There are many schools of aromatherapy around now, each giving its own diploma. To be sure that an aromatherapist has undergone a thorough training, choose one who is a member of one of the professional associations listed.
All professional associations which are members of the AOC accredit training establishments which teach to at least AOC standard, and many beyond. The AOC core curriculum, implemented in January 1994, stipulates 180 class hours over not less than 9 months, made up of 80 hours of aromatherapy, 60 hours of massage and 40 hours of anatomy and physiology plus 10-15 case studies over 50 treatment hours.
Some of the associations recognise one another's qualification as equivalent (e.g. IFA, ISPA and RQA), so membership of more than one association does not necessarily indicate that a therapist has undertaken more training.
Here is a list of all the undergraduate training establishments recognised by the AOC. They deliver the training in different ways; some full-time, some at weekends once a month; some integrate the three subject areas into each lesson and others teach separate modules. There are some more institutions which only offer training to qualified aromatherapists, which are not listed.
Prices and entry qualifications vary (some have no pre-requisites).
Please contact the appropriate professional association for full details of their accredited schools.
I have organised the list (perhaps arbitrarily) into geographical areas to make it easier to find a school near you. The areas are: Central England, Eastern England, North Eastern England, North Western England, Southern England, South Eastern England, South Western England, Western England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Europe & Overseas. I am open to suggestions for improving these groupings!
Central England |
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Leics |
Hinckley |
Shirley Price International College of Aromatherapy, Hinckley |
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W Mids |
Coventry |
Coventry Technical College |
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W Mids |
Sutton Coldfield |
Revival School of Aromatherapy, Sutton Coldfield |
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W Mids |
Walsall |
Jill Bruce School of Aromatherapy, Walsall |
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Warwicks |
Kenilworth |
Purple Flame School of Aromatherapy & Stress Management, Kenilworth |
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Warwicks |
Stratford-u-Avon |
Lavender House Aromatherapy & Shiatsu Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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Eastern England |
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Cambs |
Peterborough |
Eve Taylor Institute of Clinical Aromatherapy, Peterborough |
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Cambs |
Sawston |
Cambridge School of Beauty Therapy, Sawston |
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Lincs |
Lincoln |
De Montford University School of Applied Arts & Design, Lincoln |
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Norfolk |
Great Yarmouth |
Great Yarmouth College |
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Northants |
Kettering |
Carol Preen/Complementary Yours, Kettering |
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Northants |
Kettering |
Margaret Bonner Walter College of Holistic Aromatherapy, Kettering |
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Notts |
Worksop |
South Yorkshire & North Nottinghamshire College of Aromatherapy, Worksop |
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Suffolk |
Woodbridge |
Institute of Traditional Herbal Medicine & Aromatherapy, Woodbridge, Suffolk |
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North Eastern England |
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Cleveland |
Guisborough |
International College of Holistic Medicine, Guisborough, Cleveland |
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Cleveland |
Middlesborough |
Rainbow Bridge School of Aromatherapy, Middlesborough |
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Tyne & Wear |
Newcastle |
Newcastle College |
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Tyne & Wear |
Newcastle |
Northern School of Holistic Aromatherapy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
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Tyne & Wear |
Tynemouth |
Natural Therapies Institute, Tynemouth |
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Yorks |
Bradford |
Bradford & Ilkley Community College |
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Yorks |
Bridlington |
International College of Therapeutic Studies, Bridlington, E Yorks |
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Yorks |
Harrogate |
Harrogate School of Aromatherapy |
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Yorks |
Hull |
College of Clinical Aromatherapy, Hull |
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Yorks |
Leeds |
London School of Aromatherapy (North) |
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Yorks |
Mirfield |
Northern School of Aromatherapy, Mirfield |
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Yorks |
Yeadon |
Joanna Hoare Institute of Aromatherapy, Yeadon |
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North Western England |
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Cheshire |
Knutsford |
Anne Hammond College of Aromatherapy, Knutsford |
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Cumbria |
Kendal |
Kendal College, Cumbria |
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Cumbria |
