Many people are confused about aromatherapy certification in the United States. If you want to work as a professional aromatherapist there are a few important things you need to know.
Aromatherapy Certification
In the United States each individual state is responsible for granting licenses or certificates to individuals like nurses, cosmetologists and massage therapists. The different states impose different criteria – some require a license before you can actually lay hands on any person while some do not. According to my research there are presently no states that grant aromatherapy certification i.e. a license to use the title aromatherapist.
However, many states DO require any individual who “lays hands” on another individual to be certified. The best course of action is to find out what the state laws are in your region. This will help you to avoid breaking the law. But what about aromatherapy certification through an educational institution such as a college or distance learning facility?
Institutions that offer aromatherapy training generally offer an aromatherapy certification or diploma to students who complete their course. Diploma courses are more in-depth than certificate courses. Obtaining such a certificate or diploma is not the same as being granted permission by the state to practice as an aromatherapist.
A non-profit registration body called The Aromatherapy Registration Council is now able to provide a registry of aromatherapy practitioners. These are individuals who have passed a national aromatherapy exam but is not an aromatherapy certification as such. This registry is a great help to consumers. Some aromatherapists do not agree with the registry as they do not feel the need to take the exam – based on the fact that they have many years of experience in the field of aromatherapy.
As far as State Licensing of Schools goes, remember that just because the course you do is certified it does not mean that YOU are after doing their course. A school is not necessarily inferior if it is not licensed in accordance with state laws. The school may simply not be required to do so. If a school does require a license and does not have one, this is a different matter! Remember that a schools license is not the same as individual aromatherapy certification.
State licensed institutions can benefit students in a variety of ways – these vary depending on the state the school is in. You can contact the Department of Education to find out about licensing requirements, what benefits the state grants based on that and whether the school has had any complaints against it. You can also find out what standards need to be complied with to get that particular license and what form of aromatherapy certification is granted.
Graduate Liability Insurance is important if you want to work as a professional aromatherapist. Find out from your learning institution if they have a deal with insurance providers that helps graduates. Make sure to verify the information you receive. If you don’t get aromatherapy certification via a school or college then you can always opt for hands-on training. This is an excellent way to learn by doing.