Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should I choose the California College of Ayurveda for my Ayurvedic education?

Standards: The California College of Ayurveda is the nation's leader in Ayurvedic education. CCA has the highest academic and clinical standards in the West, leading our graduates to be the finest trained in North America.

Success: Because of the clarity and focus of CCA's educational process, CCA has graduated more successful practitioners than all other schools combined.

Making Medicines: CCA offers the only program in the United States where residents and interns have the opportunity to make each and every medicine they prescribe to their patients.

Internship: CCA was the first school to offer an Ayurvedic internship in the United States. While most internships still only include observing a teacher seeing patients, the internship program at CCA includes both observation and working directly with patients in a one-on-one setting.

Residency: CCA is the only school in the country to offer an advanced paid residency program in disease management.

Cohesive Program: Every facet of CCA's training program is designed to coordinate a student’s learning experience. Rather than provide students with seminar teachers who do not coordinate with each other, CCA's teaching staff is a completely integrated unit working together to assure a cohesive learning experience.

Excellence in Teaching Staff: Teachers at CCA are hand-picked by Dr. Halpern for their knowledge and their ability to communicate clearly and teach in an organized manner. Each teacher has developed important insights into the knowledge and brings these insights into the learning experience of the student.

State and National Standards: The California College of Ayurveda was instrumental in developing the currently accepted national guidelines for Ayurvedic practitioner education. Your education at CCA exceeds these guidelines and fully prepares you for the future of Ayurveda in the United States.

Classroom Hours: CCA offers more classroom hours of training in pure Ayurvedic knowledge than any other school in the United States.

Post-Graduate Study in India: Students who graduate from the California College of Ayurveda have several opportunities to participate in training programs in India. CCA has a relationship with several Ayurvedic doctors and hospitals in India where interns can participate in apprenticeships.


2. Does CCA offer "traditional, authentic" Ayurvedic education?

Yes! CCA is committed to helping students understand the complete science of Ayurveda as it was articulated thousands of years ago by the ancient rishis. This knowledge is contained in three major and three minor texts of Ayurveda written between 1500 B.C. and 1500 A.D. The curriculum at CCA helps to bring this ancient wisdom to you in a modern and easily understandable format.

3. Where did the titles "Ayurvedic Health Practitioner" and "Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist" originate?

Dr. Marc Halpern developed the title of Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist (C.A.S.) in 1995 for graduates of the California College of Ayurveda who have achieved the school's highest level of training in both health promotion and disease management. The C.A.S. title has become recognized as the highest standard of clinical Ayurvedic education offered in the United States. The title Ayurvedic Health Practitioner (A.H.P.) was introduced in 2007 by CCA to recognize the completion of our health promotion and disease prevention program. There are currently no Doctor of Ayurveda clinical degrees recognized in the United States. Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees offered at all schools in the United States are academic
degrees only. They do not afford the recipient any additional practice rights.

4. Can I receive a Master's degree from my studies at the California College of Ayurveda?

Yes. The California College of Ayurveda is affiliated with Hindu University of America. Students who wish to receive their Master's degree in Ayurveda need to complete our AHP program and then complete a course in Hinduism and Sanskrit through Hindu University of America along with a final research thesis paper. All additional course work can be completed through distance learning.