Complementary medicine Complementary and alternative medicine is the collective term used for a variety of skills and therapies. This has become a popular area for study and work opportunities with a variety of courses available for each discipline. These are available as professional recognised qualifications, degrees and interest-only courses for family and friends.
Checklist: why study complementary medicine in the United Kingdom?
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Many of the major disciplines operating in the UK have regulatory bodies that validate courses and oversee the conduct of practitioners.
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There is a wide variety of courses at all levels, from certificates and diplomas to postgraduate degrees and doctorates.
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You can study most disciplines full-time, part-time or just at evenings and weekends.
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Your skills in spoken English will benefit greatly from being surrounded by English speakers, giving you a choice of countries in which to work.
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Note: national occupational standards are being created and you will need to confirm that registration and insurance are available after the successful completion of your course.
You can choose to study at a specialist private college or at an adult education, college of further education or university.
Complementary medicine is currently working towards voluntary regulation and therefore it is important to ensure that any professional training course is meeting the regulatory requirements.
1 What can I study? This information sheet concentrates on the most commonly used therapies available within either the UK’s National Health Service or in private practice. These are: acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage, osteopathy and reflexology. It also gives details of medical herbalism, a complementary medicine discipline with the UK, though this is less frequently offered by the NHS.
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The table below briefly summarises each of the complementary therapies, their current regulatory bodies and the sort of qualifications you would be able to gain. Complementary therapy
Regulatory body
Studying to qualify
Postgraduate
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is moving towards statutory regulation (by 2010) with the establishment of the British Acupuncture Council in 1995. (www.acupuncture.org.uk). This was taken forward by a steering Group that considered both herbal medicine and acupuncture. Individual working groups dealing with acupuncture (Western, Eastern and auricular), traditional Chinese medicine and herbal medicine (Eastern and Western) report to this steering group.
Many short courses at non-degree level do not offer qualifications. However, you can study to become a Licentiate in Acupuncture through a number of courses at degree level. It is important that these courses also offer adequate supervised practise. Shorter courses are also available for those who practise auricular acupuncture only.
Many registered doctors and physiotherapists practise acupuncture as well as their normal medical work. They may not have undertaken the full acupuncture training, and may have specialised in using acupuncture techniques for pain relief.
Most aromatherapy organisations participate in the Aromatherapy Consortium and are working towards voluntary self-regulation. The Aromatherapy Council (www.aromatherapycouncil.co.uk) was established to provide the register of approved practices/practitioners.
There are many courses available. Ensure that the course is recognised to enable registration with the Aromatherapy Council. This means that it meets national occupational standards and you will then be able to practise safely.
Postgraduate courses are available. Ensure that the final qualification is recognised by the Aromatherapy Council.
Most reflexology organisations are part of the Reflexology Forum and are working towards voluntary selfregulation (www.reflexologyforum.org).
There are many courses available. Ensure that the course is recognised to enable registration with the Reflexology Forum. This means that it meet national occupational standards and you will then be able to practise safely.
Postgraduate courses are available. Ensure that the final qualification is recognised by the Reflexology Forum.
Most massage organisations are part of the General Council for Massage Therapy (www.gcmt.org.uk) and are working towards voluntary self-regulation.
There are many courses available. Ensure that the course is recognised to enable registration with the General Council for Massage Therapy. This means that it meets the national occupational standards and you will then be able to practise safely.
Postgraduate courses are available. Ensure that the final qualification is recognised by the General Council for Massage Therapy.
A therapy based on the Eastern philosophy of belief in the flow of energy (Qi) along 14 main circuits (meridians). The acupuncturist’s job is to restore the balance between the meridians by piercing the skin at appropriate points.
Aromatherapy The use of essential oils in massage, inhalation and compresses. These are individually blended for an individual at a specific moment in their life and not pre-blended. Reflexology The use of specific pressure on the reflex points on the sole of the foot or palm of the hand.
Massage The manipulation of soft tissue and muscles on the body using the hands. There is a variety of techniques, including therapeutic, holistic, sports and remedial.
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Chiropractic Chiropractic is a health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical movements, particularly generating from the spine. There is an emphasis on manual treatments, including spinal manipulation or adjustment. X-rays may be taken to assist the clinical diagnosis. Osteopathy This is a system of manipulating the bones and other tissues to relieve pain and tension. A lot of treatment is concerned with manipulation of the spine, joints and soft tissues. Homeopathy The treatment of disease by using minute amounts of substances from plant, mineral and animal sources.
