Yes. We are an online school.

We are a small boutique school, and the combined total of active students and graduates is under 1,000 in total transparency.

However, most students who find us after attending other schools, by and large, lament that they didn't find us first.

It's a story we hear over and over again at Rockwell.

However, if you seek a school with a huge student body, you may want to continue exploring various holistic educators until you find the right one.

Our focus is on healing people and the planet through practice vs. competitive enrollment placements; however, we understand that is very important to some.

We strongly encourage you to enroll in a school that shares your same practice and environmental ethics and that most resonates with your heart center and intuition.

Board certification and ecclesiastical licensing are available for holistic providers, which you may read about here.

You can see all professional designations and titles here.

There are several decent schools if you want a lot of structure and things to be 'one way.'

Very few holistic educators constantly grow and expand, like Rockwell, which we find exceptional.

While others have grown over the years, some have generally remained the same, using the founders' original coursework since the 80s or 90s.

Rockwell is less insulated and more academically diverse.

This is all fine.

Many such schools, however, allow their graduates to use the professional designation of ND, which we do not agree with and are not on board with.

ND and NMD are now professional designations reserved for licensed medical professionals only (as we see it), not holistic providers.

There's a lot of politics behind this, as the older 'naturopath' feels it's their right to use this terminology, and we understand that.

Use of ND is sometimes justified by some who cite that licensed naturopathy isn't licensed in every state yet, although it is in almost half of them.

We just think it's slightly disrespectful and poor etiquette to do this.

Think about it. Would you use MD after your name?

We would never use MD, and if we did, we'd be accused of false advertising.

We aren't sure why ND isn't viewed with the same lens or respect by some holistic educators and providers, but it's most likely because they were grand-fathered in before licensing was big.

We find the practice of using MD (or ND) not only inane but professionally risky, —however, each school of thought to their own.

We still connect with some of these graduates, who cross-enroll, or who we connect with at events or through mutual organizations.

There you'll notice a lot of 'old-timer' traditional and classical naturopaths using ND, alongside their licensed naturopath counterparts also using ND.

When we see someone with a professional designation like ND, we always want to know whether they are a licensed naturopathic doctor or a traditional naturopath using the same credential.

Why does it matter? We're curious.

We feel proper designation avoids confusion. Of course, we still love and respect the ones who use this practice, but we just don't permit it at Rockwell.

You can use DTN/DNM or one or the other. Some use TND, and that's fine, too.

We feel that using ND or NMD blurs the lines professionally, speaking with who we are and what we do.

We don't want to come across as misleading in our advertising by using a professional designation that legally and technically belongs to another group.

In addition, students at some schools are more rigidly and dogmatically trained to think a certain way, which is also not on par with Rockwell.

Independent thinking and hypothesizing is what we're all about, —we encourage you to take information and think, deduct, and reason for yourself. That's original science.

This approach allows our students to feel confident in their theories and make great strides in their areas of expertise, whereas other schools are more boxed in.

Many schools take an all-or-nothing approach, 'agree with us, or your stance is wrong,' and 'if you didn't go to our school, your education means less.'

In contrast, at Rockwell, we realize what forms a student / graduate opinion is predominantly personal experience and their pursuit of higher level education.

We do not try to indoctrinate you while teaching you, which some schools do. On that note, Christianity is infused with many holistic educators because several are non-profit (and they have to or risk losing their status).

Of course, many are sincere in this in their approach, but we are more secular at Rockwell.

If and when we ever discuss religion, it's less biased and more general or neutral.

We also don't cater to one religion specifically out of respect for others, as we have an international base of students.

These schools are a safe bet if you want something very linear, homogenized, or staunchly woven with religious undertones.

We also teach our students to agree to disagree peacefully and respectfully on topics rather than to be totally synchronized in their thinking and approach.

We encourage you to listen to and follow your intuitive leanings, whereas other schools might be more conventional and try to copy mainstream, conventional education in their approach.

All of these schools (most of them) were also founded by now aging or elderly deceased men, who no doubt contributed to helping others, such as the likes of Edgar Cayce.

However, Rockwell is woman-founded, —a rarity in this industry, with a focus not on just healing people but on healing people and the planet.

This is our mission and why we exist.

Our moniker, "healing people and the planet through practice," is exactly what we're all about, as we know planetary health directly correlates to human health and cannot be separate.

