Are marketing materials inspirational and emotive? Or, professional, step-by-step, and analytical? Most schools try to attract students through inspirational and emotional content. In reality, the best clinicians aren't merely intuitive, but also analytical and precise. When you look at the school's marketing materials, are they aimed at their graduates' clinical precision? Does the school know how to help you succeed as a clinician?

Ayurveda students are often highly interested in the intuitive, esoteric, mystical or glamorous aspects of medicine. Most clients, on the other hand, simply want to know the treatments you offer are reliable and make sense. They care more about being clear-headed, able to run after their grandchild, or soothe their joint pain, than the glamour of medicine.

Seek a school that presents Ayurveda as a practical necessity, rather than an exclusive luxury or passion project. This is a school that seeks to promote the true intention of Ayurveda texts, as a medical model for the health of everyone.

Avoid schools that use spa-like images that lead students to believe Ayurveda's potential can be achieved miraculously. In reality, Ayurveda's potential is achieved through dedication and a superb medical education.

Spa-like images show where the school's competency lies. Spa-images may indicate the school has a focus in this area and may not know how to train clinicians.

Many Ayurveda schools in the West emphasize spiritual health while failing to educate students adequately in basic medicine - the core competency of Ayurveda. Ayurveda schools in India, on the other hand, emphasize clinical medicine, and see the emphasis on spirituality as a distortion of Ayurveda's core competency.

While all schools offer basic understanding of psychological manifestation of disease, students should know that spiritual treatments are not covered extensively in the classical Ayurvedic texts. Classical texts testify to the importance of one's spiritual health. However, Ayurvedic texts do not describe specific spiritual treatments on a disease by disease basis. Instead, Ayurvedic texts recommend studying religious scriptures for specific knowledge in this area. Read more about the historical origins of Ayurveda.

To fill this lack of spiritual instruction in the ancient texts, and to satisfy student demand for a more magical, mystical version of Ayurveda, many schools teach yoga spirituality and transcendental meditation techniques under the name of Ayurveda. This is repetitive for students of yoga who come to Ayurveda. Indian practitioners see this practice as a move away from clinical medicine, and harmful to Ayurveda's reputation.

Spiritual counseling is a vast topic requiring in-depth knowledge of psychology and religious tradition - an entire degree in itself. Schools that try to juggle a psychology and a medical degree into a 1 or 2 year program graduate students that are under educated, and under confident, in both.

Ayurveda is amazing because of its insights into the body. However, students should be wary of schools that make Ayurvedic healing appear magical, including from well-known celebrity Ayurveda teachers.

State licensure of the school is an extensive and demanding process that provides assurance to the student that the school is serious, well-organized, transparent, and healthy financially. Check that the school is licensed by the state, and that the school has not sought exemption by pretending to be a religious institution, or has moved to a state where licensure isn't required (Montana). Schools that skirt licensing typically have low enrollment and generally aren't operating according to best practices for schools. Schools that operate illegally may face criminal penalties and be shut down at any time - causing loss of student's entire tuition.

In our experience, 2 years is the minimum length of study to understand the broad scope of Ayurveda. Courses shorter than 2 years can only give an overview of topics - and cannot give students insight into pathogenesis. An exception to this are courses focused on a specialty rather than all of Ayurveda. Avoid schools that boost enrollment by eliminating depth.

Since schools calculate hours differently, the depth of education may be hard to assess. Here are some ways to assess level and quality of the education you will receive:

• Ask to see a sample class
• Review published content from the school for 1) Ability to explain concepts 2) Level of detail

What is the background of the school owner, and how qualified is this person to lead a school in a subject area as difficult as medicine is? Strong academic skills are needed to deliver education and medicine reliably.

Accreditation in Ayurveda offers little to no guarantee of school competency. Accrediting bodies frequently serve the interests of the schools that created them, rather than the clinicians (you). Instead of helping their clinician members (you), frequently these groups exist to protect the schools that sponsor them. Accrediting bodies generally do not evaluate the school beyond a brief glance of curriculum, which is the same information the student can access online. They rely on statements made by the school, and do not conduct audits. So they offer no real assurance of quality education.

Does the school clearly inform students that the practice of Ayurveda is legal without accreditation or certification? Or, do they scare students by falsely claiming they have to join a particular group to practice professionally?

Students save substantially on tuition (50%!) by choosing an online school. Scientific studies show that use of technology increases learning rates over in-person classrooms. Even traditional classrooms and public schools are using more and more multimedia in education.

Paradoxically, in-person schools may have less student client interaction than in online programs. Check the actual level of personal contact the student will have with clients in the in-person program. Sitting 5 rows back and 40 feet from the client, a student attending an in-person programs may barely see the client. Use of technology and multi-media brings clients closer - a magnified image of a tongue on a computer screen can reveal much more detail than possible even with the client in the room.

On the other hand, some online schools have very little teacher-student interaction. Self-paced programs typically offer the least interaction with teachers and peers. Check with the school to learn how often the class will meet live for discussion.

Does the school publish modern research to support their students' learning and improve the confidence the public has in Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is an ancient approach to medicine that has been supporting health for thousands of years. As it moves into areas that are dominated by western medicine, Ayurveda can be brushed aside as outdated, woo-woo, and full of opaque terms. This can be hugely frustrating for practitioners who know the positive impact Ayurveda can have.