Chiropractors are statutory regulated. The profession is regulated by the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) (www.gcc-uk.org) and anyone describing themselves as a chiropractor has to register with the GCC. It is a criminal offence to describe oneself as any sort of chiropractor without being registered.
There are a number of institutions whose chiropractic courses are recognised by the GCC. They offer degree courses with a variety of attendance options.
Some institutions provide courses leading to postgraduate awards, including higher degrees. It is important that any chiropractic programme is recognised by the General Chiropractic Council to ensure compliance with the regulatory process.
Osteopaths are statutory regulated. By law, you must register with the General Osteopathic Council (GOC) (www.osteopathy.org.uk) before you can practise in the UK. Your qualification must come from an accredited provider to be recognised by the GOC.
There are a number of institutions whose osteopathy courses are recognised by the General Osteopathic Council. These are degree courses with a variety of attendance options – mainly part-time or fulltime. Some are a combination of the two.
Some institutions provide courses leading to postgraduate awards, including higher degrees. It is important that any chiropractic programme is recognised by the General Osteopathic Council to ensure compliance with the regulatory process.
There is a wide variety of courses in homeopathy; however, courses must now reflect the national occupational standards and can be checked by referring to the CORH website.
Postgraduate courses in homeopathy are taught at five centres in the UK and students are encouraged to sit the specialist examinations that lead to the Faculty of Homeopathy’s qualifications: LFHom, MFHom, VetMFHom (for veterinary surgeons) and DFHom (for dentists and pharmacists).
Homeopathy is moving towards voluntary regulation and national occupation standards have been developed by the Council of Organisations Registering Homeopaths (CORH) (www.corh.org.uk).
There are many different ways to use the remedies with the classical (single remedy) being the most common in the UK. It is closely followed by homotoxicology, which is more widely available on the continent. Diagnostic systems offering a complex system (several different remedies) are widely available in the UK.
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Hypnotherapy The use of hypnosis to treat a range of disorders.
Herbalism The use of plant-based remedies to treat a range of conditions. These are normally ingested following a prescription from a fully qualified herbalist.
There are a number of different bodies that support hypnotherapy. While there is currently no single professional registration body, there are discussions taking place on the regulation of practise. There are, however, organisations that may set standards and hold registers of practitioners. The United Kingdom Confederation of Hypnotherapy Organisations (www.ukcho.co.uk) covers many of them.
There are no standard qualifications. Training is very varied and can consist of as little as a brief correspondence course, or as much as a course with stringent requirements for a medical or other academic degree and a sound professional background.
Herbalism is currently moving towards statutory regulation. This is being taken forward by a steering group which is considering both herbal medicine and acupuncture. Individual working groups dealing with acupuncture (Western, Eastern and auricular), traditional Chinese medicine and herbal medicine (Eastern and Western) report to the steering groups.
Courses usually lead to a BSc degree in herbal medicine. Eastern herbal medicine is often taught alongside acupuncture to degree level as it has the same diagnosis technique and is based on traditional Chinese medicine philosophy. In order to qualify as a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, UK (NIMH), practitioners must successfully complete an accredited course of study and then undertake 500 hours of clinical training. The NIMH runs a number of training clinics throughout the UK for this purpose. At the clinics, students practise herbalism in real clinical situations under professional supervision.
The National Institute for Medical Herbalists, UK (NIMH) (www.nimh.org.uk) is the professional body for medical herbalists.
There are a number of short courses offered at post-graduate level for health professionals. These are used to reduce anxiety rather than a more formal treatment method. Universities do not offer any postgraduate courses.
The British Register of Complementary Practitioners (Hypnotherapy Division) has listings of qualified and insured practitioners that are available to enquirers and who work under the Institute for Complementary Medicine approved code of ethics. Postgraduate training is already available for both Western and Eastern herbal medicine and will become more formalised once the statutory regulation is in place.
Skills for Health are working with the whole of the health care sector to develop solutions that deliver a skilled and flexible UK workforce according to the needs of employers www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/page/sector-skills-agreement by developing competency statements www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/tools/view_framework.php?id=111 and emerging national occupational standards.
