Membership Qualification Standards

AABC verifies educational credentials and training hours to determine membership qualification levels. Our standards are based on current North American educational and credentialing requirements, as well as those developed by AYUSH, WHO, and leading Ayurveda institutions in India.

Membership Qualification Pathway

AABC recognizes educational achievements from accredited institutions and verifies training hours to qualify members for progressive certification levels based on internationally recognized standards.

AABC Membership Qualification Pathway

AABC Membership Qualification Pathway Flowchart

This flowchart illustrates the progression pathways for AABC membership levels, showing how each qualification builds upon previous training and leads to advanced specializations.

Foundation Level

Registered Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant (RALC)

Foundation level for those beginning their Ayurvedic practice journey.

📚 Education Requirements
  • 500 hours foundational Ayurveda training from accredited institution
  • Prerequisites: High school diploma
Entry Level

Core Clinical Qualifications

Registered Ayurvedic Health Counselor (RAHC)

Practitioners focused on lifestyle and dietary counseling.

📚 Education Requirements
  • 1000 hours total training from accredited program (includes prerequisite hours)
  • Prerequisites: RALC certification
Clinical Track

Registered Ayurvedic Herbalist (RAH)

Specialized training in traditional herbal medicine and formulation.

📚 Education Requirements
  • 1000 hours total training from accredited program (includes prerequisite hours)
  • Prerequisites: RALC certification
Clinical Track

Registered Ayurvedic Nutritionist (RAN)

Expertise in therapeutic nutrition and dietary counseling.

📚 Education Requirements
  • 1000 hours total training from accredited program (includes prerequisite hours)
  • Prerequisites: RALC certification
Clinical Track

Professional Practitioner Level

Registered Ayurvedic Practitioner (RAP)

Full practitioners with comprehensive training and assessment capabilities.

📚 Education Requirements
  • 2000 hours total training from accredited program (includes prerequisite hours)
  • Prerequisites: RALC + RAHC + RAN + RAH (all 4 required)
Professional Level

Specialty & Bodywork Qualifications

Registered Ayurvedic Spa Therapist (RAST)

Specialized in comprehensive spa treatments and therapeutic wellness.

📚 Education Requirements
  • 1000 hours total training from accredited program (includes prerequisite hours)
  • Prerequisites: RALC certification
Bodywork Track

Registered Ayurvedic Beauty Therapist (RABT)

Specialized in Ayurvedic beauty treatments and cosmetic therapy.

📚 Education Requirements
  • 1000 hours total training from accredited program (includes prerequisite hours)
  • Prerequisites: RALC certification
Bodywork Track

Registered Ayurvedic Marma Therapist (RAMT)

Specialized in vital point therapy and energy healing.

📚 Education Requirements
  • 1500 hours total training from accredited program (includes prerequisite hours)
  • Prerequisites: RAST certification
Advanced Bodywork

Registered Ayurvedic Panchakarma Technician (RAPT)

Specialized in detoxification and rejuvenation therapies.

📚 Education Requirements
  • 2000 hours total training from accredited program (includes prerequisite hours)
  • Prerequisites: RAMT certification
Master Bodywork

Advanced & Master Levels

Registered Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioner (RAAP)

Advanced practitioners with extensive clinical experience and specialized training.

📚 Education Requirements
  • 4000 hours total training from accredited program (includes prerequisite hours)
  • Prerequisites: RAP + RAPT + RABT
Advanced Level

Registered Master Ayurveda Specialist - Vaidya (RMAS)

Highest level of recognition reserved for proven masters of Ayurvedic medicine.

📚 Education Requirements
  • BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery)
  • MD Ayurveda or PhD in Ayurveda
  • Or equivalent: Demonstrated mastery through education, authorship, and institutional leadership
Master Level

Educational Institutional Membership

Educational Institution Membership

Recognition for institutions offering AABC-registered Ayurvedic education programs.

Program Recognition

Educational institutions holding membership with AABC offer programs that are registered and recognized by the Association. Students completing courses at member institutions qualify for AABC registration at the appropriate membership level corresponding to their completed training. All programs offered by member institutions meet AABC's educational standards and prepare graduates for professional practice within the Ayurvedic field.

Member institutions ensure their curriculum adheres to AABC standards, and all instructors meet the qualification requirements for the scope of practice they teach. This guarantees that students receive instruction from qualified professionals and are prepared to practice competently within their designated certification level upon graduation.

Institutional Member

Corporate Membership

Corporate & Business Membership

Recognition for businesses committed to professional Ayurvedic standards.

Professional Practice Standards

Corporate members include Ayurvedic wellness centers, spas, clinics, health resorts, retreats, and businesses offering Ayurvedic services or products. Member organizations ensure that all Ayurvedic practitioners providing services within their establishments are registered with AABC and practice exclusively within their designated scope of practice. This membership demonstrates a commitment to maintaining professional standards and employing qualified, credentialed practitioners in the delivery of authentic Ayurvedic care.

Corporate Member

Verification Standards & Accreditation

International Standards

  • • Complies with AAPNA (Association of Ayurvedic Professionals of NA), NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medical Association)/AAC (Ayurveda Accreditation Council) standards
  • • AYUSH Ministry standards (India)
  • • World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines
  • • Leading Ayurveda institutions in India

Verification Process

  • • Educational credential verification
  • • Training hour documentation
  • • Prerequisite qualification confirmation
  • • Accredited institution validation
  • • Professional competency assessment
  • • Continuing education tracking

Stay Updated on Qualification Standards

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Student Education Pathways & North American Equivalency

Clarity on how educational hours align with established North American Ayurvedic education benchmarks

This section is intended for current and prospective students seeking clarity on how educational hours completed through the Ayurveda College of British Columbia (ACBC) align with established North American Ayurvedic education benchmarks, including those used by third-party professional associations.