Workington |
West Cumbria College, Workington |
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Lancs |
Preston |
Lancashire Holistic College, Preston |
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Manchester |
Manchester |
North West Complementary Therapy Centre, Manchester |
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Manchester |
Manchester |
University of Manchester School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Visiting |
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Manchester |
Rochdale |
Sandra Day School of Health Related Studies, Rochdale |
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Merseyside |
Liverpool |
Liverpool School of Aromatherapy |
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Merseyside |
Liverpool |
Northern College of Clinical Aromatherapy, Liverpool |
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Merseyside |
South Wirral |
Burton Manor College, South Wirral |
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Merseyside |
Wallasey |
Clare McGrale School, Wallasey |
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Southern England |
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Berks |
Reading |
Royal County College of Aromatherapy & Massage, Reading |
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Dorset |
Bournemouth |
Beaumont College of Natural Medicine, Bournemouth |
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Hants |
Andover |
Elisabeth Jones Natural Therapy Centre, Andover |
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Hants |
Basingstoke |
School of Physical Therapies, Basingstoke |
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Hants |
Fleet |
S.E.E.D. Institute, Fleet |
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Hants |
Southampton |
Holistic Training Centre, Southampton |
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Herts |
Stevenage |
Real Essences Aromatherapy, Stevenage |
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Herts |
Tring |
Champneys International College of Health & Beauty, Tring |
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Surrey |
Dorking |
Raworth Centre, Dorking |
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Surrey |
Guildford |
College of Complementary Therapies, Guildford |
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South Eastern England |
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E Sussex |
Battle |
Sheila Brook Aromatherapy, Battle |
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E Sussex |
Hove |
Tisserand Aromatherapy Institute, Hove |
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E Sussex |
Worthing |
Good Scents School of Natural Healing, Worthing |
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Essex |
Burnham-on-Crouch |
Kathy Jones/The Meads Aromatherapy School, Burnham-on-Crouch |
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Essex |
Chelmsford |
Frances Fewell School of Natural Therapies, Chelmsford |
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Essex |
Chelmsford |
Susan Ager School of Aromatherapy, Chelmsford |
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Essex |
Colchester |
Institute of Holistic Studies, Colchester |
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Essex |
Romford |
International Academy of Holistic Studies, Romford |
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Herts |
St Albans |
Academy of Vocational & Complementary Studies, St Albans |
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Kent |
Birchington-on-Sea |
Professional Aromatherapy Training Centre, Birchington-on-Sea |
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Kent |
Broadstairs |
Thanet College of Holistic Aromatherapy, Broadstairs |
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Kent |
Faversham |
Kent Institute of Complementary Therapies, Faversham |
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Kent |
Folkstone |
Blossom Aromatherapy Centre, Folkstone |
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Kent |
Tunbridge Wells |
Paula Martin School of Aromatherapy & Natural Therapies, Tunbridge Wells |
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London |
London |
Harmony & Health, North Finchley |
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London |
London |
Aromatherapy International School, London W5 |
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London |
London |
London College of Fashion |
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London |
London |
Naturecare, London |
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London |
London |
Aromatherapy Associates, London SW6 |
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London |
London |
London School of Aromatherapy |
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London |
London |
Royal London Homeopathic Hospital |
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London |
London |
School of Holistic Aromatherapy, London NW3 |
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London |
London |
Clare Maxwell Hudson School of Massage, London |
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Surrey |
Croydon |
Essential Care Training, Croydon |
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Surrey |
Croydon |
The Portable Massage Company, Croydon |
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Surrey |
Croydon |
Renbardou School, Croydon |
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South Western England |
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Cornwall |
Penzance |
Wendy Lorens/School of Complementary Therapies, Penzance |
