Skip to content
Cloud ForestONLINE ACADEMY
Visit our school

Assessed multi-course certificate · non-accredited

Herbal Traditions & Reference Safety

Compare substantial Chinese and Southern Appalachian reference-study courses through identity, source evidence, cultural context and safety. No clinical or practitioner qualification is conferred.

2 courses. One defined path.

Follow the required courses in order. Audit study is available with Academy membership; assessed enrollment adds evidence review and the program’s progression rules.

  1. Chinese Herbalism & Formulas: A Comprehensive Beginner Course

    Course 1 of 2 · Beginner · 100 lessons · about 25.5 h

  2. Southern Appalachian Plants and Herbal Traditions: Identification and Safety

    Course 2 of 2 · Beginner · 31 lessons · about 17 h

What you’ll work toward

  • Chinese herb and formula reference portfolio
  • Appalachian identification and safety portfolio
  • Integrate the course evidence in a reviewed capstone.

Assessment & pacing

Each assessed lesson opens at least 1 day after the previous lesson is completed. Required assessment checkpoints also need approval before you continue.

Plan for about 11 weeks at 4 study hours per week, based on approximately 42.9 hours of course study. Allow extra time for revisions.

The minimum assessed practice period is 24 weeks. Studying faster does not bypass lesson waits or required approvals.

The assessed enrollment has a 288-day completion window from its recorded start. The clock pauses while submitted work waits for review. You can request a free extension if you need more time. Membership study remains self-paced while access is active. Paying or marking a lesson complete does not prove proficiency.

How an assessment passes

Each skill is scored from 0 to 4. You need at least 3 on every essential skill and at least 80% overall. Missing evidence must be resolved before approval. Feedback explains what to improve, and you can submit a revised attempt.

To earn the program award, complete the whole course bundle, required quiz passes, approved assignments, final project, and practice period. The school confirms the award separately.

Assessment 1 · portfolio

Chinese herb and formula reference portfolio

Compare the herb names, plant parts, formula roles and safety information taught in the course. Send a reference portfolio using the supplied pictures, labels and written cases.

Detailed assignment instructions

Use actual course photographs/labels and fictional written cases to compare source species, medicinal parts, processing distinctions, traditional roles, interactions, formula architecture and evidence limits. Include uncertainty; do not prescribe, dose, process toxic herbs or demonstrate treatment.

See assessment criteria
  • Required result (35%) · essential
    Comparisons accurately use the taught herbs, parts and formula roles.
  • Sound decisions (30%) · essential
    Safety, interaction and evidence limits are explicit.
  • Evidence and checks (25%) · essential
    Cite course references and distinguish identity from photo resemblance.
  • Explanation and revision (10%)
    Explain a rejected unsupported conclusion.

Assessment 2 · portfolio

Appalachian identification and safety portfolio

Compare the course plants, look-alikes and safety notes. Send a reference portfolio that explains when a photograph is not enough to identify a plant.

Detailed assignment instructions

Use the actual identification and safety tasks to compare diagnostic features, look-alikes, uncertainty, contraindication/source notes and cultural context. Use supplied or permitted photos; no ingestion, collection or treatment performance is required.

See assessment criteria
  • Required result (35%) · essential
    The reference portfolio addresses actual taught plants and tasks.
  • Sound decisions (30%) · essential
    Identification uncertainty, look-alikes and safety limits are explicit.
  • Evidence and checks (25%) · essential
    Claims link to diagnostic features and supplied references.
  • Explanation and revision (10%)
    Explain when identification or advice must stop.

Assessment 3 · capstone · written

Comparative reference case and safety defense

Compare plant-reference work from both herbal courses. Send a written case study with sources, safety limits and examples of when you should not identify or recommend a plant.

Detailed assignment instructions

Produce a source-cited comparative reference portfolio from both courses. For fictional labels/photo cases, distinguish source species/parts, traditional claims, clinical evidence limits, interactions and identification uncertainty. Explain when to seek qualified help. A knowledgeable human reviewer checks the cases. This assessment has no treatment, dosing or clinical performance task.

See assessment criteria
  • Required result (35%) · essential
    The comparison integrates reference methods from both traditions.
  • Sound decisions (30%) · essential
    Safety decisions and uncertainty are explicit and avoid clinical overclaiming.
  • Evidence and checks (25%) · essential
    Cite supplied sources and distinguish traditional claims from evidence.
  • Explanation and revision (10%)
    Defend a declined identification or recommendation.

School recognition, clearly defined

A non-accredited Cloud Forest school award based on reviewed evidence. It is not a degree, professional license or guarantee of employment. Martial rank requires the authorized examiner's approval.

Historical completion awards remain part of a student’s record. New assessed recognition requires the program’s reviewed evidence and approval.