How to check a practitioner's training before booking

You've found someone offering aromatherapy who seems promising, but how do you actually verify they know what they're doing? It's easy to feel reassured by a nice website or friendly phone manner, yet that tells you nothing about whether they've trained properly. This guide walks you through the concrete steps to check credentials before you book.

Searching registers and asking for proof

Start by asking the practitioner directly: "What training have you completed and with which organisation?" A confident, trained aromatherapist will give you a specific name — often bodies like the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (IFPA), the Aromatherapy Trade Council (ATC), or South African-based training providers. Write down the organisation name and ask them to confirm their registration or membership number.

Once you have that, ask for permission to verify. Most registers are searchable online; you can cross-check the practitioner's name against the register to confirm they're listed and that their membership is current. If they seem reluctant to share this information or brush off the question, that's a red flag. Legitimate practitioners expect this question and have no issue with you checking.

While you're at it, ask whether they hold any current first aid or CPR certification. This isn't a legal requirement for aromatherapy, but it shows they take safety seriously — valuable if they're working with vulnerable clients or if anything unexpected happens during a session.

You can also ask about continuing education. Have they done any courses in the past two or three years? Aromatherapy knowledge evolves, and ongoing training shows they're keeping their practice current. They don't need to list every course, but they should be able to mention at least one recent workshop or module.

What to ask their previous clients

Request the contact details of at least two people who've had aromatherapy sessions with them — ideally people with similar needs to yours. Call or message them directly and ask: "Did you feel they knew their oils and blending well?" and "Did they explain what they were doing and why?" Listen for whether their previous clients felt informed and confident in the practitioner's knowledge.

You can also ask a previous client: "Did they ask you about allergies, medications or health conditions at the start?" A trained aromatherapist will always gather this information because essential oils can interact with medications and certain conditions require caution or specialised application. If someone just launches into a massage without asking questions, they're skipping a fundamental safety step.

If the practitioner is unwilling to give you client references, question why. Most practitioners are happy to do so and understand it's standard due diligence.

Another angle: ask the practitioner themselves about cases where they've had to decline working with someone or modify their approach. A professional will have examples — someone on blood thinners, a pregnant client requiring adjusted oil choices, or someone with extreme sensitivities. If they say "I've never had to turn anyone away," they may not be thinking critically about safety and contraindications.

One more check

Before booking, have a conversation about their approach to health claims. Ask something like: "What conditions do you work with, and what would you expect to happen in a session?" A trained practitioner will be honest — they might say aromatherapy can support relaxation or general wellbeing, but they won't claim to cure specific medical conditions or promise they'll fix your anxiety or pain permanently. Listen carefully to how they frame what aromatherapy can do. Overclaiming is often a sign someone hasn't had rigorous training.

Once you're satisfied with what you've learned, use Strove to book with confidence: you can see practitioner profiles, read verified reviews from other clients, and check their Strove rating before you commit. You've already done the detective work; now you're armed with real information to make a choice.