Other schools treat them as mutually exclusive or focus only on clinical vs. environmental consciousness, growth, and rewilding.

Our curriculum reflects this, constantly intertwines the two, and is more student-led as a form of self-directed, intuitive learning rather than a rigid dictate of one person (the founder's ideology).

Our founder, Ava Rockwell, believes that learning is an eternal process…

It's never complete, so we're never rigid in our teaching. It's more fun, exploratory, and constantly expanding.

Rockwell is all about the joy and love of learning.

Tuition and tuition payment plans can be found on our enrollment page here.

We're offer low-income tuition subscription plans for those in extreme need who cannot afford our regular monthly tuition payment plan options. You'll find this and additional information on our enrollment page here.

At this time, US students can access functional testing unless they live in NYC, NJ, or RI.

*note, if you live outside the US, you likely won't be able to access functional testing unless it's accessible in your country.

All of our coursework follows a similar educational structure with some variation in learning materials, depending on the modality and module.

For example, Module 1: Science & Medicine is more informative and consists predominantly of video or audio lectures and student discussion / commentary. 

If you sign up for our e-newsletter, request our guide, or take the holistic provider archetype quiz, you'll automatically be added to our welcome series, which details all of our course offerings and modules to help you determine which ones are right for you. 

In contrast, the following modules include some variation of required textbooks, learning materials, real-life homework, and practice exercises to cement your knowledge. 

• Module 2: Traditional Naturopathy & Natural Medicine
• Module 3: Certified Holistic Health
• Module 4: Clinical Global Herbalism
• Module 5: Advanced Holistic Nutrition
• Module 6: Spiritual Medicine
• Module 9: Functional Blood Chemistry & Functional Medicine 

Learning materials for our holistic doctorates and minor certifications include any mix of written, audio, and video lectures, periodicals, scientific journals, research on evidence-based natural medicine, anecdotal theory, case studies, short quizzes, tests, and final exams.

You can retake tests and quizzes as often as needed to score passing or above. We also teach business principles in every major and minor and practice certification.

Yes. There is required reading that we provide and that you'll purchase from third parties, such as Amazon, or your favorite local bookseller. And we promise you'll love the books we've hand-selected and use them as desk references throughout your entire career as a Rockwell-Certified Holistic Provider, R-CHP®.

Not everyone who enrolls plans to practice. Learning for self-enrichment is a beautiful and worthy endeavor if it's a subject you're passionate about. Many graduates come to Rockwell simply to satisfy their curiosity about functional, holistic medicine and to help heal themselves and their families.

Others come to Rockwell to train to become holistic health providers, open their own practice, and develop their unique specialties.

The original meaning of 'doctor' or docere in Latin means 'teacher.'

At Rockwell you become a holistic doctor as in PhD, not a licensed physician MD.

Please check out the article in our blog called, "Why I Should Be Addressed as Doctor," written by one of our graduates, Dr. Michael Leonardo.

We always clarify the type of doctor we are in our printed materials and advertising, which is legally required.

We never imply we are physicians, unless we are. Some of you are.

We encourage total transparency in your practice about what kind of doctor you are.

This is why our traditional naturopathic graduates never use ND/NMD, which are professional designations for licensed naturopaths.

This is what practice ethics are all about.

Titles reserved for licensed medical professionals include; MD, DO, NP, RN, ND/NMD, or PA.

Never use these designations unless they legally apply. We have our own amazing practice designations, and you can earn them all at Rockwell.

No, because you won't be practicing medicine.

As a Rockwell-Certified Holistic Provider, R-CHP®, we teach you to work within your scope of practice. This means you will never treat disease, diagnose conditions, or prescribe pharmaceutical drugs unless you're otherwise licensed by your residing state to do so. The practice model we provide focuses on teaching and practicing Ideal Health Theory®.

Unless you're licensed to do so, you won't be practicing medicine, nor will you use terminology such as 'treat, diagnose, and prescribe' in your socials to avoid legal consequences and honor good practice ethics.

Such terminology (treat, diagnose, and prescribe) is legally reserved for licensed medical professionals. The only exception is if you prescribe herbs or pharmaceutical-grade, prescription-strength homeopathy. What we teach and what you learn is radically different from the disease care model of conventional medicine.

As long as you remember the big 3, that treat, diagnose and prescribe are things you don't do, and you don't make wild claims using the word 'cure,' then you are all set to work responsibly within your scope of practice.

