Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply?
Please visit the eligibility page to see the listing of professions.
Through expanded eligibility advanced nurse practitioners and physician assistants are now eligible for the IHeLp.
Applicants must have a bachelors level healthcare related degree unless otherwise noted on the eligibility page. If you don't see your profession or educational background there, please consider an exception request exception request. We may revisit this for future classes and always welcome your feedback and thoughts.
Who is NOT eligible?
All MD/DO physicians who are eligible for our 2-year integrative medicine Fellowship are not eligible for IHeLp.
Any individual who is ineligible to apply for IHeLp or Fellowship may take any of our online courses or our Wellness & Lifestyle Series.
Are you a physician who is not sure of your eligibility for Fellowship or IHeLp? Please email us at admissions@awcim.arizona.edu.
What would my time commitment be?
IHeLp is a 6-month program. Participants spend approximately 8-10 hours of home study per week and required to attend a 4-day retreat. Participants must maintain current academic progress throughout the 6 months of the program.
What will I receive upon graduation from IHeLp?
After successful completion of all program requirements, you will receive a certificate of completion through The University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.
Can I receive continuing education credit for completing the Program?
Some continuing education credit is available as CME, CNE, and CPEU (for RDs). Many students may be able to submit CME credit hours to their professional organizations--please verify if this is an option with your CE needs. The amount of hours varies, but tends to be between 15-20 hours earned from a selection of the online courses.
Will I have library access through the University of Arizona?
As a student in any of our AWCIM offerings, you will NOT have library access. Our curriculum is well-cited and we provide a complete list of references cited in each course, which are linked to PubMed abstracts when available (AWCIM cannot provide full text options - -those with other medical/health library affiliations may have full text access via PubMed).
What role does Dr. Weil play in the program?
As the Director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, Dr. Weil guides our initiatives, including this new program. He is not an instructor for the program, but continues to contribute to curriculum development.
When can I apply to the Program?
Select the "Apply Now" button to see the important dates and details for applying to the program. We are now accepting applications for the 2024 class, beginning January 8, 2024. Deadline for program application: January 1, 2024.
What if I'm not currently in practice? Can I still be accepted into the program?
It's most beneficial for program participants to be in an active practice because the learning experiences involve interaction with patients/clients, however if you are temporarily not in active practice or you are teaching other health care professionals, an exception may be made. Please contact us.
Which license, registration, certifications (I have at least two) should I submit in the application process?
Please submit ALL of your current Licenses/Registrations/Certifications according to the application instructions.
The tuition is prohibitive for me. Are there any scholarships or financial aid funds available?
Since the program is not a degree-granting program with the University of Arizona, there is no financial aid available through federally sponsored student loans. When we do have some scholarships available, please visit the IHeLp Scholarship page to read the details. There are a number of payment plans available. Also consider talking with your employer about sponsoring you for some of the enrollment expenses.
What are the technical requirements for my computing device(s)?
As our learning platform is web-based, the most essential requirements for your devices are that they:
- run the most up-to-date, secure web browser(s) available and
- connect to reliable high-speed (broadband) Internet.
With these two essential points in mind, we support a wide range of devices: Windows and Mac computers, Chromebooks, iPads, mid-range or better Android tablets, and mid-range or better smartphones.
Your device will need to be able to open PDFs for viewing, either natively or through an app. There are audio and video elements in the curriculum, so headphones are recommended. We recommend that you have a note taking or text editing app so that you can compose and save responses to questions and assignments, and copy/paste them into the learning platform for submission.
If you are looking to buy a new device, we recommend:
- processor speed 1.1 GHz or higher
- for computers, 4 GB of RAM or higher
- for tablets and smartphones, 2 GB of RAM or higher
If you are using a Windows machine, we strongly recommend using Windows 10.
You MUST use the latest, secure version of a modern web browser: Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Microsoft Edge. We do not support older, out-of-date versions of web browsers.
You must have a reliable high-speed Internet connection. If you are using a mobile device, we recommend connecting to secure WiFi when possible.
While technically possible, we do not recommend using a smartphone as your primary device for completing curriculum. The learning content contains complex interactions, charts, and diagrams, and a small screen will hamper your ability to use and understand these.