Looking for Aromatherapy Courses

[Istorchard]

Hi All

I would like to start learning about becoming an aromatherapist but I'm not sure where to start looking. I live in Surrey. Would I need to attend a course in person or is this sort of training possible via long distance learning, supplemented by training days?

I have been interested in this fora little while now but after a very accurate tarot card reading on Saturday(!), I have decided to pursue this.

Any help gratefully received.

 

[Ferygon]

Hi Wendywoo and welcome to HP. I do not know of any distance-based learningcourses for Aromatherapy as I had missed enrollment for the college course and did not really want to wait again. I asked this question of FHT when I was first looking into it but theysaid that if I found a distance learning course, they would not recognise it for insurance purposes. I subsequently trained at a fantastic place in EastleighHampshire. This is a very intensive course, small group andincluded the use and properties of over 30 essential oils (youpay for thesealongside course payment)It iscompleted over 3 days. I was in a good position as I already had several Modules and a Diploma in A & P under my belt from my previous training. You can complete thewritten partof the course at your leisure (within reason). You alsoneed a lot ofhours ofcase study practise, obviously you wouldn't want to offer massage to paying clients without thorough practise and learning about theessential oils, whichisextemely interesting, though there is a lot to remember.I use oils regularly and am still fascinated and learning all the time - there are a mulititude ofwell-written books out there, which you can get at good prices second hand.Sorry, I'm blabbering now!! When you are ready, you return your completed portfolio for assessment and, if this is passed, you thenreturn to the academy foryour final practical and written assessments.This courseIS accredited by the FHT.You can go onto the FHT website and find their accreditied courses.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Rishi raj Rai]

Hi Wendiwoo,

I don't want to sound like a harbinger of doombut you need to check out the latest regulations for practising aromatherapists. I started another thread on here about the Aromatherapy Council who are lobbying the NHS and the general public to seek out AC registered aromatherapists. The upshot for me is that I need to upgrade my qualification to enable me to register, as the VTCT course I did at college last year didn't quite match the criteria for registration - we did 30 oils and 15 hours of case studies and I think the upgrade will be a further 10 oils and a further 15 hours of case studies.

I think the bottom line here is to ensure that you do the right qualification in order to be a recognised professional now, rather than finding later that your course doesn't meet the requirements of the NOS - National Occupational Standards. You'll find information about recognised awarding bodies and accreditationon the Aromatherapy Council website, there is a link to this on my other thread.

I wish you well in your, future, fantastic, fragrant career as an aromatherapist.

 

[Cooter]

Ditto to calmer.

The course I enrolled on covered 33 + oils and I had to complete 35 hours of case studies - phew! So I think most schools are catching up with the regulation (I completed mine in March 2006).
I think voluntary self regulation is an inevitable next step. This can only be a good thing so long as there is still choice.
Most associations etc have some sort of criteria you must meet to become a member - find the one that is best suited to your needs, as I have. If you wish to become a member of a particular aromatherapy bodythen - quite rightly - you have to meet their criteria - this does not mean you have to join a particular body because you are an aromatherapist.[sm=smilie_weihn_winki.gif]Don't you just love the xmassy smileys!?

Have a great evening all!

 

[Boron]

Hi Moon Faerie & Calmer

Thank you both for taking the time to reply to my posting. I spoke to a local college this afternoon and was told that before I embark on any aromatherapy course, I will need to obtain a certificate in body massage (takes approx 1 year attending one evening classper week). Do you know if this is correct? With all the new regulations, I definitely want to go the right route, so will spend some more time on research.

I love this site. It has a lovely 'feel' about it .

Thanks again!

 

[Cole Caldwell]

Just to clarify that the Aromatherapy Council is not a professional body and they recommend that youstill maintain your membership with your chosen PB. Their ethos and FAQ's are available to read on the website.

Sorry, just got my syllabus out and we did 33 essential oils, 10 carrier oils and a minimum of 30 hours of treatment. My qualification is recognised by the FHT and all the major aromatherapy bodies, but is not up to the requirements of the Aromatherapy Council. Here is a link to their site which gives details of the new Core Curriculum and NOS, details of how to find the right courses and a list of accreditating bodies.

