Page Content
Job profiles
Aromatherapist
Hours
Variable
Starting salary
Variable
Aromatherapists use essential oils to help improve their clients' emotional wellbeing and relieve symptoms of ill health. If you are interested in natural healthcare and want to help people, this job could be perfect for you.
To do this job you will need to be able to gain clients' confidence and trust. You will need to be sensitive and considerate. Being a good listener will help too.
There are no qualifications needed to do this job. You could improve your career prospects by working towards membership of a professional body. Registering with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) would be good idea too.
WorkDesc
The work
As an aromatherapist your work would usually include:
- taking details of the client's medical history, diet and lifestyle
- selecting the oils you feel are appropriate for treating the client
- blending the oils to be used
- applying oils by full or partial body massage
- keeping records of treatments and the blends of oils used
- supplying blended oils and instructions for clients to use at home.
Aromatherapy may be used in medical environments such as hospitals or hospices, or alongside other complementary treatments.
HoursDesc
Hours
You are likely to be self-employed, which means you could choose your own working hours. You may have to offer evening and weekend appointments to meet the needs of your clients.
You would normally work from treatment rooms that may be at your home, an alternative therapy or natural health clinic, or a beauty salon. You may also visit clients in their own homes.
IncomeDesc
Income
Your income would depend on the number of clients you have and your location. Many aromatherapists are self-employed and charge an hourly rate. This can range between £20 and £45 an hour.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
There is no statutory regulation for aromatherapists. However, you could improve your career prospects by working towards membership of a professional body, and registering with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). See the Aromatherapy Council website for a list of professional bodies, and the CNHC website for information about their role.
Many professional associations suggest taking a course that meets the standards recommended by the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for aromatherapy. Shorter courses are useful as an introduction or for general interest only.
See the Aromatherapy Council website for information on choosing a course and links to course providers.
You can also study at foundation degree and degree level. These courses usually include aromatherapy alongside other complementary therapies. It is important to check that courses meet professional body registration requirements and include the theory and practical experience you will need to become a practitioner. You should check entry requirements with individual course providers.
Some courses will be linked to a professional body. Being a member of a relevant association and on a professional register would be useful when looking for employment or promoting your service to clients. See the CNHC and the General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapists websites for details of registration.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
As a practising aromatherapist, you will need to continue your professional development and keep your skills and knowledge up to date throughout your career. Joining an association, such as those listed on the Aromatherapy Council website, will often give you access to short courses, workshops and other development and networking opportunities.
Voluntary Self-Regulation
The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) aims to protect the public by registering practitioners, setting standards for safe practice and managing complaints.
The CNHC register is often used to check if an aromatherapist meets recommended standards, so it may help your reputation and business if you are registered. You could join through your professional body or apply directly on the CNHC website.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To become an aromatherapist, you will need to have:
- a caring approach
- the ability to gain clients' confidence and trust
- a sensitive and considerate approach to clients' health and emotional issues
- an ability to remember and understand the properties and chemistry of a large number of essential oils
- good communication and listening skills
- accurate record-keeping skills
- the ability to recognise when to refer clients to a qualified medical doctor
- commercial awareness and business skills if self-employed.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Institute for Complementary and Natural Medicine 
Can-Mezzanine
32-36 Loman Street
London
SE1 0EH
Tel: 020 7922 7980
www.icnm.org.uk
Skills for Health
Goldsmiths House
Broad Plain
Bristol
BS2 0JP
Tel: 0117 922 1155
www.skillsforhealth.org.uk
Aromatherapy Council
PO Box 6522
Desborough
Kettering
Northamptonshire
NN14 2YX
www.aromatherapycouncil.org.uk
General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapists
www.grcct.org
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You are likely to find most opportunities as a self-employed practitioner. Many therapists set up clinics at home or at other premises, or visit clients in their homes. They may also do a combination of these. To be successful you will need to build up and maintain a good reputation and client list. You will need to market and promote your business, which may involve working long hours at first.
You could take further training so that you can offer additional therapies, such as reflexology or massage, to increase your income.
You may also find opportunities for work in hospitals (for example, those specialising in cancer care), health spas and private clinics.
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
Further sources
NHS Careers has sections on:
View full Job market information
News