The Ayurveda Association of British Columbia (AABC) recognizes a modular, cumulative education framework in which professional standing is achieved through clearly defined tiers rather than through a single generalized title.

Core AABC Educational Pathways:

  • •Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant (ALC) - 500 hours
  • •Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) - an additional 500 hours (1,000 cumulative)
  • •Ayurvedic Nutritionist - 1,000 hours
  • •Ayurvedic Herbalist - 1,000 hours
  • •Ayurvedic Practitioner - 2,000 cumulative hours
  • •Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioner - approximately 4,000 cumulative hours

Each tier includes defined theory, assessment, case studies, and, where applicable, supervised practical training.

North American professional bodies such as the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) and the Association of Ayurvedic Professionals of North America (AAPNA) use comparable cumulative-hour benchmarks, although program structure, terminology, and scope definitions may differ.

As a result:

  • •ACBC programs are designed to meet or exceed commonly recognized North American hour thresholds.
  • •Graduates of ACBC programs are generally well positioned to apply for membership or recognition with other North American associations, subject to those organizations' independent review processes.
  • •Titles may differ between organizations, but overall educational depth and scope are broadly comparable.

Note: Equivalency does not imply automatic title transfer. Each association retains authority over professional titles, scope of practice, and membership classifications. If a student's educational pathway varies significantly from AABC standards, AABC may require completion of board examinations for one or more tiers to confirm equivalency prior to granting membership recognition.

Applicants with NAMA or AAPNA-Recognized Education

This section applies to individuals who have completed Ayurvedic education through programs recognized by NAMA or AAPNA, or who already hold active or former professional membership with those organizations.

AABC acknowledges that NAMA- and AAPNA-recognized programs have undergone third-party curriculum review and therefore provide a reliable baseline for equivalency consideration.

Required Documentation:

  • •Proof of current or past membership with NAMA or AAPNA
  • •Official transcripts and certificates from the recognized institution
  • •Documentation of clinical and practical training hours

Equivalency is determined by mapping completed education against AABC's modular curriculum structure. Educational hours may be credited toward specific AABC tiers such as ALC, AHC, Nutrition, or Herbalism. Titles are not transferred automatically.

Where curriculum content, assessment rigor, or practical training differs materially from AABC standards, applicants may be required to complete additional coursework, submit case studies, or pass board examinations for one or more tiers in order to demonstrate competency.

Recognition by NAMA or AAPNA significantly streamlines review; however, final determination remains based on alignment with AABC competencies and Canadian scope-of-practice considerations.

International & Third-Party Accredited Programs

This section applies to individuals who have completed Ayurvedic education through accredited or licensed institutions outside of North America, including India, Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and other jurisdictions.

Education May Be Considered From:

  • •State-licensed or government-recognized institutions in India (including BAMS or higher degrees)
  • •State-recognized Panchakarma Technician programs in India
  • •Institutions recognized by reputable Ayurvedic professional associations abroad
  • •Institutions operating under clearly defined accreditation or licensing frameworks

Applicants Must Submit:

  • •Official transcripts
  • •Degrees or certificates
  • •Evidence of institutional accreditation or licensing
  • •Program descriptions outlining curriculum structure and assessment methods

Equivalency is evaluated based on educational depth, assessment rigor, relevance to Canadian practice, and alignment with AABC tiered programs.

Important: Components of international curricula that fall outside Canadian legal scope - such as surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, hospital-based medical practice, or medical prescribing authority - are not considered applicable toward equivalency for practice in British Columbia.

Where international education varies significantly from AABC standards, applicants may be required to complete bridging coursework and/or board examinations for each relevant tier to demonstrate readiness for membership recognition.

Unaccredited, Informal, or Non-Recognized Education

This section applies to individuals whose education was completed through unaccredited institutions, informal programs, online-only courses without verified assessment, apprenticeships, internships without standardized transcripts, or programs not recognized by any third-party professional association.

Applicants Must Submit All Available Documentation:

  • •Course descriptions
  • •Hour breakdowns
  • •Instructor credentials
  • •Evidence of assessments, where available

AABC will assess whether submitted education can be credited. Some hours may be deemed non-applicable, partially applicable, or insufficient for direct equivalency.

In cases where education varies significantly from AABC standards, applicants are required to complete AABC-administered board examinations. These examinations are tier-specific and must be completed sequentially, from the lowest tier upward, to the level of membership sought.

Board examinations may include written assessments, practical demonstrations, and case study submissions. Practical disciplines require supervised, hands-on evaluation.

Fee Notice: While membership applications may currently be offered without charge, credential review, board examinations, and equivalency assessments are subject to fees. These fees support academic oversight, examiner time, administrative processing, and assessment development. Fee schedules are published separately.

Learn More: Samya Ayurveda Podcast

For a detailed public explanation of the origins, mandate, standards, and regulatory philosophy of the Ayurveda Association of British Columbia (AABC) and the Ayurveda College of British Columbia (ACBC), applicants and students are encouraged to listen to Episodes 1 and 2 of the Samya Ayurveda Podcast. These episodes provide in-depth context on AABC and ACBC policies, equivalency standards, scope of practice considerations, and the rationale behind tiered education, board examinations, and professional recognition pathways.

Listen on Spotify

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