Because the practice of aromatherapy may be incorporated into numerous other professions, there are many ways to enter the field.
How you enter depends on how you want to use aromatherapy. Is your interest in massage therapy, skin care, or hair care? Do you want to be a nurse, doctor, acupuncturist, or chiropractor? Are you interested in becoming an instructor or writer? Once you are certi-fied in another area, you need to search for clinics, salons, spas, and other establishments that are looking for professionals who use aromatherapy in their treatments. School career services offices are also ways to find work. Classified ads in newspapers and trade magazines list positions in the related fields.
Networking can be an important source of job opportunities.
Networking is simply getting to know others and exchanging ideas with them. Go to association meetings and conventions. Talk to peo-ple in the field. Job openings are often posted at such gatherings.
aDvaNCeMeNt
Aromatherapists can advance to many different levels, depending on their goals and willingness to work. Those who are self-employed can increase their clientele and open their own offices or even a salon. Those who are employed at a spa or salon could become a Aromatherapists
department director or the director of the entire spa or salon. They might start a private practice or open a spa or salon.
As their skills and knowledge grow, aromatherapists may be sought after to teach and train other aromatherapists in seminars or at schools that offer aromatherapy programs or courses. Others become consultants or write books and articles. A few start their own aromatherapy product lines of esthetic or therapeutic prod-ucts. Some may become involved in growing the plants that are the sources of essential oils. Still others work in distilling, analyzing, or blending the oils.
This new field is growing so rapidly that the potential for advance-ment is enormous. The field has so many facets that the directions for growth are as great as your imagination and determination. A public relations representative from the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy says, “If you are self-motivated, creative, and have a talent for any aspect of aromatherapy, the sky is the limit. It is what you make it.”
earNiNGs
Since aromatherapists work in such a variety of settings, and aro-matherapy is often a supplementary therapy added to other profes-sional training, it is particularly difficult to make statements about average earnings in the field. Government agencies do not yet have wage statistics for the field. The national professional associations have not yet developed surveys of their members that give reliable information.
For those who are self-employed in any profession, earnings depend on the amount of time they work and the amount they charge per hour. Experienced professional aromatherapists estimate that hourly rates can range from $25 to $65 for beginning aromatherapists and instructors. Rates increase with experience to between $75 and $100 per hour. Based on those rates, a beginning aromatherapist who charges $25 an hour and averages 10 appointments per week will earn around $13,000. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in 2007 the median annual salary for people engaged in personal care and service occupations (the category aromatherapy would fall into) was $19,760, with the bottom 10 percent earning $14,190 or less per year and the top 10 percent $38,990 or more. Established aromatherapists who have a solid client base report earning $25,000 to $45,000.
The hourly rate an aromatherapist charges depends on his or her level of expertise, the type of clientele served, and even the area of the country. In many of the larger cities and much of the West
Coast, people are already more aware and accepting of alternative health therapies. In those areas, higher hourly rates will be more accepted. Where such therapies are practically unknown, lower rates will apply. Another consideration for the self-employed is that they must provide their own insurance and retirement plans and pay for their supplies and other business expenses.
An aromatherapist with determination, creativity, and initia-tive can find jobs that pay well. Some who run exclusive spas or develop their own lines of aromatherapy products are reported to earn $70,000 to $80,000 or more.
Aromatherapists who are primarily employed in other profes-sions, such as massage therapists, chiropractors, cosmetologists, and nurses, can expect to make the salaries that are average for their pro-fession. Those professionals who use aromatherapy as a supportive therapy to their primary profession tend to have higher incomes than those who specialize in aromatherapy. The addition of aromatherapy to their profession will probably enhance their clients’ and their own satisfaction, but it may not increase their income.
Self-employed aromatherapists must provide their own benefits, such as health and life insurance and a savings and pension plan.
wOrk eNvirONMeNt
Aromatherapists work in a service-oriented environment, in which the main duty involves understanding and helping their clients. The surroundings are usually clean, peaceful, and pleasant. They work with very potent substances (strong essential oils), but most aroma-therapists love the scents and the experience of the oils. They often spend a great deal of time on their feet. They sometimes work long or inconsistent hours, such as weekends and evenings, to accommo-date their clients’ needs.
Aromatherapists are people-oriented. Those who are self-employed must be highly motivated and able to work alone. Aromatherapists who work in clinics, spas, hospitals, resorts, and other locations need to be able to work well with others.
OutLOOk
Aromatherapy has been growing very rapidly and is gathering steam in the United States. Opportunities are increasing rapidly as public awareness of alternative therapies is increasing.
The status of aromatherapy in European and other countries may provide a glimpse of the future of the field in the United States. In Great Britain and France, for example, more doctors have embraced Aromatherapists
aromatherapy, and these services are covered by major health plans.
If the United States follows this lead, new doors will open in this field. In general, the outlook is very good for aromatherapy because of an overwhelming increase in public awareness and interest.
FOr MOre iNFOrMatiON
For information regarding state regulations for massage therapists and general information on therapeutic massage, contact
American Massage Therapy Association 500 Davis Street, Suite 900
Evanston, IL 60201-4695 Tel: 877-905-2700
Email: [email protected] http://www.amtamassage.org
For information on registration, contact Aromatherapy Registration Council 5940 SW Hood Avenue
Portland, OR 97039-3719 Tel: 503-244-0726
Email: [email protected] http://www.aromatherapycouncil.org
The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy has developed guidelines for aromatherapy training. See its Web site for a listing of schools in compliance with these guidelines.
National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy 3327 West Indian Trail Road, PMB 144
Spokane, WA 99208-4762 Tel: 509-325-3419
Email: [email protected] http://www.naha.org
For general information about aromatherapy and education options, visit the following Web site:
AromaWeb
http://www.aromaweb.com
Overview
Ayurvedic doctors and practitioners use theories and techniques developed thousands of years ago in India to bring people into physical, mental, emo-tional, and spiritual balance, thereby maintaining health, curing diseases, and promoting happiness and fulfill-ment. In the West, where Ayurveda is not an officially accepted and licensed form of medicine, only licensed medi-cal doctors who are also thoroughly trained in Ayurveda can legally practice Ayurvedic medicine. These individuals are referred to as Ayurvedic doctors.
Licensed practitioners of paramedi-cal professions, such as nutritionists, psychologists, naturopaths, massage therapists, and acupuncturists, may be called Ayurvedic practitioners if they are also trained in Ayurveda and use Ayurvedic techniques in their pro-fessional work. Any non-M.D. who practices the full range of Ayurvedic medicine in the West, however, is seen as practicing medicine without a license, which is illegal.
HistOry
The Vedas, which may be up to 5,000 years old, are the oldest and most important scriptures of Hinduism, which is the primary religion in India.
The Sanskrit word veda means “knowledge,” and the Vedas contain the knowledge and beliefs on which Hinduism is based. The Athar-vaveda—the Veda that deals primarily with the practical aspects of life—contains chants, rites, and spells that are thought to enable
quick facts
school subjects Biology
Chemistry Health Personal skills
Communication/ideas Helping/teaching work environment
Primarily indoors Primarily one location Minimum education Level
Medical degree salary range
$20,000 to $60,000 to
$150,000+
Certification or Licensing Recommended
Outlook
Faster than the average DOtN/A
GOeN/A NOCN/A O*Net-sOC
N/A