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Study Ayurveda at One of America’s
Foundational Institutions
State-Approved and Trusted Since 1995
Overview
Study the core concepts that form the foundation of Ayurvedic medicine, including the doshas, digestion, lifestyle practices, and preventive wellness. PAM is designed to help students transform ancient wisdom into practical knowledge for modern living.
The Principles of Ayurvedic Medicine (PAM) program provides a structured, academically grounded foundation in Ayurveda, preparing you to apply its principles in daily life and as the first step toward professional training.
The program spans approximately 6 months and 681 total hours of study, offered online and on-campus at our Nevada City, California campus, with full-time or weekend-only scheduling to fit your life.
Graduates of the PAM program earn an academic certificate of completion and a strong foundation in Ayurvedic health principles. This training prepares students to understand how digestion, lifestyle, and daily habits influence well-being, and to apply Ayurveda in practical, real-world contexts.
PAM focuses on the maintenance and improvement of health and prevention. Students who wish to work clinically with illness can continue into advanced professional training programs such as the Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) and Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist (CAS) programs, since PAM serves as a prerequisite for both.
Start date
Sep 8, 2026
Study Mode
Full-Time/Weekend Only
Location
Online & Onsite
What You'll Learn
Through live instruction and guided study, students develop a working knowledge of Ayurveda as a system of health with an emphasis on understanding how health is maintained through lifestyle interventions.
You will learn to:
- Understand the three doshas and individual constitution
- Recognize patterns of balance and imbalance
- Understand digestion (Agni) as the foundation of health
- Apply Ayurvedic principles to diet, lifestyle, and daily routines
- Identify how habits, environment, and behavior influence well-being
Classes & Curriculum
This program integrates both theoretical study and practical application, allowing students to understand Ayurveda as a living system rather than a set of concepts.
Students develop a strong foundation in Ayurvedic principles and learn to apply them directly to their own health and daily life. Through guided case studies, they begin to observe patterns, assess imbalances, and translate classical knowledge into meaningful, real-world insight
Modules For PAM
PAM covers a total of 9 modules
- 1. Philosophy
- 2. Ayurvedic Anatomy 1 & 2
- 3. Pathology
- 4. Consultation & Evaluation
- 5. Ayurvedic Physiology 1 & 2
- 6. Nutrition
- 7. Herbalism
- 8. Sensory Therapies
- 9. Panchakarma Theory
Have Questions?
We’re Here to Help.
Our admissions team is here to answer your questions, walk you through the process, and help you find the Ayurvedic path that’s right for you.
Upcoming Batches
This program is offered at our Nevada City, California campus and is also
broadcast live over the internet in an interactive format
ADMISSIONS OPEN
FULL TIME: ONSITE & ONLINE
September 8, 2026
Weekends Online
October 10, 2026
Mentorship Online
1st of Every Month
Additional Information
Requirements, travels & locations & perks
Travel & Location
The PAM program is based at our campus in Nevada City and is also offered live online, allowing you to attend from anywhere in the world.
Set in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Nevada City is known for its strong culture of wellness, sustainability, and connection to nature. The surrounding region is home to respected spiritual and yoga communities, including Ananda Village and Sivananda Yoga Farm, as well as organic farms, herbalists, and a thriving holistic health community.
Students who attend in person benefit from an environment that naturally supports the study of Ayurveda, while online participants experience the same live, interactive curriculum and faculty access.
Requirements
As part of the program, students will write a research paper in which they analyze themselves from an Ayurvedic perspective and make recommendations for how they can improve their health and well-being. This will be due prior to the final exam. Students have up to two years to continue with their education. After two years, students will need to take a placement examination to test their recall of the Ayurvedic principles learned in this program.
After completing PAM, you can:
- Apply Ayurvedic principles to support your own health and daily routines
- Guide others in wellness practices rooted in Ayurveda
- Integrate foundational Ayurvedic concepts into an existing wellness practice
- Continue into professional training programs to work clinically
A Foundational Program
with a Clear Path Forward
Graduates of the PAM program earn an academic certificate of completion and a strong foundation in Ayurvedic health principles. This training prepares students to understand how digestion, lifestyle, and daily habits influence well-being, and to apply Ayurveda in practical, real-world contexts.
Frequently Asked Questions
PAM is California College of Ayurveda's foundational program in Ayurvedic medicine. Students study the three doshas, digestion (Agni), lifestyle practices, and preventive wellness, building an academically grounded base in Ayurveda that can be applied personally or carried into professional training.
PAM takes approximately 6 months to complete and totals 681 hours of study. Students can choose a full-time schedule or a weekend-only format, both offered online and on-campus in Nevada City, California.
Graduates receive an academic certificate of completion and a working foundation in Ayurvedic health principles. PAM also serves as the prerequisite for CCA's advanced training tracks, including the Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) and Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist (CAS) programs.
Both. PAM is based at CCA's campus in Nevada City, California, and is also broadcast live online in an interactive format, so students can attend from anywhere.
CCA offers multiple entry points: a full-time track beginning September 8, 2026, a weekends-online track, and a mentorship track starting the 1st of every month.
Yes. Students complete a research paper analyzing their own health from an Ayurvedic perspective before the final exam. Students have up to two years to finish; after that window, a placement exam is required to confirm retention of the material.
Graduates can apply Ayurvedic principles to their own health and daily routines, guide others in wellness practices, integrate foundational concepts into an existing wellness career, or continue into CCA's clinical and professional training programs, such as AHC and CAS.
CCA was founded in 1995 and was approved by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education in 1996, making it one of the earliest established Ayurvedic colleges in the West.
PAM can be paid month-to-month at $555/month over 12 months, so getting started doesn't require a large upfront payment. Total tuition on the monthly plan is $6,660, or $6,500 for students who choose to pay in full — paying in full is optional, never required.
Ready to Learn More About
This Program?
Complete the form below to connect with an Admissions Advisor. We’ll answer your questions, provide program details and upcoming start dates, and help you determine whether this program is the right fit for your educational and professional goals.