(Oct 2001)This info hasn't been updated since last year - refer to the AOC's new web site for the latest: www.aoc.uk.net. Interestingly, they disagree with some of the information previously provided by the member organisations themselves.
PO Box 19834, London, SE25 6WF. Telephone/fax (0181) 251 7912.
The AOC is the governing body for the aromatherapy profession in the UK. It is made up of aromatherapy associations, not individual aromatherapists.
It comprises 12 member associations, all of whom have equal status, and through them the AOC represents the interests of over 115 training establishments and 6000 aromatherapists.
The AOC publish a General Information Booklet, which they will send in response to an A4 SAE, and a list of the registered training establishments. They will also provide copies of the core curriculum (for a fee).
The following associations are all members of the AOC. Of them, the first established in the UK was the IFA (set up in 1985 and now with over 1200 members), and the largest is the ISPA (set up in 1990 and now with over 2200 members).
8 George Street, Croydon, Surrey.
Telephone/fax 020 8680 7761.
8 Llys Soar, Scott Street, Tynewydd, Rhondda, Mid Glam CF42 5NA.
Telephone 01443 771804.
Abergare, Rhu Point, Helensborough G84 8NF.
Telephone 0141 332 4924.
19a Collingwood Road, Witham, Essex CM8 2DY.
Telephone/fax 01376 502762.
27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3XX.
Telephone 0966 181588.
Belmont House, Newport, Essex CB11 3RF.
Telephone 01799 540622 Fax 01799 541294.
Liddell House, Liddell Close, Finchampstead, Berks RG40 4NS.
Telephone 01189 735757 Fax 01189 735767.
65 Bradenham Avenue, Welling, Kent DA16 2JQ.
Telephone 020 8303 8019.
From January 2006, their contact details are
61-63 Churchfield Road, Acton, London W3 6AY.
tel: 020 8992 9605 fax: 020 8992 7983.
web site www.ifaroma.org
ISPA House, 82 Ashby Road, Hinckley, Leics LE10 1SN.
Telephone 01455 637987 Fax 01455 890956.
PO Box 3431, Danbury, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 4UA.
Telephone 01245 227957.
Acorn House, Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, Surrey CR0 6BA.
Telephone 020 8686 4781 Fax 020 8649 9291.
An umbrella organisation of which the AOC is a member, the BCMA promotes complementary medicine and represents 30 therapies and over 26,000 practitioners, with a common code of conduct.
There are a number of groupings and factions of organisations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, including;
The one thing that all therapists and their associations seem to agree on is that there are too many different organisations and sets of initials, leading to confusion for anyone looking for a practitioner or training.
There are moves afoot to rationalise things by putting in place national standards for training and a national register of therapists. However, there are at least two rival camps doing this in (sometimes acrimonious) competition.
(March 2000) Since mid 1999, the IFA, ISPA and RQA have been discussing a merger. So far they have agreed on a name - The International Federation of Aromatherapists (incorporating IFA, ISPA & RQA). They still have some outstanding issues to sort out, like bringing training hours and examination systems together, deciding on the composition of the new council etc. Committees are being formed to look into these and other areas. No date has yet been proposed.