We understand that accreditation can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when you’re not sure what to expect. That’s why we’ve gathered our most frequently asked questions below to guide you through the process step by step and help you feel confident moving forward. Please take a moment to read through them, and if you have any further questions at all, our team is always here and happy to help.
IPHM stands for International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine. We are an independent accreditation body supporting holistic practitioners, beauty therapists and training providers, with members in more than 60 countries and over 200 modalities recognised.
We are not owned by or connected to any college, training provider or awarding body, so every application is assessed on its own merit. IPHM has been supporting practitioners since 2005.
Accreditation is an independent seal of approval that confirms you, your qualifications, or your training courses meet recognised professional standards. For practitioners and therapists it tells potential clients that you are qualified, vetted, and working to a code of conduct. For training providers it tells students that your courses are worth investing in. In a crowded wellness market, accreditation is one of the clearest ways to stand out and build trust quickly.
IPHM is an internationally recognised accreditation body that is completely independent from any college or awarding body. That means we assess every application fairly and on its own merit, whether you are a practitioner, therapist, or training provider. We cover over 200 modalities across holistic, complementary, beauty, and spiritual disciplines, and we have members in over 60 countries worldwide.
When you join IPHM you get a profile listing on our public directory, use of the trusted IPHM mark, the letters IPHM after your name, access to discounted insurance, member benefits, and a community of like-minded professionals growing alongside you. We also offer business growth support through our resources and the IPHM Growth Hub platform.
We are not here to gatekeep. We are here to help you feel confident, credible, and visible in your field.
Your IPHM profile page appears in our public directory, which is visited by thousands of people worldwide searching for qualified practitioners and accredited training. Having the IPHM mark on your website, social media, and marketing materials tells potential clients immediately that you are vetted, professional, and meet recognised standards. In a space where anyone can call themselves a therapist, that distinction genuinely matters to the people looking for someone they can trust.
IPHM recognises over 200 complementary, natural, holistic, spiritual, and beauty therapies. If you are unsure whether your modality is covered please check the IPHM Standards Page or get in touch with us directly. If your therapy is not currently listed we are always happy to discuss it.
Pre-requisites vary depending on your modality and membership type. You can download the full pre-requisites document from our downloads page.
Yes, if you offer treatments to the public, you will need a relevant qualification and proof of it when you apply. If you are still training, you can apply once you are fully qualified. For some modalities, such as tarot or mediumship, experience may be considered.
Please make sure everything in your application is accurate. Members found to have given false or misleading information about their qualifications may be removed from the website without a refund.
Yes, as long as it meets IPHM’s criteria. If you trained with an IPHM accredited training provider, you are eligible to apply and your application is usually quicker to process. Other online qualifications are reviewed individually.
Yes, IPHM welcomes members from anywhere in the world. We currently have members in over 60 countries. All applications must be submitted in English and we do not offer translation services. If your qualifications are not in English you may be required to provide an official translation as part of your application.
Yes, absolutely. Many of our members hold memberships with more than one professional body and there is no conflict in doing so. Different bodies offer different benefits and some insurance providers or employers may recognise specific ones, so having more than one can only strengthen your professional profile.
As an active IPHM member in good standing you are entitled to use the letters IPHM after your name on your website, social media, email signatures, and marketing materials. For example: Jane Smith IPHM. Please note these letters should only be used while your membership is current and active. If your membership lapses or is cancelled you should stop using them immediately.
IPHM will only display the title Dr for members who hold a doctorate from a government-recognised accredited institution. If your doctorate is from a private or unaccredited institution you may refer to it on your profile page, for example as Doctor of Natural Medicine, but it will not appear before your name on certificates or public listings. This is to protect both the public and our members.
No. IPHM is an independent accreditation body, not an insurance provider or broker. Membership and insurance are separate. Membership gives you accreditation and member benefits, and insurance protects you if a claim is made against your services.
You are responsible for holding any insurance your country or profession requires. IPHM works with partner insurers who may offer members preferential rates, and you will find the details in your members dashboard.
It depends on what your course involves. If you are providing personalised health, wellness, or coaching advice, or if your course promises specific outcomes, then professional indemnity insurance is strongly recommended. If your course is purely educational and pre-recorded with no individualised guidance then insurance is generally not required, though cyber liability cover is worth considering if you collect personal data from students. If in doubt check with your insurance provider directly.
Membership fees vary depending on your membership type. You can view all current pricing on our Pricing page. You can pay annually or spread the cost with monthly payments. Please note that monthly payments are a 12 month commitment. If you cancel before the end of your term any remaining balance will still be due. Membership fees are locked in for existing members, meaning your price will not increase as long as your membership remains active and payments are kept up to date.
Affiliate membership is a separate category to our standard training provider membership and it's important to understand the difference.
Our accredited training providers deliver courses that include formal assessment such as case studies, marked practical work, or face to face elements. Their courses are individually reviewed and accredited by IPHM against our professional and quality standards, and graduates can describe their qualification as IPHM Accredited.
Affiliate members are businesses or platforms that deliver high quality online training without formal assessment. Their courses are reviewed by IPHM and must meet our content, ethics, and quality standards, but because there is no formal competency assessment, courses are endorsed as IPHM Affiliated rather than IPHM Accredited. Students completing these courses will receive an IPHM Affiliated Course certificate.
This isn't a lesser standard, it's a different category. Online learning without formal assessment serves a genuine purpose and IPHM is proud to endorse providers who do it well.
If you are looking for an IPHM accredited course where graduates are formally assessed, please check the individual course details or browse our accredited training providers directory.
Yes. Our Premium membership covers you as both a practitioner and a trainer. If you are already a member and your business has grown, you can upgrade at any time. Just email and we will talk you through the options.
