Aromatherapy exams - USA

[Epona Willow]

Hello. Just finished my "national certification examinations" in the USA, and thought I'd share a little thought or two...

The US, like the UK does not regulate Aromatherapy. 38 states regulates massage therapy, so the Aromatherapy courses do avoid the sense of teaching massage, although most would give a routine for the use of massage with aromatherapy.

However, in an attempt to "Raise the bar" and start a process of maybe having national, or a patchwork of states regulating the professions, the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) a voluntary professional body, instituted the Aromatherapy Registration Council (ARC), which administers a national certification exam. Passing that allows one to use the title "Registered Aromatherapist" for a period of 5 years, after which, you'd have to requalify.

It was a 4 hour, 250 multiple choice question exam, drawing on the question bank of a number of the aromatherapy schools.

I always wondered how they would assess people on the uses of oils - after all, as we all know, the books all differ in terms of what the therapeutic functions of the oils are. Even bigger problem was - which oils? NAHA had stipulated which oils must be studied for Level I training, but not for Level II, and you needed to do Level II before you could sit for the ARC.

Well - when I got into the hall, and saw the paper, I realised how. They basically ducked the issue, but only assessing obvious uses. Or mis-uses. Questions were like, "Which of the oils are by tradition, LEAST likely to be helpful to someone who has high blood pressure..." one of which was Rosemary. There were questions about genus and families of various oils. Questions about general storage and administration abounded.

All in all, did it make me feel a better aromatherapist as compared to when I graduated from college from my 340 hour course?

I don't think so. But what it does is to have an external test of your knowledge, and lend a little more credibility than an internal examination would.

I wonder if the AOC will also think about instituting a separate examination, on top of the examinations of each of our own sponsoring bodies. It will be a way for it to fund itself, but how many of us want to re-prove ourselves again?

 

[red-rose]

Hi dazzakoh

Interesting points made here and I have read much about the NAHA and have wondered how aromatherapy regulation was proceeding in the US. Perhaps you could let me know some more!

I personally feel that its not a good idea to requalify but to continue training throughout your professional life CPD (continued professional development), in this way you would expand your knowledge and experience. Having to sit exams is a daunting prospect but showing development would still show continued learning. I do however agree that showing some sort of continued learning should be statutory and I feel the AC could make this part of being registered with them.

You have some wonderful people in the "business" over in America have you heard or been taught by any i.e. Jane Buckle or Tiffany Fields (massage)?

Love and light

 

[Krin]

Hello Essence

No, haven't had a chance to meet Jane or TIffany... US is rather big, and I am stuck in a rather deserted part of it!

NAHA got embroiled in some ugly internal strife that unfortunately spilled into the open. However, it's sort of got its act together again.

Regulation in the US is a state matter. What NAHA is looking to do, is what the Massage Therapists did: set up some de facto set of examinations that everyone wants to take, and when states start regulating, lo and behold, there is already a set of examinations which people could take as a way to get recognised. Reflexology is also headed the same way here.

Whether or not the states will regulate depends. Some states have swung the opposite way - i.e. not regulating or deregulating complementary therapy. In fact, even among the massage therapists (those with >500 hours training) there is a feeling that the US went for the overkill when the American Massage Therapists Association went down the licensing route. There are some who point out that one should only license when there is a clear case that harm could be caused - e.g. medicine, but not where none could be proved. And despite all the warnings about contra-indications we get in our training, there has been very little medical proof that massage causes harm.

As for Aromatherapy, even far less proof of harm when used at the dilutions we use in the UK - 2%. In the US, where the dilution rates vary, there haven't been much reported, although there is a distinct rise in sensitisation reported - Tea Tree oil is a particular culprit. Probably because of the wider exposure to it from all the many tea tree products available....

 

[draibropapy]

Hi dazzakoh

Sorry forgot just how big the USA is and the miles involved!! Just felt I had to ask as aromatherpy in the US is really starting to happen.

Much the same happened here with the AC (AOC) its all about politics and power, hopefully now everyone is in some sort of agreement and the real job of reppresenting the aromatherapist can now take the forefront.

I actually don't just use the 2% and treat depending on what is presented, I often use neat essential oils as I have been trained this way. I have also read that Tea Tree is causing a lot of sensitisation and like you believe that its from overuse and bad quality being sold. Unfortunately pesticides are being used on the farmed trees, wild tea tree is much better but difficult to get hold of, but again everyone seems to use it for everything and they forget the power of the oil.

Love and light