Distance Education -Certificate in Herbs Course
- Develop skills needed to manage a herb herb businesses, either farms, nurseries or businesses handling herb products (eg. dried or fresh produce, oils and essences, crafts, medicines).
- Learn about identification, growing, processing and marketing herbs and herb products
- 600 hour, self paced course
Course Content and Structure
There are three parts to this course as follows:
A. CORE STUDIES
This involves four core units which are common to all streams of this Advanced Certificate C12CN001. These are Management, Office Practices, Marketing and Business Operations.
1. OFFICE PRACTICES
Develops basic office skills covering use of equipment, communication systems (telephone, fax, etc) and office procedures such as filing, security, workplace organisations, etc.
2. BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Develops knowledge of basic business operations and procedures (eg. types of businesses, financial management, business analysis, staffing, productivity, etc) and the skills to develop a 12 month business plan.
3. MANAGEMENT
Develops knowledge of management structures, terminology, supervision, recruitment and workplace health and safety.
4. MARKETING
Develops a broad understanding of marketing and specific skills in writing advertisements, undertaking market research, developing an appropriate marketing plan and selling.
" I wanted to study herbs .... ACS offered the best option - study at home, at my own pace and still tutor contact when I needed it. I was undecided in the facet of herbs that I wanted to specialise in - that was until I completed an assignment to produce three herbal products. My tutor tested my products and encouraged me to set up a small business making and distributing a range of natural herbal cosmetic and household products. His guidance has helped me establish an interesting and profitable business from my studies"
- Catherine, studying Certificate in Applied Management
B. STREAM STUDIES
This involves three units as follows:
Herbs Stage 1
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1. Introduction
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2. Herb Culture
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3. Lamiaceae Herbs
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4. Using Herbs: Herb Crafts
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5. Using Herbs: Herbs For Cooking
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6. Using Herbs: Medicinal Herbs
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7. Harvest & Post-harvest
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8. Producing Herb Products
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Herbs Stage 2
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1. Introduction To Herb Farming
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2. Organic Growing Practices
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3. Liliaceae Herbs: Garlic, chives, etc.
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4. The Mints
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5. Lavenders
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6. Other Significant Herbs
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7. Herb Farming Practices
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8. Herb Farm Layout & Design
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Herbs Stage 3
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1. Compositae (Asteraceae) Herbs
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2. Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) Herbs
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3. Topiary & Hedges
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4. Companion Planting
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5. Herbs In Landscaping
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6. Commercial Herb Preparation
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7. Herb Nursery Management
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8. Marketing Herb Products
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9. Research Project
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C. WORKPLACE PROJECT
A 200 hour research project on a selected aspect of the herb industry. Alternatively, verification of approved work experience may provide exemption from this requirement.
There are two options available to you to satisfy this requirement:
Alternative 1.
If you work in the industry that you have been studying; you may submit a reference from your employer, in an effort to satisfy this industry (ie. workplace project) requirement; on the basis of RPL (ie. recognition for prior learning), achieved through your current and past work experience.
The reference must indicate that you have skills and an awareness of your industry, which is sufficient for you to work in a position of responsibility.
Alternative 2.
If you do not work in the relevant industry, you need to undertake a project as follows.
Procedure for a Workplace Project
This project is a major part of the course involving the number of hours relevant to the course (see above). Although the course does not contain mandatory work requirements, work experience is seen as highly desirable.
This project is based on applications in the work place and specifically aims to provide the student with the opportunity to apply and integrate skills and knowledge developed through various areas of formal study.
Students will design this project in consultation with a tutor to involve industry based activities in the area of specialized study which they select to follow in the course. The project outcomes may take the form of a written report, folio, visuals or a mixture of forms. Participants with relevant, current or past work experience will be given exemption from this project if they can provide suitable references from employers that show they have already fulfilled the requirements of this project.
For courses that involve more than 100 hours, more than one workplace project topic may be selected. For example, 200 hours may be split into two projects each of 100 hours. This will offer the student better scope to fulfill the needs of their course and to meet the number of hours required. Alternatively, the student may wish to do one large project with a duration of 200 hours.
Students will be assessed on how well they achieve the goals and outcomes they originally set as part of their negotiations with their tutor. During each 100 hours of the project, the students will present three short progress reports. These progress reports will be taken into account when evaluating the final submission. The tutor must be satisfied that the work submitted is original.
If the student wishes to do one large 200 hour report, then only three progressive reports will be needed (however the length of each report will be longer).
Enrolment fees do not include exam fees
Why study here? ....ACS is different in many ways
- Established since 1979, Internationally recognised (IARC)
- Support from an international team of highly qualified herb experts
- Courses are continually reviewed and revisions are happening every month of the year
- Courses are "experiential" based learning (This is different to many other schools)
The opportunities to work in the herb industry are greater than what most people imaging. Apart from obvious things such as working in a herb nursery or in massage therapy; herbs are farmed, processed and sold across a wide range of industries. They provide ingredients for foods, medicines, toothpaste, cleaning products, pest control products, crafts and much more.
Consider Lavender
Lavender is one of the most important herbs cultivated around the world. Demand for high quality lavender oil is always strong; and the most pure oils can often sell at per kg prices comparable with, or higher than the price of gold. The best oils are used in some of the most expensive perfumes; and this “top end” business provides excellent opportunities for lavender farmers who can perfect their farming. Perfecting your skills at this level is easier said than done though; and will take years of hard work combined with appropriate investment capital and exceptional scientific knowledge combine with a sharp business sense.
Most people who work with lavender however; will work at a level below this top end.
The lavender industry is diverse, and large. Some work in businesses that focus only, or mostly, on lavender products. Others produce or market lavender products, alongside other types of products (eg. A candle shop that sells lavender candles along with other types of candles; or a herb nursery that supplies lavender plants along with other types of herb plants).
Types of Lavender Products
- Plants – propagation nurseries sell rooted cuttings, plants for large scale lavender plantations, potted plants (various sized pots), trained plants (eg. Topiary standard)
- Cut Flowers – dried or fresh
- Oils – retail, wholesale; supplied to factories, crafts industries, aromatherapy, etc
- Pharmaceuticals/ Health Industries – Massage oils, aromatherapy, components in liniments, etc
- Cleaning –washing powders and liquids, spray on cleaners,
- Perfumery – perfumes, deodorants, air fresheners
- Pest Control – garden, veterinary, human
- Culinary – alcoholic liqueurs, non alcoholic drinks, baked goods
- Crafts –scented sachets, potpourri, dried posies, sleep pillows, etc
