Aromatherapist

Aromatherapists treat a range of physical and emotional problems by applying essential oils through massage, breathing or bathing. An essential oil is an aromatic substance extracted from a single botanical source. Examples include rosemary, lavender, peppermint and tea tree.

The Work

You could be:

• buying basic oils from suppliers


• discussing lifestyle, diet and emotional problems with your client


• selecting and preparing (blending) the mixture of oils to use in treatment


• massaging the oils into your client's face and body


• preparing a bath with drops of oil


• giving the treatment, possibly over several visits


• selling essential oils to clients and advising how to use them


• advising your client to see a doctor or another therapist and informing your client's doctor that you are administrating aromatherapy


• keeping records of clients and progress.

Conditions

• You may work in a consulting room in a clinic or health centre.


• You might work from your own home.


• You may visit clients in their homes, so you might have to travel.


• You might have to work evenings or weekends.


• You will be on your feet a lot of the time.

Getting In

• There are Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND) courses in Complementary Therapies at various colleges in Scotland. Most of these include a unit in aromatherapy.


• Entry requirements for an HND or HNC are usually 1-2 Highers plus Standard grades but contact the individual institution for details.


• The Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Beauty Therapy Level 3 and the SVQ in Spa Therapy Level 3 both include a unit on massage with pre-blended aromatherapy oils.


• The HND in beauty therapy includes units in aromatherapy and you can sometimes take individual HN units, which are accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).


• There are also courses run by private schools.
  
  You should check that the course is accredited either by SQA or by the Aromatherapy Council and that it is benchmarked to the NOS and AC Core Curriculum. This will qualify you to register with the General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapists or the British Register of Complementary Practitioners (held by the Institute for Complementary Medicine). Registration is voluntary, but useful when looking for employment or promoting your service to clients.
  
  Ask for the course syllabus and it should give you this assurance.
  
• You should check that courses have enough work experience training to give you the skills and experience you need to practise as an aromatherapist rather than just the theory.


• Entry requirements vary – for some full-time courses you need 2 Highers including English and biology or chemistry. Knowledge of anatomy is useful.


• You should be fit.

What Does It Take?

You should be:

• able to work well with people from a wide range of backgrounds


• a good listener


• well organised and able to keep clear records


• understanding and sympathetic


• tactful and reliable.

Training

Once you have gained your qualification, training is on-the-job, with short courses to keep you up-to-date.

Getting On

• With experience you might be able to increase the size of your business.


• You might train in more than one complementary therapy – many aromatherapists also qualify in reflexology, ayurvedic (Indian) massage, shiatsu (Japanese massage therapy) or allergy testing.


• You might combine your work with teaching, research or journalism.

Pay

Most aromatherapists are self-employed and work on a freelance basis so their earnings will vary. They normally charge an hourly fee/sessional rate which can range from £30 to £60 an hour. At first you may have to supplement your income with some other work.

More Information

Addresses

The following organisation(s) may be able to provide further information.