IB
ICONIC Board
of Holistic Health
Recognized Education Pathways

Shamanic & Indigenous
Healing Practices
Education Pathway

ICONIC Board formally recognizes shamanic and indigenous healing practice programs meeting ICONIC Board's education standards and ethical practice requirements as meeting prerequisite education requirements for the corresponding IBC credential tiers.

Ethical Practice Standards Emphasized  ·  Core Framework
Journeying · Ceremony · Community Healing  ·  Practice Scope
Ancestral & Indigenous Traditions  ·  Diverse Lineages Recognized
IB
Board Recognition Notice
ICONIC Board of Holistic Health — Formal Recognition

ICONIC Board of Holistic Health recognizes shamanic and indigenous healing practice education programs meeting ICONIC Board's education hour standards and ethical practice requirements as meeting the prerequisite education requirements for the corresponding IBC holistic health credential tiers.

Recognized programs include those meeting ICONIC Board's ethical practice framework for shamanic and indigenous healing arts. Recognition emphasizes cultural integrity, community accountability, practitioner lineage, and ethical practice standards. Programs must document appropriate lineage transmission, cultural authorization, or formal training from recognized teachers in the tradition being practiced.

Important: Recognition of education pathways does not constitute automatic credentialing. All applicants must independently satisfy ICONIC Board's requirements for documented client practice hours, ethics attestation, CE compliance, and full application review.
Regulatory Landscape — United States

Shamanic and indigenous healing practices are currently unregulated at the state level in the United States. Practitioners operate within diverse cultural and professional self-regulatory frameworks. ICONIC Board's approach to this pathway emphasizes ethical practice, cultural accountability, and documented training lineage as primary markers of professional qualification. Cultural appropriation concerns are actively considered in program review.

Recognition of education pathways does not constitute endorsement, partnership, or affiliation with the listed institutions. ICONIC Board independently evaluates programs based on published curriculum standards and documented practitioner outcomes.
Last reviewed: April 2026  ·  Next scheduled review: October 2026
Quality Standard — All Tiers

Education Pathway Recognition Establishes the Knowledge Foundation — Not the Credential

Completing a listed program alone does not guarantee IBC credential eligibility. ICONIC Board recognizes programs based on comprehensive full-program completion at the level described. All IBC applicants must also demonstrate documented client practice hours, ethical conduct standards, and professional judgment.

Shamanic & Indigenous Healing — Education Pathway Mapping

The following programs and professional designations are recognized as meeting the education prerequisites for the corresponding ICONIC Board credential tiers.

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Currently in Training? Start as an IBC-HHC™ Candidate

Students actively enrolled in a recognized program who have not yet completed their training may apply for IBC-HHC™ Candidate status. Learn more →

Recognized Programs — Foundation Level
Foundation Shamanic Practice Training
  • Graduates of Foundation for Shamanic Studies (FSS) core shamanism training programs
  • Foundation training programs from recognized indigenous healing teachers with documented lineage transmission
  • Ceremonial healing apprenticeship programs with documented mentorship (minimum 1 year)
  • Foundation shamanic practitioner programs from cross-cultural healing institutes with 100+ hours
Foundation shamanic training covering core journeying, basic ceremonial practices, ethical frameworks, and introductory community healing approaches.
Tier I — Associate
IBC-HHA™
ICONIC Board Certified Holistic Health Associate
Foundation-level graduates meeting the criteria listed may be eligible to apply for the Associate credential. Documented practice hours, ethics attestation, and CE requirements must also be satisfied.
Recognized Credentials — Practitioner Level
Trained Shamanic Practitioner Programs
  • Foundation for Shamanic Studies advanced and practitioner-level programs with documented practice
  • Practitioners with formal lineage transmission from recognized indigenous healing teachers and 2+ years documented practice
  • Advanced shamanic practitioner programs from recognized cross-cultural institutes with supervised client work
  • Certified practitioners from diverse indigenous traditions with documented community recognition and practice
  • Practitioners with advanced training in journeying, soul retrieval, extraction, and community healing with documented case experience
Practiced shamanic healing with documented lineage, advanced techniques, community accountability, ethical practice framework compliance, and supervised client work.
Tier II — Practitioner
IBC-HHP™
ICONIC Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner
Practitioners meeting the criteria listed may be eligible to apply for the Practitioner credential. This is the primary entry tier for practicing professionals in this modality.
Recognized Credentials — Educator/Faculty Level
Advanced Practitioner & Educator
  • Senior practitioners actively training others with formal teacher recognition from their lineage or institution
  • Advanced practitioners with established teaching programs and 5+ years documented shamanic practice
  • Authors of recognized shamanic healing educational materials honoring indigenous traditions appropriately
  • Senior practitioners with documented teaching roles in shamanic healing programs
Advanced practitioners actively training the next generation through formal teaching roles, supervision, or curriculum development at recognized institutions.
Tier III — Educator
IBC-HHE™
ICONIC Board Certified Holistic Health Educator
Practitioners meeting the educator-level criteria listed may be eligible to apply for the Educator credential. Teaching or supervisory practice documentation is required.
Recognized Credentials — Doctoral Level or Equivalent Mastery
Advanced Degrees & Senior Leadership
  • PhD or doctoral degree in Cultural Anthropology, Indigenous Studies, or related field with active shamanic practice
  • Senior researchers with peer-reviewed publications advancing ethical study of shamanic and indigenous healing
  • Founders or directors of recognized cross-cultural healing programs with 10+ years institutional leadership
  • Senior teachers holding lineage authorization from recognized indigenous traditions with sustained community practice
Doctoral-level education or equivalent demonstrated mastery representing the highest tier of field depth, original contribution, and professional leadership.
Tier IV — Doctorate
IBC-HHD™
ICONIC Board Certified Holistic Health Doctorate
Applicants meeting the above criteria may be eligible to apply for the Doctorate credential. Extended application review, doctoral documentation, and full Board assessment are required.

How to Apply Using This Pathway

Using a recognized education pathway simplifies your application — your program documentation satisfies the education prerequisite for the corresponding tier.

1

Identify Your Tier

Match your completed program or professional designation to the corresponding tier above. Most active practitioners with comprehensive training qualify at Tier II (IBC-HHP™).

2

Submit Your Documentation

Upload your program completion certificate. Include your documented client practice hours log — required at all tiers.

3

Meet All Remaining Requirements

Confirm you also satisfy ICONIC Board's practice hours minimum, ethics attestation, and CE requirements. Review is completed within 5–7 business days.

Ready to Apply?

Practitioners with documented lineage transmission, formal training, and 2+ years of active shamanic healing practice typically qualify for Tier II (IBC-HHP™). Begin your application below.

Begin Your Application →