CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Who can benefit from taking the IIA Certificate Program?

The course is available to the individual who wishes to use essential oils for natural health care as well as aspiring students who wish to build a career with Aromatherapy.

However, the course was designed for Nurses, Massage Therapists and other licensed health care practitioners who want to integrate essential oil therapy into their healing professions.

The following fields of practice are representative of areas benefiting from a professional training in this field:

• Holistic Practitioner
  
• Aroma practitioner and educator
  
• Day spa and retreat center owner
  
• Aromatherapy and herbal retailer
  
• Perfumers
  
• Developers of natural products

Participants of the program will learn multi-disciplinary methods to optimize holistic healing with essential oils and herbs as well as the basics in vibrational healing. The certified graduate will come away with many holistic and integrative skills to nurture, comfort and heal themselves, as well as their clients and family.

This all-inclusive Certificate Program comes complete with all you will need for your independent study and at-home blending practicums:

• Three Aromatherapy resource books
  ----1. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, S. Battaglia, 2003.
  ----2. Aromatherapy: Soothing Remedies to Restore, Rejuvenate, and Heal, V. Cooksley, 2002.
  ----3. Natural Home Health Care Using Essential Oils, D. Penoel, MD, 1998.
  
• Two (2) volume comprehensive training manual (400+ pages)
  
• 50 essential oil in 0.5 and l ml samples
  
• Carriers (specialty oils, lotion, bath salts, French clay, aloe vera)
  
• Assortment of blending supplies (bottles, inhaler, mister, pipettes, scent strips, labels)
  
• All forms and outlines needed to complete independent work and use in subsequent consultation and practice
  
• Nursing and Massage Therapy contact hours
  
• Diploma certificate
  
• Qualification for liability insurance through the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) for an office-based aromatherapy practice

Integrative Aromatherapy Course Content
Reading assignments and home blending practicums are from three primary textbooks included in the course as well as the two spiral-bound program manuals.

• Essential oil material medica and pharmacology: botany, extraction, chemical constituents, properties
  
• Scientific case study methodology: client intake consultation, intervention development and application, evaluation of outcome
  
• Safety in-use: contraindications, sensitization, special populations
  
• Therapeutic process: A body systems approach to essential oil administration
  -----Circulatory system Musculoskeletal system
  -----Digestive system Nervous system
  -----Endocrine system Olfactory system
  -----Integumentary system Respiratory system
  -----Lymphatic system
  
• Psycho-emotional imbalances
  
• Special care populations
  
• Blending theories and practice: therapeutics, perfumery, sacred blending
  
• Intervention guideline development
  
• Multi-cultural history of aromatics
  
• New paradigms in healing and integrative lifestyle philosophy
  
• Professionalism and ethics: documentation, practitioner norms
  
• Research process: scientific and non-experimental approach
  
• Successful business strategies

The following elemental topics are included in this program and set it apart from other programs being offered:

• Principles of Integrative Aromatherapy
  
• Integrative medicine and holistic practitioner norms and ethics
  
• Ethno-botany origins of medicine and aroma-chemistry
  
• Anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system
  
• New paradigms in healing
  
• Embrocation and Aromatic Comfort Touch™ techniques
  
• Blending theory and at home practicums
  
• Expert nursing faculty

Certificate Program Requirements:
The student is required to fulfill thirty-three different experiential blending at home practicums, ranging from simple skin patch tests and dilution math problems, to formulating a facial blend according to their skin type, a steam inhalation, therapeutic foot soak; blending a first aid aloe vera treatment and creating an Ayurveda blend according to their dosha.

• Twenty case studies (10 basic, 10 advanced)
  
• Two essential oil profiles
  
• Two aromatherapy intervention guidelines
  
• Ten page theme paper, including references
  
• Written home exam (80% pass)

Valerie will be your personal instructor and mentor you throughout the program. She will review your case studies, edit your theme paper and offer helpful commentary and feedback on all your homework assignments to aid your learning process.
She is readily available to answer your questions regarding your studies via email.

Students are expected to complete the course within one year from time of enrollment. Most students will complete the program requirements within six months scheduling eight to ten hours per week of study and home projects.

With the Institute of Integrative Aromatherapy Diploma certificate you may use the initials I.A.C. after your name which designates you as Integrative Aromatherapy Certified.

This course prepares you to take the voluntary national certification exam offered through the Aromatherapy Registration Council (ARC).
See Registration for more information.