Whether you are looking for a treatment, an employer recruiting staff, a commissioner, or a company looking for a product consultant, you can choose with confidence by searching the IFA Register of Aromatherapists.
Qualifications, Calibre and Integrity
By choosing an IFA registered aromatherapist, you can be confident that they have:
Met UK-wide standards for patient safety and service quality as a minimum;
Are fully insured;
Committed to continual professional development to ensure their skills remain current; and
Abide by stringent Codes of Conduct, Ethics and Practice.
*Note that all FULL and PEOT members' qualifications exceed UK-wide standards, having completed a two year diploma.
All registrants are required to declare that:
They do not have a criminal record (including cautions);
They have not been subject to any disciplinary or civil proceedings in relation to their practice; and
They do not have any health issues that may impact their ability to practice, ensuring fitness to practice.
Read the benefits for employers and commissioners
Read the benefits for patients and service users
Read NHS Employers information on Accredited Registers
Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA)
The IFA’s practitioner register is an approved Accredited Register by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), a UK body accountable to Parliament, which is part of a government-backed scheme to protect the public. PSA accreditation provides additional independent assurance that are all our registrants have met high standards of practice in the UK.
The Professional Standards Authority States: “Practitioners who are committed to high standards choose to join an Accredited Register. Responsible employers and commissioners choose practitioners on Accredited Registers. We recommend the public only see practitioners on an Accredited Register”
The Government Department of Health and the General Medical Council advise doctors to refer patients to practitioners on the IFA Accredited Register.
The PSA quality mark is recognised by NHS employers, commissioners, other regulators such as the Care Quality Commission, the Any Qualified Providers scheme and the public as a mark of commitment to good practice and professionalism.
The IFA register is the only aromatherapy specific body to have achieved this status.
Quality of Care
The IFA sets, requires and promotes good standards of personal behaviour, technical competence, and business practice for its registrants. The Codes of Conduct, Ethics and Practice detail the quality of care that you can expect, which are binding on all registrants.
The IFA's Code of Conduct, Ethics and Practice
Accountable
Should any registrant fall below those standards they will be held accountable for their actions. Below you will find detailed guidance on how to raise a concern and how it will be addressed in a fair and robust manner. All registrants must be able to explain and justify their actions. The outcomes of any sanctions applied as a result of an investigation are published to promote learning amongst registrants and shared with other registers to help protect the public.
Complaints Procedure (about Registrants)
Whistleblowing Policy (for Registrants)
Raising Concerns about IFA
Registrant Sanctions Imposed
Sanctions imposed by the IFA Disciplinary and Sanctions Committee within the last three (3) years are published here and marked next to the registrant's name, with a link to information about the sanction imposed:
To-date, there are no sanctions currently in place against any registrant.
Registrants have the right of appeal within 30 days of a sanction being imposed.
Disciplinary and Sanctions Policy (for Registrants)
Appeals Policy (for Registrants)
Training Providers on Find a Training Provider Register
Whether you are a learner embarking on a new career in aromatherapy, looking to extend your knowledge and skills, or an employer seeking specialist training for your staff, you can choose with confidence by searching the IFA Training Provider Register.
Standards, Quality and Integrity
The IFA sets and periodically reviews curriculum content to reflect the latest evidence-based practice and industry developments. Courses are designed to align with industry best practice, ensuring learners and employers have confidence in the quality, relevance, and professional standards of training. IFA qualifications support progression into clinical practice across healthcare, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and specialist care environments.
By choosing an IFA-approved training provider, you can be confident that they:
Deliver courses aligned with the IFA syllabus and curriculum requirements;
Employ appropriately qualified, trained, and IFA-registered teaching staff;
Meet IFA standards for education, course delivery, and learner support;
Undergo regular quality assurance audits to ensure ongoing compliance with IFA standards;
Undertake end-point assessments conducted by IFA External Quality Assurers (EQAs); and
Operate under robust regulations and the IFA Centre Agreement, ensuring integrity, safety, and professionalism.
All approved training providers are required to:
Comply with all legal and regulatory requirements relevant to training delivery and the classroom environment;
Maintain systems to ensure quality and consistency in course delivery and assessment; and
Ensure any complaints or concerns about performance are addressed promptly and in accordance with IFA policies.
IFA qualifications are broadly recognised internationally; however, learners should always check local requirements in the country in which they intend to practise, as requirements may vary.
Accountability
Should a training provider fall below these standards, the IFA may investigate and impose sanctions, restrictions or action reports to safeguard learner and public interests. Approved providers are also subject to external quality audits, ensuring the integrity of examinations and assessments and compliance with IFA requirements.
Below you will find guidance on how to raise a concern and how it will be addressed in a fair and robust manner.
Complaints Procedure (about Training Providers)
Whistleblowing Policy (about Training Providers)
Malpractice and Maladministration Policy (about Training Providers)
Sanctions Policy (about Training Providers)
Transfer Policy (changing Training Provider)
Companies on the Find a Corporate Member (Suppliers) Register
When searching for a supplier to assist your practice, training, or for personal use, you can choose with confidence by referring to the IFA Corporate Member Register.
Ethics, Quality, and Integrity
As part of the registration process, the IFA samples products from companies when they first register. By selecting an IFA corporate member (supplier), you can be assured that they:
Are committed to sustainability and environmental practices, aligned with the ethos of the IFA.
Provide sufficient information on their website and in their promotional literature, enabling customers to make informed decisions about their products.
Offer guidance on how to apply their products safely and effectively, including dilution instructions when necessary.
Promote the safe practice of aromatherapy and provide consumer safety advice alongside their products.
Do not make medicinal claims regarding aromatherapy products (since essential oils can vary from crop to crop, they cannot be licensed for medicinal use).
All corporate members are required to:
Comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and labelling requirements in accordance with UK Cosmetic Regulations.
Ensure that their sourcing practices are environmentally friendly and free from animal cruelty.
Address any complaints or concerns about deliveries promptly and in line with IFA policies.
While the IFA samples products during the registration process, it’s important to note that we do not sample every product or batch. Therefore, we do not endorse the products themselves but instead approve the company’s business practices.
Accountability
Should a company fall below these standards, the IFA may investigate, provide action reports, or withdraw corporate membership to safeguard the public. Corporate members are also subject to spot checks at any time. Below, you will find guidance on how to raise a concern about a corporate member’s products and how these concerns will be addressed in a fair and robust manner. However, please note that we do not get involved in any discrepancies regarding deliveries or refunds.
We advise the public to request Certificates of Analysis (COAs), Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) reports, physical parameter data (where applicable for essential oils), peroxide values for fixed oils, etc., when choosing suppliers, as outlined in IFA training. However, please note that this is not a legal requirement for suppliers to provide it.
Complaints Procedure (for Corporate Members)
Those Falsely Claiming IFA Status or Misuse of Logo
We take any misuse of IFA status and/or logos or the PSA’s logo very seriously, as it essentially misleads the public and undermines those who have met the standards. Use of the IFA logo is permitted to current IFA registrants only, who are bound by its terms of use. The PSA logo is only permitted to be used by IFA UK registrants.
If a person or company is registered with the IFA, you will find them on our website. If you cannot find them on our website they are not currently registered with the IFA, which means we are unable to hold them to account should anything go wrong.
The IFA undertake random spot checks, to see where and how the IFA name and logo is being used but appreciate the public's help in identifying any misuse. You can inform us anonymously by completing the form below.
The IFA will write to those misusing any of the IFA logo's or claiming IFA status. If they do not remove the infringement or misleading information within two (2) working days of being made aware they will be included on this list and further action may be taken.
