Career Overview for Individuals with a Degree in Aromatherapy
Career News December 12, 2015If you like to pursue a degree program in aromatherapy, it is good to first understand the main career details for this kind of profession. To help you understand more about the profession, this article explains in details the probable fields you would join after graduation, salary details and the course units you are likely to learn while in college.
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to help improve the health and well being of human beings. Essential oils are usually derived from plants and have highly concentrated aromatic compounds, which greatly help to promote health and well being in people.
Training programs
Seldom do you find Universities and colleges offering a degree program in Aromatherapy. However, there are numerous training programs that people can enroll in, so as to learn about Aromatherapy and its uses.
The table below summarizes the main details about available job opportunities and qualifications to join these professions, which are all related to Aromatherapy.
|
Career |
Aromatherapist |
Aromatherapy retailer |
Massage therapist |
|
Education details |
High school diploma |
High school diploma |
Post secondary training or a High school diploma |
|
Estimated job growth rate (2012-2022) |
22% |
Between 8 and 14% for all related professions except for technical and scientific experts |
23% |
|
Average salary |
$55,900 |
$55,000 except for technical and scientific experts |
$37,000 |
Available Career options
While today’s graduates with an Aromatherapy degree have more options when it comes to furthering their education, students with only a High school diploma or its equivalent can still advance their education in Aromatherapy.
Essential Career details
As stated above, degree programs in Aromatherapy are few. However, you can enroll for an associate’s degree in the few colleges that offer them. These few colleges are mainly those that give specialized studies in health professions and complementary medicine programs. You can check for colleges that are certified by the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy by visiting their website.
Aromatherapy studies have coursework that touches on anatomy, botany, chemistry, pathology, reflexology, massage therapy, nutrition and acupressure and sometimes Eastern traditions. After completing these studies, you can look for jobs in fields such as: Retailers and manufacturers, Aromatherapists or Aromatherapy educators. Moreover, it is possible to get a job in acupuncture, chiropractic care and naturopathy or massage therapy.
Aromatherapist
An aromatherapist often uses essential oils to help improve the health conditions of their clients. They can apply the essential oils to clients’ skins, use diffusion methods or simply allow the clients to inhale the essential oils.
Aromatherapy Manufacturer
As a manufacturer in this field, you create diverse blends of essential oils that can then be used by trainees Aromatherapy students while in the field. The main skills to have are great mastery of plant chemistry and how to do plant extractions.
Massage therapist
They mainly offer services such as relaxation, stress relieve and other services that may help improve the well being of their clients. Most states demand that someone in this profession to have an operating certificate. The estimated salary for an massage therapist is $37,000 (2014) while their job growth rate stands at 23% as from 2012 – 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
