6 Comprehensive Modules
275 Tutor Guided Study Hours
450 Self-Study Hours
The most comprehensive clinical aromatherapy course available.
Equivalent to the UK National Higher Education Level: 5 - 6.
International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA)
Professional Standards Authority (UK Parliament & NHS Referral)
This complete course includes Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology, and also Business Studies. No additional modules are required.
Our clinical aromatherapy course, the IFA-accredited Professional Essential Oil Therapy (PEOT) Diploma, is designed to develop in-depth knowledge of aromatherapy and the clinical application of essential oils. This advanced aromatherapy course provides learners the skills to deliver therapeutic treatments in a clinical setting and create bespoke aromatherapeutic products for clients.
Created by experienced specialists, this is the most comprehensive clinical aromatherapy course currently available. It enables students to work confidently with 90 essential oils and 34 carrier oils, exploring how scent can help support emotional and mental well-being, especially in psychosomatic conditions.
The aromatherapy course provides high-level training in the use of natural ingredients, formulation techniques, and safety considerations. Students will learn how to make various aromatherapeutic remedies, including creams, gels, balms, and foaming products. The course also explores base ingredients to avoid and how to adapt formulations to individual client needs.
By thoroughly understanding the therapeutic properties and application methods of each essential oil, graduates of this clinical aromatherapy course will be fully equipped to offer tailored, prescriptive treatments through olfactory and topical use of essential oils.
Please note: Places on our courses are limited to ensure we can provide dedicated support and resources to each student. As such, we reserve the right to close enrolment early to maintain the quality of service for those already registered for the upcoming term.
Our IFA-accredited Professional Essential Oils Therapy Diploma is suitable for those with an existing healthcare qualification or Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This course is aimed at natural product designers and those who want to incorporate essential oils and therapeutic skincare into various clinical contexts for a multi-discipline approach.
It also provides a progression route for qualified massage therapists who have already completed aromatherapy courses and are now looking to expand their knowledge to clinical aromatherapy and the applications of essential oils.
This internationally recognised qualification is designed to lead to employment in a variety of roles, including product development and consultancy work, complementary therapy clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, hospices, special care units, and private, professional practice, or to enhance the current services you provide for a multi-discipline approach.
This qualification automatically entitles you to apply for PEOT membership with the International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA). Setting the gold standard for aromatherapy, the IFA has been the oldest and largest professional body for aromatherapists since 1985. They are the first recognised governing body in the UK, representing professional and clinical aromatherapists worldwide.
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) for Health and Social Care is an independent body accountable to the UK Parliament and is referred to by the NHS. For those who wish to take on NHS referrals when qualified, healthcare practitioners must have quality assurances when choosing the services of an aromatherapist for patient care. Professional Standards Authority accreditation of the IFA aromatherapists register provides an external assurance that IFA-registered aromatherapists meet the required high standards.
‘Due to the increase in awareness of the dangers of self-governing bodies setting their own standards of aromatherapy training, and some insurance companies selling policies to those who have completed in some cases only a few hours of training, combined together with the expanding reach of ‘Multi-Level-Marketing’ companies who some of which advocate the internal use of essential oils; it is becoming increasingly likely that only qualified aromatherapists who belong to a Professional Standards Authority (PSA) regulated register will be able to work within the NHS in the future.’
This professional-level aromatherapy qualification was created and is regulated by the IFA and is recognised by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). As a specialist clinical aromatherapy training provider, we have been approved by the IFA to deliver the PEOT course by successfully meeting their rigorous approval process, demonstrating our commitment to offering learners a high standard of training.
As part of our PEOT clinical aromatherapy Diploma course, we have included key lessons from our making natural skincare courses (Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation NSF) teaching you how to formulate skin care products across the four core cosmetic skincare product families including emulsions, anhydrous formulas, gels, and surfactant-based products, as well as extending your learning into advanced formulating techniques and performance ingredients.
The products that you will learn about are tailored for clinical aromatherapy applications and include all aspects of skincare formulation and product manufacture, teaching you the necessary skills required to know and understand the use of essential oil in your own natural & organic skincare products that are suitable for personal use, and for the skin wellbeing of your therapy clients.
Ideally, learners should hold a professional qualification in one of the following to be eligible to enrol on this advanced level course. Please note this list is not exhaustive:
Acupuncture, Aesthetics, Aromatherapy (Minimum Level 3), Biomedical, Chiropractic, Counselling, Herbalism, Homeopathy, Massage, Nutrition, Registered nurse, Osteopathy, Perfumery, Pharmacy, Psychotherapy, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Reiki, Reflexology.
