> Thank you for the information about getting this
certification.

You are welcome.


> A group of homeopaths got together and decided what
*they* considered
> to be appropriate knowledge for practicing homeopathy.

Pretty much. Although I belive these organizations spend a
lot of time and effort to make these minimum standards be
high enough to weed out the "quacks." It is certainly
better than NO standards. As you say, anyone can call
themself a homeopath here in the US. Although I do not
think that any designation or certification guarantees that
the person is a brilliant homeopath, at least it singles
out the ones who have studied from the ones who are free-
wheeling, using whatever "wholistic" approach they want to
and them CALL themselves homeopaths.

> In order to be objectionable it
> would have to read: "Certified by NASH/CHC, and/or
registered with
> NASH/CHC"

Not sure if you mean objectionable or objective... but RSHom
(NA) means: Registered with the Society of Homeopaths in
North America (as opposed to those in the UK.)


> This would then show that the "title" is just a hallmark
of what *one
> fraction* of homeopaths considers to be the appropriate
knowledge for
> a homeopath to have -

that's true. But it is a prett big fraction.

> Any group of
> homeopaths can get together, make up their own standards
and certify
> by them, designating this certification by some initials
without
> having to add whom the certification is by, what the
standards are
> etc.

Also true and these certificatying organizations have their
detractors, too. But here in the US they are as organized
and meaningful as it gets. They are the standard to which
most of us WANT to adhere and want others to also.

Homeopathy is NOT REGULATED or LICENSED here. We need to
have at least the minimum standards decided by someone. You
can "buy into it" or not. But that's all there is here.

I can't speak for either of these organizations, but I
believe that anyone who can pass these tests and can submit
cases or some sort of proof that they actually practice
will be allowed to use this designation. It will just take
a larger burden of proof in lieu of having the professional
schooling.


> - in most cases patients will go to those who have
> been successful with friends and/or family, not because
of some
> certification, which generally means nothing to them.


Again, agreed. But the patient who is starting from
scratch, looking for a homeopath, can determine by these
desginations that there is at least some minimum level of
education.

Sincerely,
Sherill