5 Mar 2025 ● Harmonia Careers
Complementary Health Professions: What are the regulations?
What is a complementary health professional?
A complementary health professional practices complementary medicine, alternative therapy, alternative medicine, holistic therapy and traditional medicine.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is treatment that falls outside of mainstream healthcare. These treatments range from acupuncture and homeopathy, aromatherapy and massage therapy, to meditation and hypnotherapy.
Although 'complementary and alternative' is often used as used together, it can be useful to make a distinction between the terms.
The NHS recommends this definition from The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH):
When a non-mainstream practice is used together with conventional medicine, it's considered 'complementary'. When a non-mainstream practice is used instead of conventional medicine, it's considered 'alternative'.
Are any CAM professions regulated by law?
Yes, both chiropractic and osteopathy is subject to statutory regulation.
Regulated professionals
General Osteopathic Council (GOsC)
Osteopathy is regulated by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). The occupation 'osteopath' is a protected title and it's illegal to claim to be an osteopath if you're not registered with the GOsC.
General Chiropractic Council (GCC)
Chiropractic is regulated by the General Chiropractic Council (GCC). The occupation 'chiropractor' is a protected title and it's illegal to claim to be an chiropractor if you're not registered with the GCC.
PSA Accredited Registers
Most occupations in complementary and alternative wellbeing are not regulated by UK law. However, there are many independent professional associations, federal regulators and organisational bodies, that work tirelessly to maintain standards across the industries.
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) accredits organisations that hold registers of complementary health and care practitioners not regulated by law to give the public confidence in their services.
Being professionally registered and listed on an accredited register serves as a formal recognition of your qualifications and competence in the field, providing assurance to your clients, future employers, and regulatory bodies that you adhere to established standards of practice.
British Acupuncture Council (BAcC)
The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) is a self-regulatory body for the practice of traditional acupuncture in the UK. The BAcC register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. Membership is available to anyone studying on, or qualified from, a BAAB accredited course.
- Acupuncture
British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT)
BASRaT is the UK regulator and professional association that registers practitioners working in the field of sports and exercise based injury prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The BASRaT register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
- Sport Rehabilitators
Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)
The independent UK regulator for complementary healthcare practitioners. Practitioners of one or more of the below disciplines can apply to the CNHC register has been approved as an Accredited Register by the Professional Standards Authority.
- Alexander Technique teaching
- Aromatherapy
- Bowen Therapy
- Colon Hydrotherapy
- Craniosacral Therapy
- Healing
- Hypnotherapy
- Kinesiology
- Massage Therapy
- Microsystems Acupuncture
- Naturopathy
- Nutritional Therapy
- Reflexology
- Reiki
- Shiatsu
- Sports Massage
- Sports Therapy
- Yoga Therapy
International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA)
The IFA was established primarily to protect the public and aims to advance the knowledge, practice of, and expertise in, aromatherapy by education, teaching and training. The IFA register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
- Aromatherapy
National Hypnotherapy Society
The National Hypnotherapy Society holds the first and only current hypnotherapy register to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. Hypnotherapists on the register will be able to display the Accredited Register quality mark, as a sign that they belong to a register which meets the Authority's rigorous standards.
- Hypnotherapy
The General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapies (GRCCT)
The GRRCT promotes and enforces high standards of education, performance, and conduct amongst practitioners of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Although the GRCCT national register isn't accredited by the PSA, it is an independent federal regulator so may want to join if this suits your specific therapy and professional goals.
Admission to the GRCCT National Register
You will be eligible to apply if you are a member of one of the following organisations
Looking for something else?
Regulated Professions
Accredited Registers for Wellness Professionals
Accredited Registers for Mental Health Professionals