Good providers have morals, ethics, values, and integrity, put people before profits, and practice safely, ethically, and responsibly.

A handful of states do not permit the practice of any kind of naturopathy, licensed or traditional.

In such states, licensed naturopaths are legally required to practice as health coaches instead of naturopathic physicians, even though they attended their version of med school, and traditional naturopaths can practice as wellness professionals.

In such cases, the student still completes our traditional naturopathic coursework, but instead of using the title of Doctor of Traditional Naturopathy & Natural Medicine, DTN/DNM®, or Traditional Naturopathic Doctor, TND®,

—they'll only use Doctor of Certified Holistic Health, DCHH® and receive a unique certificate of completion that only people in these situations are eligible for.

ND/NMD are professional designations reserved for licensed naturopathic physicians or medical doctors.

Check out our certificates of completion here.

Nope. There are no complicated annual 'recertification' fees for our uber busy graduates. We think life is hectic enough. The less red tape, expenses, and hoops to jump through, the better.

At Rockwell, there are no hidden fees. We live by truth and transparency and our goal is to help you save money every chance you get, meaning we don't try to charge you for this and that after you enroll.

Some schools charge for...

• $99 annual recertification
• $70+ for every lab you order
• $49+ for community forum access 

And so on and so forth. We promise to never do that to you.

We have an entire module on business setup and a 200-page guide detailing business setup and practical applications, and another guide for business energetics and spiritual economics.

You'll receive the Rockwell Business Emporium® two-part business guides.

Part one focuses on business energetics and spiritual economics, and part two focuses on business set-up and practical applications.

These guides will make you bold, brave, and brilliant in business.

We promise to heal your visibility wounds and fear of being seen so you can reach the sweet, sun-drenched, champagne-soaked finish line of success you so richly deserve.

We provide all that information (and more) inside the Rockwell Business Emporium® for holistic providers.

Just email us we'll reply with instructions on how to proceed.

Ok, so this is a two-part question.

Do we allow cancellations?

Ok, so as with most schools, when you enroll, and this goes for anywhere, whether it's the Herbal Academy or FDN, you essentially agree to pay the full tuition. Those schools, however, are very narrowly focused, where our teaching is much broader (all-encompassing) scope of practice, so no stone is left unturned in your learning. 

They also don't offer lifetime access. Well, HA just started transitioning to lifetime access last month, but most schools of this class and type are not lifetime access, and all, including HA and FDN, expect you to pay all tuition when you enroll. 

We expect that too, but if you run into some financial crisis, we will let you withdraw for a small fee of $75 to avoid credit issues. Other schools, like the aforementioned, and all other schools of this class and type, will not allow this at all once you've committed, but we're different. 

We give you options. You can also re-enroll for a $150 re-enrollment fee anytime you wish. 

We also received this question: What if it takes me 8 years to pay off tuition?

As far as taking 8 years to pay off tuition, low-income tuition is there for a reason. It's to benefit you. So yes, if it takes 8 years, it takes 8 years. 

The key is affordability and upward mobility in terms of your goals as a holistic provider.

We don't want anyone restrained from acting on their calling, least of all for capitalistic disparity.

And the last question is, do you offer refunds? 

Nope. We unapologetically no longer offer refunds and here's why....

And the last question is, do you offer refunds?

Nope. We unapologetically no longer offer refunds, and here's why....

We want you to be certain Rockwell is right before enrolling.

We spent years of precious, sacred time curating the Rockwell Tri-Doctorate Certification Program®. We've worked too hard, had poor stress management, and spent many 12-16 hour days to deliver you the highest and best curriculum (we believe) of any school of this class and type.

We expect you to learn from our mistakes and not overwork yourselves, but at the same time, you must do enough research before enrolling, so a refund is never an issue because you know Rockwell is right for you. We will help you figure that out as much as possible.

Some people enroll and later discover that they don't necessarily agree with some of our teaching practices (see below), or they don't read our FAQ and are generally unknowledgeable or lack the proper knowledge to fully understand the differences between regulated and unregulated industries. 

Note that just because an industry isn't regulated doesn't mean it's invaluable. All holistic providers practice within the framework of what's essentially an unregulated industry. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, and many prefer it for a variety of reasons.

Regulated industry includes professions that require everyone to practice in universally the same manner for public safety, and what you'll see reflected in conventional medicine, law, and real estate, as just a few examples. 

