The ARC Board has been very busy over the last year with some exciting new things!
As you may have heard, we put a new board in place in October 2023. We gratefully thank our predecessors Dorene Petersen and Mynou DeMay for being the enduring custodians of ARC until their retirement last November. In the last year, Meredith Murdock (Treasurer), Melissa Holman (Secretary), and I (President/Chair) joined Directors Sylla Sheppard-Hanger and Jennifer Wilson as passionate believers of ARC and its mission. This past July, the ARC Board welcomed Jennifer Eden Clark to the Board as our Liaison to Schools. I have to say that we make a tremendous team and with this new energy to the Aromatherapy Registration Council, we implemented many changes.
The first item the new board revisited is the purpose of ARC. Simply, it is to ensure the credibility of practicing aromatherapists. As you know, ARC promotes the delivery of the safe and effective practice of Aromatherapy through the registration of Aromatherapists. By providing a standard testing experience, it is assured that the aromatherapist has a quality level of education. We at ARC aim to secure the sustainability of practicing aromatherapists. Achievement of the Registered Aromatherapist™ (RA) credential demonstrates that the practitioner has met or exceeded the aromatherapy industry’s commitment to safety standards, ethics, and education, thus providing greater credibility to the public and the medical professionals they serve.
The ‘Find a Registered Aromatherapist’ search tool is a resource for consumers, businesses, and healthcare facilities wanting to employ an aromatherapist. That said, we have updated the ‘Find a Registered Aromatherapist’ section on the website and each RA now has the opportunity through their ARC account to set up an expanded profile page to tell consumers and others more about themselves. There is also a box to check in their account that gives us permission to promote their business info on our social media.
The Aromatherapy Registration Council plans to conduct outreach to healthcare facilities and businesses to inform them about ARC and its resources, and to promote the hiring of RAs in their facilities. We also aim to reach out to the public to promote our ‘Find a Registered Aromatherapist’ search tool, to ensure consumers can find a credible RA near them. Being a Registered Aromatherapist allows you an opportunity to become more visible to those who would engage the services of an aromatherapist.
I’m sure you’ve seen a rise in social media sharing from ARC. Jennifer Wilson is doing a fantastic job informing the public and the aromatic community of our activities. If you are not following us, please do! You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn (Icon links are at the bottom of the page).
One of the biggest changes is making the ARC exam accessible to more candidates. While it is highly recommended that you have a membership with at least one of the professional aromatherapy organizations available worldwide, we no longer require exam applicants to be a member of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA) or the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists (NAHA). To be considered, a candidate must have completed a 200-hour aromatherapy program or equivalent. More details can be found on the ARC website (https://aromatherapycouncil.org/eligibility/).
The ARC Registration Examination in Aromatherapy is not just for aromatherapists in the United States. ARC has registered many RAs in other countries as well. The exam is currently available in English, Japanese, and Korean and is open to any qualified aromatherapist worldwide. Additionally, candidates who do not have a testing center near them can opt for a live remote proctored exam. More details can be found on the ARC website.
The Aromatherapy Registration Council has revised its curriculum guidelines. The guidelines can be found on our website by clicking on the “GET EXAM CONTENT OUTLINE” button at: https://aromatherapycouncil.org/test-dates/. The revised guidelines represent current standards in aromatherapy training. These guidelines may be helpful to schools that wish to strengthen their curriculum.
The Board has provided more clarification regarding how Registered Aromatherapists can receive credit for their continuing education. There are more opportunities for those who are unable to travel for classes and conferences. Learn more about the revised Continuing Education Guidelines for Reregistration at: https://aromatherapycouncil.org/revised-continuing-education-guidelines/. You are always welcome to contact us at gro.licnuocyparehtamora@ofni to learn if a current online conference, summit, class, or other opportunity, will be considered for CE credits toward RA renewal.
The ARC Board has been very busy this last year. We have unveiled our new logo and revised and refreshed our website. We have also streamlined our process for reregistration by making it possible to renew and accept payments online. A new RA profile section also allows RAs to upload CEs as they are earned to reduce the time required to gather documents for reregistration. Learn more at: https://aromatherapycouncil.org/announcing-new-online-arc-accounts/.
As we move forward, we will be focused on outreach to facilities and businesses that employ aromatherapists, as well as consumers, to advise them of ARC as a resource for locating a qualified practitioner. We aim to provide more information, resources, and a better experience for registration and reregistration.
Please reach out to us via email if you have any questions.
Check out the new Aromatherapy Registration Council – inclusive, welcoming, and providing more opportunities for the Registered Aromatherapist.
Sincerely yours,
Lora
Lora Cantele, Registered Aromatherapist, APCA
Aromatherapy Registration Council, Chair
aromatherapycouncil.org
gro.licnuocyparehtamora@ofni
Direct: gro.licnuocyparehtamora@riahc
Tel: (815) 814-1444
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