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Homeopath
Hours
Variable
Starting salary
Variable
WorkDesc
The work
Homeopaths treat patients by stimulating the body’s own healing powers with natural remedies. Homeopathy is based on the idea that ‘like cures like’ – that substances which cause symptoms can, in very small amounts, be used to cure or ease them.
As a homeopath, you may see people experiencing problems ranging from headaches, fevers and stress to arthritis and eczema. You would treat the patient based on their lifestyle and emotional issues as well as their physical symptoms. You could see patients referred by their GP or on a private basis. Consultations would usually involve:
- discussing the patient’s symptoms and their wider life
- choosing an appropriate homeopathic remedy
- preparing and dispensing the remedy
- treating the client during visits, or explaining how they can treat themselves at home
- keeping detailed patient notes
- advising on wider health and lifestyle issues
- referring patients to other health practitioners if necessary.
You would also deal with tasks involved in running your own business, such as accounts, tax, marketing and advertising your practice.
HoursDesc
Hours
Most homeopaths are self-employed. This means that you could choose your own working hours, although you may have to offer evening and weekend appointments to meet the needs of your patients.
You may work from your own home, from an alternative therapy clinic or sometimes a GP surgery or hospital. You may also visit patients in their homes.
IncomeDesc
Income
As a self-employed homeopath, income depends on the hours you work and the number of clients you see. You would typically charge an hourly rate of between £30 and £100.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
To prepare for work as a homeopath, you can take a qualification that is recognised by one of the professional organisations for homeopathy, such as the Society of Homeopaths (SOH). Courses include:
- a BSc Hons degree in homeopathy (available from four universities in England)
- a licentiate diploma from a private college of homeopathy.
Courses take three years full-time or at least four years part-time. Some may combine distance learning with part-time study, but all recognised programmes include supervised practice (see the SOH website for a list of courses).
To get on to a degree you will usually need at least three GCSEs (A-C) and two A levels including a science subject. Alternatives such as an Access to Higher Education qualification may be accepted, and your life experience may also count towards entry.
Most private colleges offering licentiate courses do not ask for academic qualifications, although some knowledge of science would be useful. Instead, they will look at your life experience, interest in homeopathy, and your potential to succeed on the course.
You should research courses carefully and check entry requirements with each university or college.
If you are already a qualified healthcare professional (for example, a doctor, nurse, dentist, pharmacist or midwife), you could take a postgraduate homeopathy course approved by the Faculty of Homeopathy (FOH). See the FOH website for more details.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you have completed an in-depth course and achieved a qualification, it may help your career further by joining a professional organisation for homeopathy or a register for complementary therapists, such as:
- Society of Homeopaths (SOH)
- Alliance of Registered Homeopaths (ARH)
- Homeopathic Medical Association (HMA)
- Faculty of Homeopathy (for state-registered healthcare professionals)
- British Register of Complementary Practitioners (run by the Institute of Complementary Medicine).
Each register has its own eligibility rules for joining, but in general you will need to build up a number of hours' clinical practice, and submit case studies or pass an interview. Contact individual organisations for full details.
You should keep your skills and knowledge up to date throughout your career, for example by attending conferences and short courses. Being a member of a professional body will often give you access to events and professional development programmes.
Voluntary Self-Regulation
Organisations from a variety of complementary therapies, including homeopathy, have worked to create a single (voluntary) regulatory body, known as the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). The aim of the CNHC is to protect the public by registering practitioners, setting standards for safe practice and providing a means of redress if things go wrong.
To register, your profession must be a member of the CNHC (this is being rolled out in stages). It is expected that the CNHC register will be open to homeopaths at some point during 2010; check the CNHC website regularly for updates.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
- the ability to build trust and rapport with patients
- good listening and communication skills
- understanding and sensitivity
- a non-judgemental attitude
- analytical thinking as well as intuition, to help you diagnose and treat appropriately
- the ability to remain professional when patients become emotional
- accurate record keeping skills
- some knowledge of biology, chemistry and conventional medical treatments
- the commercial skills to run your own business.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Institute for Complementary Medicine 
Can-Mezzanine
32-36 Loman Street
London
SE1 0EH
Tel: 020 7922 7980
www.i-c-m.org.uk
Skills for Health
Goldsmiths House
Broad Plain
Bristol
BS2 0JP
Tel: 0117 922 1155
www.skillsforhealth.org.uk
Society of Homeopaths
11 Brookfield
Duncan Close
Moulton Park
Northampton
NN3 6WL
Tel: 0845 450 6611
www.homeopathy-soh.org
Alliance of Registered Homeopaths
Millbrook
Millbrook Hill
Nutley
East Sussex
TN22 3PJ
08700 736339
www.a-r-h.org
Faculty of Homeopathy
Hahnemann House
29 Park Street West
Luton
LU1 3BE
Tel: 0870 444 3950
www.trusthomeopathy.org
Homeopathic Medical Association
7 Darnley Road
Gravesend
Kent
DA11 0RU
www.the-hma.org
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
Homeopathy is a growing area, with more and more people looking beyond traditional medicine to treat their health conditions.
You would usually be self-employed and run your own practice, although you may also find opportunities in the NHS. Some homeopaths are also qualified health professionals.
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.
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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]
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