Scientific research is a powerful tool for undoing some of this false perception of the practice. Well-conducted studies carry weight and legitimacy among medical professionals. Research studies increase the confidence members of your community have in Ayurveda, particularly those who may be unfamiliar and untrusting of a seemingly exotic approach, like Ayurveda.

It is important for students of Ayurveda to be equipped with in-depth theory and modern research. This allows them to feel confident in their knowledge whether they are speaking with doctors, therapists, athletes or construction workers.

A school that focuses on the practical concerns of running a clinic is a school that cares about the future clinical success of their graduates. Seek out a school that focuses on client outcomes, and the practicalities of supporting clients, so that you will be able to run a successful clinic. Seek a school that presents Ayurveda as a practical solution rather than a romantic one.

The school's level of medical competence is frequently reflected in their marketing. Does the school discuss challenging medical topics on their homepage? Or, are they seeking to boost enrollment and get attention by looking beautiful?

Many people come to Ayurveda seeking enrichment and support for their personal health - not to practice professionally. To boost revenues, schools frequently try to attract as many of these non-clinical students as they can, diverting the school's focus away from the training necessary for professional clinical practice. A sign of this is school marketing that projects a romantic image of Ayurveda.

If the school must present a romantic image of Ayurveda in order to get students, instead of a professional one, how well will they be able to help you present your practice professionally?

Review articles, books and content published by the school. Does the school use language that can be easily understood by everyone? Or, does it use obscure terms and vocabulary? Does the school publish articles, books and other content at all, demonstrating its ability to advance the profession?

As practitioners, we need to be able to present and explain Ayurveda to everyone in the community. Not just those who do yoga, Vedic spirituality, or are into alternative medicine already. Graduates from schools that are cliquish frequently reach a small clientele.

Presenting your Ayurvedic services as approachable, understandable, and necessary supports the spreading of awareness about the modality. It also supports the legitimacy of the practice among those who may still be skeptical of complementary medicine.

Not too long ago, the medical industry was very skeptical of Chiropractors. Through focused, professional development, the public perspective of Chiropractors has changed. Now, 35 million Americans see a chiropractor each year. Chiropractic is a complementary medicine that was positioned as medically-adjacent and, so, gained legitimacy.

Does the school present Ayurveda as a professional & reliable solution for clients going through a health crisis? Or, as something mystical or fantastic?

How comfortable will established health professionals, doctors, lawyers, policy makers, and other leaders, feel referring their clients to your future clinical practice, based on how the school presents themselves? Does the school make Ayurveda look reliable to these individuals, or other-worldly or exotic?

Consider the range of individuals in your town or community, with their similarities and differences. Does the school's marketing and imagery appeal to a broad range of them or just a small fraction only, eg: is it packaged for those who do yoga, and yoga spirituality, only? Would the school's marketing appeal to athletes, to accountants, to construction workers?

In their content, marketing, articles etc, does the school seem more dedicated to preserving the health of the client, or on preserving a cultural tradition? Are they sentimental about the culture of Ayurveda, or the health and quality of life of clients? Will future clients invest in your practice because they are sentimental about the Ayurveda tradition, or because they want reliable health results?

As a tradition, Ayurveda becomes rigid, sentimental, and unchangeable. When approached as a cultural tradition, the focus is on Ayurveda, not the client. Patient-centered care focuses on the culture of the client, not the culture of the medicine.

Does the school imply that Ayurveda is already perfect and complete? Or, is this a school that is passionate about improving Ayurveda, growing, and moving the profession forward? Does the school promote critical thinking in its students? Or does it encourage a questionless acceptance of the information they present?

Schools that have new teachers every week may not have the resources or competency to develop their own curriculum. The school may have very little invested in the curriculum, and instead rely on the charisma or celebrity status of teachers to boost their school enrolment. Staff may not even know what the students are being taught, or how to assess gaps in student or teacher competency.

The most knowledgeable practitioners are frequently not the best teachers. Science proves that a good teacher produces better results than a highly knowledgeable professor that lacks teaching or communication skills. Schools that are committed to high quality academic education know this - and invest in improving their staff's teaching and communication skills.

Is content from a book, pre-recorded, or taught live? Are presentations video or audio? Are charts and handouts offered? Competent schools offer a range of learning options.

Does the school address the fact that being an Ayurvedic professional requires business skills? Or is it presented as solely a vocation or passion project?

Some schools appear to charge a low tuition price on a particular course, while hiding from students that they must sign up for additional courses (usually clinic) to complete their training. Legitimate schools tell you the price of completing the entire certification up front.

Some schools try to boost their credibility and appear valuable by pretending to charge a high amount for tuition (~$12k) - then offering large scholarships as a 'deal' to get signups. Seek a school that offers competitive pricing up front.

Some schools try to reduce price by dumbing down Ayurveda - offering an 'intermediate' certification as a lifestyle consultant. Graduates from these programs are rarely competent to meet with clients.

Ask the school about all additional costs you, or your practice clients, may incur as a result of participating in the programs. Examples include purchase of books, herbs, consultations, participation in clinic, etc.

These are the two most important questions in terms of financing your education.