The ABC Herbal Information Course provides online training for retail staff members, multi-level marketing distributors, dietary supplement sales and customer service staff, those who sell herbal products, and professionals who counsel and advise patients. Licensed health care practitioners can take the course and receive an ABC certification in addition to their own licensure.

Course Two is a recertification online training course for those having already taken Course One. Upon completion of all three modules in Course Two, the participant receives a new certificate that renews his or her status as an Herbal Information Specialist (HIS) for another year and a window decal stating that an ABC-certified Herbal Information Specialist is on staff.

Independent or chain natural food retail stores that participate in the online training course for their employees can also request a formatted press release that can be used to promote to their community that they are qualified providers of credible information on medicinal herbs.

The ABC online training Course One, launched in 2004, provides an overview of herbs and dietary supplements, and general information on 29 popular herbs. Course Two provides additional information on safety, standardization, market data, legal and regulatory issues, added information on the herbs in Course One, and on more herbs, including detailed therapeutic data on elderberry.

Interested parties can visit www.nutrilearn.com to take the online training course. The courses are provided by ABC and are hosted by Nutrilearn, Virgo Publishing's online training and certification Web site.