If you want to check that you aromatherapist holds an agreed qualification, the recognised qualifications are listed below. To ensure that they are also abiding to a code of conduct, are answerable to disciplinary procedures and have insurance to practice, as well as holding the qualification listed, you must check that they are also a member of one of the associations listed below:

 

Recognised qualifications:

 

· AAPA Diploma in Holistic & Clinical Aromatherapy or degree courses/Foundation degree courses accredited by the Aromatherapy & Allied Practitioner’s Association (AAPA)

 

· Diploma from the Association of Medical Aromatherapists (Complementary Medicine Centre in Glasgow)

 

· Diploma from the Association of Natural Medicine (ANM)

 

· Diploma from the Association of Natural & Physical Therapists (APNT)

 

· Diploma from City & Guilds Award number 6904 (accepted 2007)

 

· Diploma and degree courses accredited by the Institute for Complementary and Natural Medicine

 

· Diploma and degree course accredited by the International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA)

 

· Diploma and degree course accredited by the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (IFPA)

 

· Diplomas from the International Holistic Aromatherapy Foundation (IHAF)

 

· ITEC Level 3 diploma in aromatherapy with 60 case studies

 

· VTCT Diploma in aromatherapy (or advanced diploma as it was called up until 2006)

 

· SQA approved qualifications

 

 

As well as these qualifications, in order to be AC Recognised, the Aromatherapist should also be a full member of one of the following professional associations:

 

· Aromatherapy & Allied Practitioner’s Association (Fellows will display FAAPA and full members MAAPA behind their names)

· Association of Medical Aromatherapists (AMA)

· Association of Natural Medicine ( Members will display either FANM, RMANM or MANM behind their names)

· Association of Physical & Natural Therapists (Members will display MAPNT behind their names)

· The British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (Members will use BABTAC after their names)

· British Register of Complementary Practitioners (Members will display MBRCP behind their names)

· Complementary Therapists Association (Members will display MCThA behind their names)

· Federation of Holistic Therapists (Members may display either FHT, or PACT behind their names)

· International Foundation of Aromatherapists (Members will display MIFA behind their names)

· International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (Members will display MIFPA behind their names)

· International Holistic Aromatherapy Foundation (Members will display MIHAF behind their names)

· Raworth Guild of Graduates (Members will display RGG behind their names)

 

There are other bodies that aromatherapists can belong to such as the English Societé de l’Institute Pierre Franchômme (Members will display MESIPF behind their names but this is for postgraduate training only and members usually belong to one of the other associations listed above as well).          

 

There are more insurance companies and groups, but these are not part of the AC and may not have ethics or disciplinary codes/policies for their members.      

Aromatherapy is useful for treating all forms of stress related conditions

Aromatherapy Council

The Lead Body for the UK Aromatherapy Profession

Check an aromatherapist