An apprenticeship with a local herbalist would give you a greater opportunity to network, interact with clients, and ultimately lead to you establishment of your own practice.

In a big city it is possible, I think. Big market, and people want something natural in this stone jungle.

I've worked in a small natural foods store that sells supplements and herbs for about a year now. It's in the big city of Worcester, Ma. I've found that there's a ton of interest but people are really not super inclined to want to go to an herbalist for a consultation, instead they'd rather go to places like where I work. A lot of herbalists don't find work in private practices but end up working for herb-based companies such as Gaia Herbs, Herb Pharm, Oregon's Wild Harvest, and the like. I know Gaia Herbs only really hires sales reps or people that can work out of North Carolina where they have most of their farms. Herb Pharm I believe is based in Oregon or Washington State. Sadly there's not a ton of private herbal practices that do very well. Most herbalists end up creating their own herbal schools and classes to educate others or they go into the sale of herbal product lines making salves, tinctures, etc. People, especially here in the North East LOVE locally made/produced products. Especially when it comes to farming and herbal products. If you invest in your own medicinal herb farm and make your own herbal supplements you could ideally do very well selling to a large-city area.

Most of us have to teach classes, offer apprenticeships, sell medicine, grow plants, etc. to make it work. And that's okay, it's all herbalism. If you want to exclusively work as a clinician in a clinical setting there are certain programs that prepare you for that more than others will. I hold certificates from two herb schools, both were very different with different foci. best advice, shop around.