GOOD TO KNOW: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS DOCTORATE

Below these question-and-answer entries, you can find module requirements and syllabi. Feel free to scroll down if you're in a rush and just want to see the curriculum. We know that's the best part, but be sure to return and read this since it will answer all your questions. And if it and our FAQ don't, you can contact us here. 

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 fully understand this process.

We offer five holistic doctorate titles in the following modalities:

• natural medicine
• botanical medicine
• nutritional medicine
• spiritual medicine
• functional medicine

Our programs are self-paced and grant lifetime access.

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? 

We're a U.S.-based holistic educator, established in 2015 as an online school, originally founded in Indiana but currently based in Florida. 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 BOOKS FOR REQUIRED READING INCLUDED?

Some required reading is not included in program costs and varies by module. The cost generally doesn't exceed $200, although this may be subject to change. The required reading is found at the top of each module. We do not have a list to hand out.

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 Rockwell was established over a decade ago, the natural health industry had been around for over 30 years. Individuals referred to themselves as 'doctors' as teachers, representing 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 only 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, including the AADP, the ANCB, the AANWP, the ANWPB, and the ANMCB. We are multi-professionally accredited by the AADP, the AANWP, and the ANWPB. 

Some organizations, like the ANCB, provide board certification only, while others also offer accreditation to holistic educators. Our home and sitemap pages provide information about board certifiers and our professional accreditors. 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, after which you'll be responsible for 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 connect you with all regulatory bodies within the business emporium. Their logos can be found on our homepage and sitemap.

The licensing agency will offer additional education on your rights as a holistic provider, enabling you to work within your scope of practice. While licensing is optional, it allows you to describe yourself as a licensed holistic doctor and board-certified, if applicable.

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 have students who are current or future holistic providers, as well as individuals from diverse 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. We offer an alternative route for those for whom conventional college doesn't resonate or simply want to learn these modalities.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO FINISH?

The time needed to complete each holistic doctorate varies for each individual, depending on the specific doctorate program they are studying.

natural medicine = 3-6 months on a fast track

botanical medicine = 6-9 months on a fast track

nutritional medicine = 6-9 months on a fast track

spiritual medicine = 1-3 months on a fast track

functional medicine = 1-3 months on a fast track

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 and original research. However, natural, functional, and holistic medicine is 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. You can find information about why a dissertation is optional for our holistic doctorates on our Graduate Requirements page.

WHAT'S THE PROGRAM FORMAT?

Our program's coursework and educational format include video lectures, lesson 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. 

Given that it is not a regulated field in terms of education, it would be a mistake not to allow individuals to study natural, functional, and holistic medicine to enhance their personal and professional lives. This means everyone is welcome to enroll if they feel it is their calling.

WHAT'S REQUIRED TO GRADUATE & HOW DO I 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, followed by their chosen doctorate module. These required modules can be completed in any order, but are both required to certify. 

To graduate, you must complete these two required modules and any tests, quizzes, and exams within them. Afterward, you can submit a graduation request, which includes a short essay summarizing your key takeaways.

After you receive feedback on your essay to help you improve your written communication skills, your graduate request will be forwarded to our certificate issuance department. This process usually takes about 72 hours. Please note that you will not receive a grade, but we may occasionally ask for resubmissions.

As previously stated, to obtain certification in this holistic doctorate program, you must complete two modules:

Module 1: Science & Medicine covers our core curriculum and foundational sciences. It's our version of what we believe real medical school should look like, and we're very proud of it.

You'll learn all about anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pathophysiology. And in the coming era of antibiotic resistance, you'll study the pioneering frontier of bacteriophage, which might be the one thing that could potentially save humanity from the antibiotic resistance apocalypse set to take over the medical industrial complex.

Module 9: Functional Medicine that walks you through key tests, labs, manufacturers, and distributors, key tests for predictive autoimmunity, food sensitivity, gut health, and hormones.

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

You can read more about our graduate requirements here.

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 have the flexibility to adjust your program choices until you officially apply for certification 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 of this program, 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. You'll also study psychological acupressure for immediate relief of emotional distress.

For functional blood chemistry, you'll learn about tests, test manufacturers, distributors, the difference between functional and conventional ranges, and how to order and interpret labs. This is the ultimate in personal and professional medical 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 order any test you want, anytime you want. This is one of our most 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 doctorate program includes one practice minor, which can be chosen after enrollment. Practice minors are listed below. Additional practice minors are available for purchase at any time. We'll release a dozen or more 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.

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 (all of our doctorate programs and practice minors) when they enroll in anything. 

Once enrolled, you can audit and apply to practice anything you don't 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 provide you with the highest level of access, affordability, and title all at one school.

We will never burden you with constant upsells, arbitrary requirements, and unreasonable fees. Our platform is designed 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.

WHERE'S THE SYLLABI FOR MODULE 1 & MODULE 2? 

The syllabi provided below outline Module 1: Science & Medicine (our core curriculum and foundational sciences) and Module 9: Functional Medicine, both of which are required to complete and certify this holistic doctorate. 

Completing Module 1 and a chosen doctorate module is necessary to certify and gain access to vendors, a professional designation, and a career title for all holistic doctorate programs.

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

Several modules included with this holistic doctorate consist of optional coursework, practice minors, and the business emporium, divided into two parts. 

Module 12: The Rockwell Business Emporium, which is accessible to all students and graduates and consists of two parts: business set-up and practical applications and business energetics and spiritual economics.

BUSINESS SET-UP & PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Business setup and practical applications will help you develop your brand, tone, voice, messaging, delivery, and audience targeting, and it will mentor you on how to operate as a new provider.

SPIRITUAL ECONOMICS & BUSINESS ENERGETICS 

Business energetics and spiritual economics can help you overcome obstacles that may be holding you back, such as pre-existing (and unconscious) visibility wounds, the fear of being seen, fear-based decision-making, and imposter syndrome. This work allows you to create a thriving practice. The syllabus is below for reference.