Duties and responsibilities
Aromatherapists use plant essential oils for therapeutic purposes. Aromatherapy is used to promote physical and emotional wellbeing. The typical duties and responsibilities of an aromatherapist include:
- Undertaking client consultations
- Identifying the appropriate essential oils for the clients needs
- Creating treatment plans for the client and explaining this plan to them
- Applying essential oils through massage
- Making referrals to GPs, specialists and other healthcare practitioners
- Keeping accurate and up-to-date client records
- Keeping up to date with research and new developments in aromatherapy
Qualifications
A high school diploma is typically required to apply to aromatherapy programs. To become a qualified aromatherapist, you will need to complete a program at an NAHA and AIA approved school. Most of these programs require you to complete over 200 hours of aromatherapy coursework, write a research paper, submit a number of case studies, complete an anatomy and physiology class and pass a final exam.
Skills and relevant work experience
As well as the above educational requirements, aromatherapists will need skills such as:
- Written and verbal communication skills, as aromatherapists will need to communicate with patients and keep reports up to date
- Time management skills, as aromatherapists are likely to have a packed schedule that the must adhere to
- Research skills, as aromatherapists will need to keep up to date with trends in the industry
- Sales skills, as aromatherapists will need to sell their products to their clients
- Physical fitness, as aromatherapists need to be able to keep up with the demands of the job (e.g., standing up or bending over for long periods of time)
- Problem solving skills as aromatherapists will need to find ways to treat a wide range of issues using essential oils
Hours
Many aromatherapists hours will vary each week because therapists work by appointment in most cases. Moreover, because of the strength and endurance needed to give a massage, many therapists cannot perform massage services 8 hours per day, 5 days per week.
Salary
According to salaryexplorer.com, the average annual salary for an aromatherapist in the United States is around $103,000. At the lower end, aromatherapists can expect to earn around $51,300 and at the higher end, aromatherapists can earn around $159,000.
Progression
Job opportunities for all types of massage therapists are expected to be in abundance over the coming years. This is because more states are regulating massage therapists, and therefore more people are seeing them as effective ways to manage and treat pain. Aromatherapists can progress to becoming self-employed, which gives them more control and flexibility. They may decide to set up their own business, where they will have other aromatherapists working below them.