To ensure that this is the right course for you, during the application process, we will ask you about any prior learning, current qualifications, and any experience you may have. If you don’t currently hold a professional health care practitioner or complementary therapies qualification, then ideally, you will have a degree-level qualification, although this is not essential, as any equivalent qualifications and/or experience will be considered.
The course is taught from the IFA PEOT Aromatherapy Diploma syllabus, which has clear aims and learning outcomes for each unit contained within a module which incorporates the National Occupational Standards (NOS), Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and surpasses the Aromatherapy Core Curriculum requirements. The syllabus also provides sample examination questions at the end of each unit.
The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) provides a structure for all qualification levels. This qualification is pitched at Higher Education Levels 5-6 and equates to 37 or more credits. The credit value represents the depth and breadth of the teaching and learning content and the time reasonably expected to be consumed in the delivery, study, research, revision and completion of tasks and assignments.
Learners must demonstrate their understanding through formative and summative assessments to attain the IFA PEOT Diploma qualification. Each learner is required to submit coursework at the end of each unit, which provides evidence of the learners’ progress and understanding. On completion of the course, learners are required to illustrate their knowledge by undertaking the IFA external theoretical and practical examinations.
All compulsory assignments below are assessed and verified by your principal tutor before being presented to the IFA Quality Assurance Assessor at the practical examination, which will be externally graded. Learners will present their coursework in a portfolio. The portfolio will also include the learners’ own course notes, completed internal assessments, and assignments set by their tutor to measure performance, as well as any other evidence of other related training and qualifications.
To be awarded the IFA Professional Essential Oils Therapy Diploma qualification, learners must successfully complete the IFA external examinations. Before entering the IFA examinations, the learner must have completed all the compulsory coursework components, as prescribed above, successfully passed the internal mock examinations set by your tutor, and have a minimum attendance record of 80%.
There are 3 examinations for this qualification:
Essential Oils Therapy Examination Paper – 2 hours
Anatomy & Physiology Examination Paper – 1 hour (exemptions may apply due to your current qualifications.)
Practical Elements Assessment – (includes a sampling of 5 aromatherapeutic remedies, interview and review of coursework)
Some other aromatherapy courses do not include Anatomy & Physiology, and Business Studies, but these modules are included in the PEOT course. Upon completion, you don’t need to take any other courses or additional modules for full IFA membership.
We have also included a complete module on aromatherapeutic skincare formulations, which teaches you how to create your own topical skincare products without relying on purchasing pre-brought base products.
Our IFA-accredited Professional Essential Oils Therapy aromatherapy Diploma course will give you the skills and knowledge to become a clinical aromatherapist. Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a qualification in clinical aromatherapy that will allow you to apply for insurance to run your own professional practice and will also allow you to offer your aromatherapy services to NHS referral patients.
Yes, we deliver our PEOT Aromatherapy Diploma course online. Distance learning courses are an excellent way to study aromatherapy whilst balancing other commitments. Our distance learning courses come with 100% tutor support via video-link and webinars to guide you through your course. We also invite PEOT Aromatherapy Diploma students to attend live practical CPD courses, workshops, and seminars via livestream on our Purodem Academy members’ platform and in person at our UK-based venue.
Clinical aromatherapy courses tend to be approximately 2 years in length. We aim for learners to have completed their coursework by 18 months through the course, leaving the remaining 6 months to complete case studies and the business studies modules and prepare for their final assessments.
Unfortunately, we don’t offer short courses in clinical aromatherapy. The only way to become a professional clinical aromatherapist is to enrol in a professional aromatherapy course (such as our PEOT course) to learn the skills and understand the knowledge required. A short course does not allow the time to do this effectively.
The PEOT examinations are moderated externally by the IFA to maintain confidence in our training standards. Once you have completed your coursework and your tutor is satisfied that you are ready to proceed, we will enter you for your exam. This will occur online via Zoom, with an IFA exam invigilator in attendance.
The cost of the Professional Essential Oils Therapy (PEOT) Diploma course is £2495.00.
Unlike other clinical aromatherapy course offerings, we include all course modules, including Anatomy & Physiology and Business Studies, in the cost of the PEOT Clinical Aromatherapy Course.
For those who want to spread the cost of the PEOT course, we offer the following payment plan option to spread the cost to 6 payments:
To apply to enrol on the PEOT Clinical Aromatherapy Diploma Course, please fill out all fields in the form below:
