. You will not receive a grade, but sometimes, we may ask for resubmissions.

 

KEY DIFFERENTIATORS BETWEEN ROCKWELL & OTHER HOLISTIC EDUCATORS

We strive to be the most provider-friendly educator on the market today, built by providers for providers. That's why we don't overcharge for our programs, and we don't charge for: 

• access beyond one year
• student group access
• access to updates
• $75 lab fees (where applicable)
• annual in-house recertification fees (not the same as 3rd party annual board recertification fees)

Our graduates have lifelong access, free access to student groups, no additional lab fees, and no annual in-house recertification fees.

 

We take pride in generously offering our student body access to everything when they enroll in anything. 

 

Once enrolled, you can audit and apply to practice anything you don't need, want, or choose to certify in.

 

However, you'll need to formally enroll in any holistic doctorate programs you want title in and vendor access to, such as Desert Biologicals through natural medicine, Full Script through nutritional medicine, and Rupa Health and Evexia through functional medicine.

 

We give you maximum access, maximum affordability, and maximum title in one fell swoop. We'll never nickel and dime your brain and pocketbook with constant upsells, arbitrary requirements, and unreasonable fees. We're built by providers for providers who always have your financial bottom line and best interest at heart. 

 

DO YOU HAVE GRADUATE REVIEWS?

You can read graduate reviews here.

 

DO YOUR GRADUATES HAVE PROVIDER SUCCESS STORIES?

You can read provider success stories here.

 

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT CAREER PATHS?

You can read about career paths here.

 

WHAT'S REQUIRED TO GRADUATE?

 

Click on each syllabus image link below to access the downloadable PDF.

 

The syllabi provided below outline Module 1: Science & Medicine (our core curriculum and foundational sciences) and Module 2: Natural Medicine, both of which are required to complete and certify this holistic doctorate. Completing Module 1 and a chosen doctorate module is necessary to obtain certification, access to vendors, a professional title, and designation for all holistic doctorate programs.  

 

ENROLL