• Length of program: 3 to 4 years for a bachelor's degree; 2 years for a master's
• Career paths: nutritional consultant, herbalist, acupuncturist, chiropractor
• Typical courses you will take: herbal medicine, iridology, nutrition
• Salary: herbalists earn $20- $50 per hour; chiropractors earn a median of $104,000 per year; nutritional consulting pays about $50 per hour

A Healthy Career Move

Spiraling health-care costs are making many people think more about preventing disease, rather than waiting to see a health-care practitioner after they get sick. Natural health practitioners complement the care provided by medical doctors and hospitals, finding ways to manage conditions such as chronic pain, diabetes, and arthritis through diet and supplementation. Online natural health degrees include many courses of study, including herb and vitamin therapy, chiropractic, and Chinese medicine.

Natural Health Distance Learning
A big part of natural health courses is the learning of complex medical terminology, the names of all bones and muscles in the body, and the various vitamins, minerals and herbal compounds used in treatment. All of these concepts are well-suited to distance learning because practice and memorization are the keys to understanding. Much of your class work can be done independently, without rearranging your schedule.

Sources:
U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics