IB
ICONIC Board
of Holistic Health
ICONIC Board · Professional Standards

Specialty Endorsements

Endorsements recognize practitioners who integrate specific traditional or complementary disciplines within their credentialed holistic health practice. An endorsement is earned on top of — never instead of — a base IBC credential.

Add-On Recognition · Active IBC Credential Required

The Specialty Credential Model

Endorsements follow the model established by professional standards bodies like SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) and PMI (Project Management Institute). Both organizations offer a primary professional credential — then layer specialty endorsements on top for practitioners with deep expertise in a specific domain.

At ICONIC Board, the same structure applies. Your IBC credential — IBC-HHA™, IBC-HHP™, IBC-HHE™, or IBC-HHD™ — remains the foundation. An endorsement recognizes that you have invested substantially in a specific integrative discipline and meet the additional standards ICONIC Board requires for that recognition.

Parallel Model
How SHRM and PMI Use the Same Framework

SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP is the base credential. Specialty endorsements like "People Analytics" or "Talent Acquisition" are layered on after the primary certification is earned. PMI-PMP holders add specialty endorsements such as "Agile" or "Risk Management." Neither endorsement replaces the primary credential — both appear together, signaling a practitioner with broad professional standards AND deep domain expertise.

Base Credential
Your IBC Credential

IBC-HHA™ · IBC-HHP™ · IBC-HHE™ · IBC-HHD™
Signals professional standards, ethics, scope of practice, and continuing development across holistic health.

Specialty Endorsement
Endorsement Recognition

Medical Jyotish Integration · Herbalism + Medical Astrology · Crystal Healing · Sound Healing · Aromatherapy · Reflexology
Signals specialized training, documented practice, and extended scope in a specific integrative discipline.

Recognized Specialty Areas

Each endorsement is developed with input from practitioner communities, professional associations, and ICONIC Board's credentialing review process. Endorsements are added as sufficient US practitioner demand and recognized training infrastructure exist to support rigorous standards.

✦ Now Available

Ayurveda + Medical Jyotish Integration

Recognizes practitioners who integrate Vedic astrology (Jyotish) within their Ayurvedic holistic health practice.

2,000+ Year Vedic Lineage · NAMA Recognized

Jyotish and Ayurveda share a 2,000-year integrated lineage documented in the Charaka Samhita and Brihat Jataka. NAMA officially recognizes Jyotish-Ayurveda PACE courses within its continuing education framework. This endorsement recognizes practitioners who apply this tradition with professional standards and clear scope-of-practice boundaries.

4
Tiers
15+
US Programs
300–500
US Practitioners
View Full Endorsement →
✦ Now Available

Herbalism + Medical Astrology Integration

Recognizes practitioners who integrate planetary herbalism (Culpeper tradition) within their credentialed holistic health practice.

400+ Year Culpeper Lineage · AHG Recognized

Nicholas Culpeper's systematic integration of Western herbalism and medical astrology — first published in 1652 — remains the foundational framework for planetary herbalism in the English tradition. The American Herbalists Guild (AHG) provides the primary US credentialing infrastructure. This endorsement recognizes practitioners who apply this 400-year tradition with professional standards and clear scope-of-practice boundaries.

4
Tiers
20+
US Programs
500–1,500
US Practitioners
View Full Endorsement →
✦ Now Available

Crystal Healing

Recognizes practitioners who use crystals and gemstones for energy balancing, chakra work, and wellness support.

Ancient Tradition · Energy Work

Crystal healing draws on thousands of years of documented human relationship with stones and minerals — from ancient Egyptian amulets to medieval European lapidaries. This endorsement recognizes practitioners who apply crystal healing with professional standards, clear scope-of-practice boundaries, and documented training from recognized programs.

4
Tiers
15+
US Programs
50K–200K
US Practitioners
View Full Endorsement →
✦ Now Available

Sound Healing

Recognizes practitioners using singing bowls, tuning forks, gongs, and voice for wellness and stress reduction.

2,000+ Year Lineage · Safety Standards Required

Sound healing draws on ancient traditions from Tibetan bowl work to Pythagorean music therapy. This endorsement recognizes practitioners who work with sound instruments professionally — with required contraindications training, documented instrument proficiency, and professional liability insurance as part of the application requirements.

4
Tiers
15+
US Programs
5K–15K
US Practitioners
View Full Endorsement →
✦ Now Available

Aromatherapy

Recognizes practitioners using essential oils via inhalation, diffusion, and diluted topical application with professional safety standards.

NAHA & AIA Aligned · Safety Protocol Required

Essential oils have been used therapeutically since ancient Egypt. Modern aromatherapy was systematized by René-Maurice Gattefossé in 1937 and is now supported by NAHA and AIA professional standards. This endorsement recognizes practitioners who apply aromatherapy with documented chemistry training, safety protocols, and clear scope boundaries (inhalation and topical only).

4
Tiers
15+
US Programs
10K–30K
US Practitioners
View Full Endorsement →
✦ Now Available

Reflexology

Recognizes practitioners providing foot, hand, and ear reflexology for stress relief, wellness support, and circulation improvement.

ARCB & RAA Aligned · Established Standards

Modern reflexology was systematized by Eunice Ingham in 1938, building on zone therapy research by Dr. William Fitzgerald. The American Reflexology Certification Board (ARCB) and Reflexology Association of America (RAA) establish the primary US professional standards. This endorsement requires 200+ hours of training, 30 documented sessions, and state regulatory compliance.

4
Tiers
15+
US Programs
15K–25K
US Practitioners
View Full Endorsement →

Four Steps to Endorsement Recognition

1

Hold an Active IBC Credential

You must hold a current, active IBC credential (IBC-HHA™ or higher) in good standing before applying for any endorsement.

2

Review Tier Requirements

Each endorsement has tier-specific requirements. Your current IBC tier determines which endorsement tier you may seek — and what training documentation is needed.

3

Submit Your Application

Complete the endorsement application, providing training transcripts, case documentation, and a signed Scope of Practice Agreement for the endorsement specialty.

4

Receive Endorsement Recognition

Upon approval, your credential record is updated with the endorsement designation. Your ICONIC Board digital credential displays both your base credential and your endorsement.

Ready to Add a Specialty Endorsement?

Review the requirements for the endorsement that matches your practice, then apply through the ICONIC Board application portal.

Begin Application →