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Cornwall |
St Ives |
Ann Barber School of Natural Medicine, St Ives & Gloucester |
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Devon |
Buckfastleigh |
Jenni Sangster/Totnes School of Natural Therapies, Buckfastleigh |
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Devon |
Exeter |
Lillian Stoltenberg School of Holistic Therapies, Exeter, Devon |
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Somerset |
Cheddar |
Education Centre for Complementary Medicine Ltd, Cheddar |
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Somerset |
Glastonbury |
Fragrant Studies Ltd, Glastonbury |
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Western England |
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Avon |
Bath |
Bath School of Aromatherapy |
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Bristol |
Bristol |
Bristol School of Aromatherapy |
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Gloucester |
Cheltenham |
Hoths Institute, Cheltenham, Glos |
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Gloucester |
Cheltenham |
Cotswold School of Clinical Aromatherapy, Cheltenham |
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Gloucester |
Gloucester |
Ann Barber School of Natural Medicine, St Ives & Gloucester |
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Worcs |
Malvern Link |
Poppy's School of Natural Therapies, Malvern Link, Worcs |
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Scotland |
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Edinburgh |
Edinburgh |
Edinburgh School of Holistic Aromatherapy |
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Falkirk |
Falkirk |
Academy of Aromatherapy & Massage (Scotland), Falkirk |
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Glasgow |
Glasgow |
Healing Touch, Glasgow |
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Glasgow |
Glasgow |
The Scottish College of Complementary Medicine, Glasgow |
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Glasgow |
Glasgow |
Central College of Commerce, Glasgow |
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Glasgow |
Glasgow |
Glasgow School of Natural Therapies |
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Glasgow |
Glasgow |
Health & Vitality, Glasgow |
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Glasgow |
Glasgow |
Scottish School of Herbal Medicine, Glasgow |
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Glasgow |
Glasgow |
Ross Clinic, Glasgow |
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S Lanarks |
East Kilbride |
Strathclyde School of Professional Aromatherapy, East Kilbride |
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Perths |
Perth |
London School of Aromatherapy (Perth) |
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Ireland |
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Dundalk |
Tara School of Integrative Therapy, Dundalk, Ireland |
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Louth |
IRIsh Branch, Louth, Ireland |
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Northern Ireland |
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Belfast |
Belfast |
European College of Natural Therapies, Belfast |
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Belfast |
Belfast |
Belfast Institute of Further & Higher Education |
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Belfast |
Belfast |
Lifespring Centre, Belfast |
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Wales |
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Cardiff |
Cardiff |
Naturecare, Cardiff |
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Cardiff |
Cardiff |
The Complementary Therapies College of Wales, Cardiff |
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Merthyr Tyd |
Abercannaid |
South Wales School of Natural Therapies, Abercannaid, Merthyr Tydfil |
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Torfn |
Pontypool |
Margaret Burridge School, Pontypool |
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Europe & Overseas |
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Australia |
Australian School of Awareness, Victoria, Australia |
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Australia |
Australian School of Clinical Aromatherapy, Perth, W Australia |
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Australia |
South Australian Health Education Centre, Adelaide, S Australia |
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Hong Kong |
Joanna Hoare Institute of Aromatherapy, Hong Kong |
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Israel |
Israeli College of Natural Health Sciences, Tel Aviv |
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Japan |
Aromatherapy Associates, Kanagawa, Japan |
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Japan |
London School of Aromatherapy & LSA North (Tokyo) |
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Malaysia |
Joanna Hoare Institute of Aromatherapy, Scent Institute of Beauty & Aromatherapy, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
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Netherlands |
Ellen Smith-Asjes Aromatherapy Course, Alkmaar, Netherlands |
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New Zealand |
Aromaflex, Nelson, New Zealand |
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Singapore |
London Institute of Aromatherapy, Singapore |
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Singapore |
Raworth Asia |
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Real Aromatherapy Ltd, Eastern Europe & Latin America |