The IFA offer various categories of membership dependent on accredited prior learning - see list of qualifications we recognise. To find which category of membership you are eligible for please browse the following options below.
Full Membership
Training: Completed the IFA Professional Aromatherapy Diploma or equivalent (see criteria tab for specific examples) Terms and Conditions: All Full members will be bound by the Terms and Conditions of Membership Fees: £80.00 per annum. £120.00 first time upgrade for IFA students (from the month you apply to the end of the following year, provided you apply in the same year that you graduate).
Completed the IFA Professional Aromatherapy Diploma
The link to register will be sent to individuals on successful completion of end point exams or please provide your student registration number as we will have your diploma on record.
Equivalent Qualifications
The IFA recognise the following qualifications as ‘of equal’ to the IFA Professional Aromatherapy Diploma level of attainment as FULL members:
The Institute of Traditional Herbal Medicine and Aromatherapy
SCQF (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework) Level 8
University Degrees (UCAS, BSc etc.) in Complementary Medicine and have a massage qualification e.g. Napier University Edinburgh - Bachelor of Science in Complementary Therapies (Aromatherapy)
In addition, the following qualifications would have been equivalent to the IFA Professional Aromatherapy Diploma at the time of attainment. Please note the time constraints that apply*
IAAMA (International Aromatherapy and Aromatic Medicine Association) - before 2008 (Formerly IFA Australia branch).
ISPA (International Society of Professional Aromatherapists) - before 2002
RQA (Register of Qualified Aromatherapists) - before 2002
Melbourne College of Natural Medicine - before 2008
For those whose qualifications are not listed – you will need to supply evidence of having completed training equivalent to the IFA Professional Aromatherapy Diploma in terms of contents (e.g. 70 essential oils), hours and assessment methods e.g. by supplying the course syllabus – which will be judged on a case-by-case basis and a mapping questionnaire is available upon request.. The list of qualifications we recognise is under continual review. The onus of supplying evidence rests on the applicant.
During a review you may be referred to upgrade your qualification to be eligible for full membership, in which case you will need to enrol on an upgrade course to bridge the gaps between your current qualification and that of the IFA Diploma. For more information click here.
Professional Fees:
Membership runs from 1st January – 31st December. New applicants with 'of equal' qualifications may join mid-year but must extend their membership until the end of the following year in keeping with the IFA’s accounting year.
Professional Essential Oil Therapist (PEOT) Membership
Training: Completed the IFA Professional Essential Oils Therapy Diploma (does not include massage) or equivalent (see criteria tab for details) Terms and Conditions: All PEOT members will be bound by the Terms and Conditions of Membership Fees: £80.00 per annum. £120.00 first time upgrade for IFA students (from the month you apply to the end of the following year, provided you apply in the same year that you graduate).
Completed the IFA Professional Essential Oils Therapy (PEOT) DiplomaT
The link to register will be sent to individuals on successful completion of exams or please provide your student registration number as we will have your diploma on record.
Equivalent Qualifications
As this is a fairly new qualification there are currently no equivalences on the market though we appreciate that some courses may be equivalent to components of it.
Applicants for equivalence would need to supply evidence of having completed training equivalent to the IFA Professional Essential Oils Therapy (PEOT) Diploma in terms of contents (e.g. 90 essential oils), hours, assessement e.g. by supplying the course syllabus and have a product making diploma. These will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The list of qualifications we recognise is under continual review.The onus of supplying evidence rests on the applicant.
Professional Fees:
Membership runs from 1st January – 31st December. New applicants with 'of equal' qualifications may join mid-year but must extend their membership until the end of the following year in keeping with the IFA’s accounting year.
Training: Completed an Aromatherapy course to a Level 3 or 4 standard (see criteria tab for specific examples) Terms and Conditions: All Associate members will be bound by the Terms and Conditions of Membership Fees: £70.00 per annum. We calculate the fee from joining month to the end of the following year (12 months minimum) - see tabs for details
National Occupational Standards (NOS) - these are statements that describe the minimum an individual needs to be able to do, know and understand in order to be safe and competent to practice.
Aromatherapy Core Curriculum - these define the minimum overall aims and learning outcomes, module/units, practice hours, case studies and assessments to measure the students understanding and knowledge in aromatherapy.
When applying to the IFA forassociate membership, please provide certificates which evidence that you have successfully passed Aromatherapy, Massage (full body) and Anatomy & Physiology to a minimum of a level 3and have been assessed by an independent body.
NB: *Please note courses delivered entirely by distance learning do not meet IFA requirements. Parts of the massage module and blending of products, as a minimum, must have been undertaken face to face (supervised) in order to verify the student has correctly applied the techniques they have been taught.
Qualifications awarded by the following examining bodies in Aromatherapy will be accepted as Associate Members:
ABC Level 3
AEAJ (in Japan) Level 4
CIBTAC (Confederation of International Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology) Level 3
CIDESCO (Comite International d'Esthetique et de Cosmetologie) Level 3
CITY & GUILDS Level 3
HLT52315 - Diploma of Clinical Aromatherapy (Australia)
ITEC (International Therapy Examination Council) Level 3
NCFE (National Advisory Council for Further Education) Level 4
VTCT (Vocational Training Charitable Trust) Level 3 or 4
*We do understand that qualifications have been discontinued but would have been equivalent at the time of attainment e.g. AAPA, APNT, BTEC, IHHT, NVQ for example. If this applies to you, please send a copy of your qualification to the head office for approval, accompanied by relevant evidence of professional bodies you have maintained in the interim and or CV.
Proof of membership of belonging to the following professional bodies will also be accepted as having met the requirement:
CFA (Canadian Federation of Aromatherapy)
CHP (Complementary Health Professionals)
NARD (in Japan)
Applicants who hold one of the following qualifications or memberships, please scan a copy of your certificate to office@ifaroma.org and you will be sent the registration link.
For those whose qualifications are not listed – you will need to supply evidence of having completed training equivalent to the Aromatherapy Core Curriculum in terms of contents, hours (300) and assessment methods e.g. by supplying course syllabus – which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The list of qualifications we recognise is under continual review. The onus of supplying evidence rests on the applicant.
Professional Fees:
Membership runs from 1st January – 31st December. New applicants may join mid-year but must extend their membership until the end of the following year in keeping with the IFA’s accounting year.
Training: Completed the IFA Aromacare course Terms and Conditions: All Carer members will be bound by the Terms and Conditions of Membership Fees: £35.00 per annum. £50.00 first time upgrade for students (from the month you apply to the end of the following year, provided you apply in the same year that you graduate)
Completed the IFA Aromacare Course
The link to register will be sent to individuals on successful completion of the aromacare assessment or please provide your student registration number as we will have your certificate on record.
Equivalent Qualifications
No equivalent qualification available.
Professional Fees
£35.00 per annum. £50.00 first time upgrade for students (from the month you apply to the end of the following year, provided you apply in the same year that you graduate).
Please email us a copy of your qualification certificate to office@ifaroma.org for a swift response and you may be able to join the same day!
If the name on your certificate is different from the name you plan to register with e.g. due to marriage, please ensure you attach a copy of evidence, for example marriage certificate.