[link=http://www.aromatherapycouncil.co.uk/index_files/Page911.htm]http://www.aromatherapycouncil.co.uk/index_files/Page911.htm[/link]

Lots of 'qualified' practitioners will be finding that there old qualifications (I did mine in May 2006!) may not match up to the AC requirements.

So what I'm really saying is that, if you think you may want to 'voluntarily' registerwith the AC inthe future, it will pay you to investigate the ins and outs now rather than finding out you're underqualified later.AndI feel that, although it is still a voluntary registration, itcouldhave an impact on a therapist's career and livlihood, particularlyif they want to work within a clinicalsetting as the NHS and PCT'swill be advised to refer patients to AC registrants only.

The AC does allow you to APL some of your quals and do a portfolio assessment service, where they'll tell you what you need to do to upskill and reach the required criteria. Again, all the information about this is on their website.

Have just found the Christmas smileys, too.[sm=xmas-smiley-043.gif][sm=smilie_stiefel.gif][sm=smilie_schneekugel2.gif][sm=smilie_klau.gif][sm=xmas-smiley-032.gif]

 

[JoleenBexague]

Hi there

I'm not an aromatherapist, but two friends of mine trained at Essentials for Health in London (it's at St Thomas' hospital I think??) and they rated it very highly. As you're in Surrey you might want to have a look at Raworth, who have a good reputation for comp therapies training.

 

[Cat]

Hi Wendywoo
I agree - this site is fantastic.
I cannot speak for other areas of the country but my local college runs Aromatherapy massage classes (all in one) over 12 months but I think you have to have A&P before you can do that one. This was the same when I did Reflexology - I had to complete my A&P diploma before I could enrol on the Reflexology course-it meant waiting another 12 months but was well worth the wait as my Diploma is useful for a wide range of courses - even intro-stage for nursing. Some students ran both alongside each other but the A&P course was soooo intense with lots of homework and assessments as well as the final assessment that I did not want to try that!! Try a search on google for VTCT or ITEC (only two that spring to mind but I am sure there are more) courses in your area - you may strike lucky. As calmer said - go onto the FHT etc websites - they have the criteria requirements as well as lots of info on voluntary self-regulation/CPPD/etc.

You will find that "private" courses are generallymore expensive than the college courses so you may need to take this into consideration as well.

Don't be put off - you will feel much more confident if you take your time. You can still learn a lot about essential oils while you are doing the massage course and then you will be better prepared for the Aromatherapy course.
Be driven by your heart and guided by your head. Good luck![sm=smilie_stiefel.gif][sm=smilie_schneeflocke.gif]

 

[shankar _]

Welcome to the wonderful world of HP!

I'm so glad you're going to do some research. If I was in your situation, I would contact the awarding bodies, their contact details are on the AC website, and find out EXACTLY which qualifications they recommend and who your local providers are.

My college is now doing the VTCT D1079, which matches the new standards and is the upgraded version of the C1079 that I did last year. It's very similar in content and includes, massage techniques and practice, knowledge of the properties, chemistry and contraindications of a range of esssential oils and carrier oils, A & P, health and safety, case studies and the completion of a portfolio of evidence. It is a year in duration and is a practitioner level qualification

But another large, well respected, local college is STILL offering the course I did! So please beware!

I used to work in FE and I can understand, only too well, how the channels of communication between the regulators, awarding bodies, providers, managementand teaching staffcan be a bit woolly![sm=banghead.gif]

And, in hindsight I wish I had done more research before I did my course as I have only just found out about the AC requirements; the hard way!

So by the end of your research you will probably be more knowledgeable than the staff at your college.

Love and light,

Calmer x

 

[I hate you all]

Hi calmer

SO true! I've done what you did before - [sm=banghead.gif]It truly is a minefield out there. It is hard to keep up with everything. This site is ideal for keeping in the know with all the great advice from other forum members.

Have a good evening.