ITEC Level 3 Diploma in Aromatherapy

Course details

What will I learn?

• To have the fundamental knowledge of Anatomy & Physiology (refer to A&P brochure)
• provide knowledge of history, development and definition of Aromatherap
• guiding students towards Holistic Approach and awareness of Integral Biology
• to provide knowledge of essential oils – botanical name, scent, part of plant used for extraction, methods of extraction, toxicity and safety precautions, therapeutic effects, chemistry compounds in the essential oils, quality and adulteration of essential oils
• to understand the physiological and psychological effect of essential oils on our body systems
• enable students to combine Aromatherapy massage with essential oils to provide Aromatherapy treatments for relaxation, common ailments, distress etc
• equip students with blending techniques, selecting the right oils and dosage for maximum result
• understanding of appropriate legislation applicable to aromatherapy treatment, observe contraindications and precautions in aromatherapy practice
• the correct storage methods
• enable students to diagnose problems/condition with proper consultation and give home care advice according

Course contents:

• Anatomy & Physiology - refer to A&P broacher
• Introduction to college and ITEC rules and regulation, health and safety
• History, development and definition of Aromatherapy
• The holistic approach and integral biology, how they can affect our lifestyle and wellbeing

Knowledge of essential oils (more than 30 oils are thought in depth)

• botanical/latin names and family
• parts of plant used for extraction
• extraction methods, advantages and disadvantages
• history and country of origin
• volatility, notes of essential oil and how they work
• chemical compounds found in essential oil and how they affect the properties of the essential oil
• properties of essential oils
• toxicity and safety precautions
• familiar with the scent by training the nose to identify inpidual oil

Chemistry – understand the structure of the chemical compounds found in essential oils and how they contribute to the scent, therapeutic effects of inpidual oil

Quality and adulteration of essential oil - importance of using quality oil for best result

The Art of Blending – explain the importance of blending for optimal result, selection of correct oils and dosage for each condition

Knowledge of carrier/base oil and macerated oil – botanical name, country of origin, extraction method, properties and therapeutic effects, advantages and disadvantages

Importance of consultation, consultation procedure, importance of referral procedures

Olfactory system and the skin – the routes for essential oils to enter the body

The physiological and psychological effect of essential oils on our body systems – body, mind and spirit

Methods of application: topical application, inhalation and ingestion – by massage, various types of bath(foot bath, long bath etc), hot/cold compress, vapourising etc

Aromatherapy massage techniques

Aromatherapy treatments – purpose of massage, the effects of treatment, evaluate and review of treatment/programme, possible reaction to aromatherapy treatment

The right method of storing the oils

Understand the appropriate legislation applicable to aromatherapy treatment and issue surrounding ‘consent’

After treatment and home care advice

Business Awareness

• Types of business, advantages and disadvantages of each type of business,
• Acts and legal entities, all types of regulations in relation to health and safety, data protection act, supply of goods and services act, consumer protection act, trades description act, disability discrimination act, how to carry out a risk assessment, licensing laws involved with establishing a business, purpose of a contract, the basic security implications of the establishment relating to
• Finance and costing, the accounting systems required when running a business, advantages and disadvantages of employing staff, the importance of developing and maintaining a good stock control system, the basic principle of selling, how to cost a treatment, benefits of offering courses of treatments
• Advertising and promotion, how to plan the interior of a treatment room, importance of maintaining good working relationships, importance of providing a retail service, basic principle of selling, the role of the receptionist, the main forms of advertising and advantages and disadvantages of each method, how to plan a talk/demonstration, the benefits of offering courses of treatments

Professional Conduct

• Professionalism - points related to beauty/complementary or sport therapy, the appropriate professional appearance of the therapist
• Importance of keeping accurate client records, effective client communication, how to deal with negative feedback, effective questioning techniques, appropriate body language, importance of completing each treatment in a commercially acceptable time, 'statutory regulation' and its effects on a practicing therapist
• Ethics - maintain a professional working relationship with other student/therapist, build up a rapport with other therapist, necessity of having professional indemnity insurance, the need to ensure strict client confidentiality at all time, reason why conversation should be ethical and client led, concept of a 'code of ethics' and its importance
• Consultation and contraindications – design a consultation card relevant to the treatment, list contraindications relevant to each treatment in the appropriate unit, keeping accurate client records
• Health & safety – contents of a First Aid box, accident book, how to administrate First Aid for various conditions e.g. fainting, bleeding, burns etc; demonstrate how to put client into the recovery position, when and how to call for medical assistance, how to supervise an evacuation, types of fire-fighting equipment required in a salon and how to carry out basic safety checks for electrical equipment
• Hygiene – types of infection, methods of sterilization /sanitization available relevant to the treatment, advantages and disadvantage of each, importance of personal hygiene, salon hygiene methods, all aspects of waste disposal for salon, importance of being aware of blood transmitted diseases