Complementary Medicine
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Checklist: choosing the right course
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Always check first, in the countries in which you want to work, the qualifications they ask for in order to practise as a complementary therapist or practitioner in any of the disciplines. ‘Therapist’ usually refers to a beautician while ‘practitioner’ refers to someone who undertakes complementary medicine diagnoses – relevant to their discipline – and gives appropriate treatment.
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Decide whether you want to study the subject as an interest, perhaps while you improve your English, or as a profession – this will affect the level and length of course you take.
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If you want to study a discipline taught only through accredited colleges, begin your search with the regulatory body of that discipline (e.g. the General Osteopathy Council) or a multidisciplinary body like the Institute for Complementary Medicine.
A directory of further and higher education courses (local and distance learning) can be found at Learndirect Careers Advice (www.learndirect-advice.co.uk)and these and ad hoc courses and conferences are available from Research & Development Learning (www.rdlearning.org.uk/).
2 Entrance It is not possible to generalise about entrance requirements. If you want to take a degree in complementary medicine, you will be expected to have the same standard of academic achievement as for other science degrees (refer to Choosing your degree course and institution in this series). Check the UCAS website (www.ucas.com) for information about entry requirements. Most institutions will require you to attend an interview. You should check with individual institutions. Some postgraduate courses, especially those at specialist schools rather than universities, are aimed at practising therapists. Again, you should check with the institution for specific entrance requirements.
3 How can I register as a professional? Some therapies have formal, legal registration and others do not (see ‘What can I study?’ above). In addition, from 2008, there are proposals to establish a single regulatory body rather than a series of regulators for each complementary health–care profession. Further information is available from the General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapies (GRCCT): www.grcct.org and the Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health regarding establishing a Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council: www.fih.org.uk/information_library/publications/regulation/a_federal_approch_to.html.
Would a United Kingdom qualification be recognised in other countries? UK degrees are recognised all over the world. But some institutions award their own qualifications, which may not be recognised in some countries. It is vital that you check with the relevant governing bodies in the countries in which you want to work.
How can I ensure my teacher is suitably qualified and experienced? Ask for details from the awarding body for their requirement for registered teachers. Also, at interviews it is quite acceptable to ask how long the tutor has been qualified in the discipline you wish to study.
Complementary Medicine
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4 Next steps Checklist: your next steps •
You should carefully consider whether you want to train as a practitioner in a therapy that is not universally recognised and which may not be adequately regulated or controlled.
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You should contact potential employers in the countries in which you want to work, to find out the qualifications they require.
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Start looking for courses with the regulatory bodies (if there is one for your subject) – they have lists of accredited colleges for their subjects.
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Look at the British Council website www.educationuk.org.
5 What else do I need to know? The regulations for entry into the UK are constantly changing and it is vital that you check the Home Office UK Border Agency website (www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk) on a regular basis and check locally with your British Mission so you are aware of how UK immigration procedures will affect you. With the introduction of the new Australian-style points-based-system you will need to keep even more up to date with the new immigration system changes when applying for a visa or work permit. For information on the points-basedsystem go to: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingborders/managingmigration/apointsbasedsystem/ For advice on working in the UK: www.biahomeoffice..gov.uk/workingintheuk. For advice about visas: www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/ For practical advice on living in the UK look at Studying and living in the UK at www.educationuk.org.
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Where can I find more information?
The British Council has produced the Education UK portfolio to provide international students with a wide range of information and guidance that will help them find out more about studying a UK course and other important issues, such as applying to study, entry clearance and living in the UK. The portfolio includes: • • • • •
The Education UK website and a number of country websites containing locally relevant information – www.educationuk.org Your guide to: UK Undergraduate and pre-university*; Postgraduate and MBA* Your guide to: UK universities, colleges and schools handbook* Club UK magazines*, also available online at www.educationuk.org/clubuk Postgraduate UK magazine*
* The publications are available at a selected number of British Council offices for students to use. The Education UK websites are a valuable source of information, with a database of over 450,000 courses and profiles of institutions that contain details of entry requirements and course fees; some offer a virtual tour of their campus.
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Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL52 3LZ Telephone +44 (0)87 0112 2211 (international callers) +44 (0)12 4222 2444 (switchboard) +44 (0)87 1468 0471 (UCAS card enquiries) E-mail enquiries@ucas.ac.uk www.ucas.com
Learndirect Careers Advice Dearing House 1 Young Street Sheffield S1 4UP Telephone +44 (0)80 0100 900 www.learndirect-advice.co.uk The website has an e-mail form facility and details of support in other languages.