Natural, holistic, and functional medicine without the intention to treat, diagnose, or prescribe is, and always has been, unregulated. That doesn't mean irrelevant. Quite the opposite, as functionally-trained, holistic doctors are needed now more than ever due to the broken insurance model and combined issues found within the conventional medical and pharmaceutical industrial complex.

In full transparency, one of our core values, we wanted to take a moment to share with you what some of those refund requests have looked like so you can avoid them yourself and why we moved to a no-refund policy as a mutually protective safety net to protect Rockwell from enrolling the wrong kinds of students, and vice versa. 

Since we've opened in 2015, we've had under ten refund requests in total, —and that's actually a generous estimate.

In actuality, we can only track about five refunds in all of our records, so we estimate there could be perhaps ten max, and that's just assuming we could have missed something.

• two refund requests were from students who enrolled on a whim before reading our FAQ that says we teach all diets, —the bottom line is that they were vegan and didn't agree with our approach, which is their right, but as a holistic educator, we teach all of our students, including our vegan students, to first and foremost, be all-inclusive and meet clients where they're at, not where they expect them to be

*note, we have many successful vegan students who understand and agree with our approach, but there are some vigilante, militant, fanatical vegans, of which our founder once was and who perfectly understands the stance of those who do not agree with this approach.

To remedy this, we now have a full disclaimer in our student intake, not just the FAQ, as despite our requests to the contrary, many enroll before reading it, note that both of these requests on different occasions were promptly refunded 

From our student intake: 

• one other refund was for a full pay tuition from a student who just wasn't sure, which was immediately honored, and a week or so later, requested to return and paid in full (again), and is currently in the process of completing their certifications

• a different refund request was honored from yet another full-pay student whose request was based on their inability to understand the difference between private and government-sanctioned certification in what they kept referring to as 'national certification' saying over and over in support calls after enrolling, "So after I complete these programs, I'll be nationally certified" to which the short answer is yes, you'll be certified, but 'national certification' isn't really a thing.

We did our level best to patiently explain the semantics and terminology of 'national' (government-sanctioned) and private certification, regulated versus unregulated industry, and state versus ecclesiastical licensing for holistic providers, to no avail.

In the end, we were more than happy to issue them a full refund and let them go on their way and find a school better suited to their understanding, ideals, and aesthetics.

The above reasons are exactly why we encourage prospective student enrollees to ask questions if they're unsure before enrolling, as it will save them time, energy, and unnecessary stress.

And while we're on the subject, it's important for everyone to understand the difference between what is considered a standardized 'national certification' as this person kept referencing, which is, for example, what you can expect to see with CPR and first aid because they're government-sanctioned and regulated to make sure everyone knows how to do these medical procedures properly, but this is different from private certification in unregulated industries.

Again, in total transparency, our favorite thing ever here at Rockwell, there are only two refund requests that haven't been honored

• one was for yet a third enrollee who was vegan and upset that our advanced holistic nutrition program included traditional diets; at that point, there were plenty of disclaimers in place, and we made it known that we also taught the pros and cons of all diets, including veganism, ahimsa, and speciesism, as well as every other major and minor diet in the world, both traditional and trending in pop culture, they still weren't happy that we taught anything but veganism, and they are still welcome to complete their program

• the other person who was not refunded did a looky-Lou as they're often called in real estate, but they'd spent hours on the phone with admissions before enrolling and enrolled under a low-income tuition option, and their request was not honored

And that is the sum total of our refund requests...

We don't offer refunds anymore as we only wish to attract the most sincere and dedicated of students who are undoubtedly certain Rockwell is right for them.

To save everyone time and energy, we offer a $99 Iodine-Literacy Practice Certification, ILPC® to help you determine if our educational approach resonates with your professional goals and if our aesthetic of adult self-directed learning works for you.

As our school grows more and more, this is the least burdensome approach we can take to filter students who aren't quite right for Rockwell. We trust that those individuals will find the right school for them if we're not it. And this allows us to focus on the ones who are right for and found their educational home in Rockwell.

We're happy to answer any questions you still have.

Here's our contact form.

You can also text, chat, or call us at 1-317-721-7020.

There's also a little green heart to the bottom right of your screen that you can use to instant message us.

The options are endless.

Barring nights, holidays, or weekends, you should quickly hear back from us.