British Acupuncture Council 63 Jeddo Road London W12 9HQ
General Chiropractic Council 44 Wicklow Street London WC1X 9HL
Telephone +44 (0)20 8735 0400 Fax +44 (0)20 8735 0404 E-mail info@acupuncture.org.uk www.acupuncture.org.uk
Telephone +44 (0)20 7713 5155 Fax +44 (0)20 7713 5844 E-mail enquiries@gcc-uk.org www.gcc-uk.org
Faculty of Homeopathy (British Homeopathic Association) Hahnemann House 29 Park Street West Luton LU1 3BE
The Reflexology Forum Dalton House 60 Windsor Avenue London SW19 2RR
Telephone +44 (0)87 0444 3950 Fax +44 (0)87 0444 3960 www.trusthomeopathy.org/faculty/fac_over.html British Register of Complementary PractitionersHomeopathic Division PO Box 194 London SE16 7QZ Telephone +44 (0)20 7237 5165 Fax +44 (0)20 7237 5175 www.i-c-m.org.uk
Telephone +44 (0)80 0037 0130 www.reflexologyforum.org
General Council for Massage Therapy 27 Old Gloucester Street London WC1N 3XX Telephone +44 (0)87 0850 4452 E-mail gcmt@btconnect.com www.gcmt.org.uk
Society of Homeopaths 11 Brookfield Duncan Close Moulton Park Northampton NN3 6WL
Aromatherapy Council PO Box 6522 Desborough Kettering Northamptonshire NN14 2YX
Telephone +44 (0)84 5450 6611 Fax +44 (0)84 5450 6622 E-mail info@homeopathy-soh.org www.homeopathy-soh.com
Telephone +44 (0)87 0774 3477 Fax +44 (0)87 0774 3477 E-mail info@aromatherapycouncil.co.uk www.aromatherapycouncil.co.uk
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Council of Organisations Registering Homeopaths Secretariat Peter Mitchell Oakwood House 11 Wingle Tye Road Burgess Hill West Sussex RH15 9HR Telephone +44 (0)14 4423 9494 Fax +44 (0)14 4423 6848 E-mail admin@corh.org.uk www.corh.org.uk National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) Elm House 54 Mary Arches Street Exeter EX4 3BA Telephone +44 (0)13 9242 6022 Fax +44 (0)13 9249 8963 E-mail nimh@ukexeter.freeserve.co.uk www.nimh.org.uk
General Osteopathic Council 776 Tower Bridge Road London SW1 3LU Telephone +44 (0)20 7357 6655 Fax +44 (0)20 7357 0011 E-mail info@osteopathy.org.uk www.osteopathy.org.uk
British Register of Complementary Practitioners (BRCP) (administered by the Institute for Complementary Medicine (ICM)) Unit 25, Tavern Quay Business Centre Sweden Gate London SE16 7TX Telephone +44 (0)20 7231 5855 Fax +44 (0)20 7237 5175 E-mail info@i-c-m.org.uk www.i-c-m.org.uk
The General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapies Box 437 Office 6, Slington House Rankine Road Basingstoke RG24 8PH Telephone +44 (0)87 0314 4031 Fax +44 (0)87 0879 4045 E-mail admin@GRCCT.org www.grcct.org Skills for Health 2nd Floor, Goldsmiths House Broad Plain Bristol BS2 0JP Telephone +44 (0)11 7922 1155 Fax +44 (0)11 7925 1800 E-mail office@skillsforhealth.org.uk www.skillsforhealth.org.uk
National Register of Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists (NRHP) Suite B, 12 Cross Street Nelson Lancashire BB9 7EN
The British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis (BSCAH)
Telephone +44 (0)12 8271 6839 Fax +44 (0)12 8269 8633 E-mail nrhp@btconnect.com www.nrhp.co.uk
National Office 28 Dale Park Gardens Cookridge Leeds LS16 7PT
(incorporating British Society of Medical and Dental Hypnosis (BSMDH) and British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis (BSECH))
Telephone +44 (0)84 4884 3116 Fax +44 (0)84 4884 3116 www.bscah.com Unistats The official website to help you compare subjects at universities and colleges in the UK. www.unistats.com
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While every effort has been made to ensure that the information given here is correct and up to date, the British Council accepts no legal liability for its accuracy, currency or completeness.
May 2008 Š British Council 2008 The United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland).
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