You can cancel at any time. Once cancelled your profile and listing will be removed from our directory immediately and you should stop using the IPHM logo and letters. Please note that no refunds are available mid-term, including on renewals. If you are on a monthly payment plan and cancel before the end of your 12 month term the remaining balance will still be due in full.
Simply complete the online application form for your membership type. For holistic practitioners we will need a copy of your qualifications, a photo if you are requesting a membership badge, and your insurance certificate if applicable. For training providers we will need to see your course manuals/content and copies of your qualifications.
Once we have everything we need, applications are typically processed within 10 days, though it is often much sooner. If we need any further information we will contact you within a few days of receiving your application.
Beauty therapists should apply via iphmbeauty.com rather than iphm.co.uk to ensure you are processed correctly.
We’ll work with you to help you gain accreditation. If we can’t accept your application, we’ll give you a full refund. Refunds aren’t available if you change your mind after applying.
We review course materials to make sure the content meets our quality standards and that the tutor is appropriately qualified to deliver it. We take intellectual property seriously and will not retain, share, or copy your materials once the review is complete. The process is strictly for accreditation purposes. Please do not apply until your course materials are ready as incomplete applications will delay the process.
IPHM formal accreditation is awarded to courses that meet our full quality standards, typically including an assessment such as an exam or case study. Students who complete these courses receive official certificates and can apply for IPHM membership.
You may also see the IPHM logo on other materials such as guided meditations or self-development content. This indicates the material aligns with IPHM quality principles but it is not the same as full accreditation and does not lead to formal certification or membership eligibility. If you need a course for professional development or career advancement always check with the training provider that it carries full IPHM accreditation rather than just the logo.
You do not need to teach personally but any tutors delivering your courses must be appropriately qualified in the subjects they teach. If you have tutors working independently or on a freelance basis they each need their own linked IPHM membership as a sub-educator. Please email us at for our sub-educators guide or see your members dashboard.
Sub-educators are tutors or trainers who deliver your courses but work independently or on a freelance basis rather than as direct employees. Each sub-educator must have their own IPHM membership linked to your training provider listing for your accreditation to remain valid. Sub-educator membership is available at a discounted rate. If your courses are being taught by someone who is not registered as a sub-educator your accreditation may be at risk.
IPHM provides certificate templates that training providers can use to issue to their own students on completion of accredited courses. This is available to all training providers.
Your membership includes a personal profile page on our public directory with links to your website and social media, use of the internationally recognised IPHM trust mark logo, the letters IPHM after your name, a membership certificate and ID badge, access to discounted insurance through our affiliated providers, free advertising of events and workshops through your dashboard, member only discounts on holistic products, referral fees when you introduce new members, and access to our business growth resources. Training provider and affiliate members also receive certificate templates for student certification and discounted sub-educator memberships.
The IPHM Growth Hub is an all-in-one business growth platform exclusively for IPHM members.
It combines the tools, training, support and technology practitioners and training providers need to market, manage and grow their business, all in one place.
From websites, bookings and marketing to automation, course delivery and client management, the Growth Hub helps members save time, look professional and grow with confidence.
Because accreditation helps you get recognised.
The Growth Hub helps you get seen.
Yes. IPHM CPD points launch on 1 November 2026. Every member, practitioners and training providers alike, will have a CPD record on their members dashboard. Points are awarded at one point per hour of learning, and CPD is included as part of your accreditation at no extra cost.
Once your membership is approved you will receive login details for your dashboard. Holistic and complementary therapy members log in at iphm.co.uk and beauty members log in at iphmbeauty.com. Make sure you are using the correct site as this is the most common reason for login issues.
Inside your dashboard you can update your listing, check and manage your payment details, advertise events and workshops for free, access member only discounts, order pin badges and membership cards, create certificates, and submit referral requests.
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If none of these help, please email with your IPHM number and we will look into it.
Log into your dashboard and update your details directly. You can amend your listing at any time free of charge. If you are a training provider submitting referrals please do so regularly, either monthly or quarterly, as referrals will not be backdated more than 3 months.
Yes. IPHM takes complaints seriously and has a formal complaints procedure in place. If a complaint is made against a member we will investigate the matter fairly and thoroughly. Members are expected to maintain professional standards at all times in line with our terms and conditions. Depending on the outcome of an investigation, action can include a formal warning, suspension, or removal from the IPHM directory. If you have a complaint about an IPHM member or about IPHM itself please contact us at and we will respond within a reasonable timeframe.
By joining IPHM you are confirming that all information provided in your application is accurate and that you agree to our full terms and conditions. You are agreeing to maintain appropriate professional standards, to keep your qualifications and insurance up to date, and to inform us of any significant changes to your practice. Any member found to have provided false or misleading information may be removed from the directory without a refund. You can read our full terms and conditions on our T&Cs page.
We are always looking to partner with ethical, high quality businesses whose products and services align with the holistic and wellness world. To become an approved supplier we ask that you offer IPHM members a minimum 10% discount for at least 12 months. Approved suppliers are featured in our supplier directory, promoted to our global membership community, and benefit from association with the IPHM brand. If you are interested please get in touch at .
All IPHM members agree to uphold our professional standards and terms and conditions on joining. This includes maintaining appropriate qualifications and insurance, acting with integrity in their practice, keeping their listing information accurate and up to date, and treating clients and students with respect and professionalism. Members who are found to be in breach of our code may be suspended or removed from the directory.
IPHM exists to give the public confidence that the practitioners and training providers they find through us are qualified, vetted, and working to recognised professional standards. Every member has been individually assessed before being listed on our directory. We also have a complaints procedure in place so that any concerns about a member can be raised and investigated properly. Our public directory means anyone searching for a holistic practitioner or accredited training provider can find someone they can trust.
Most accreditation bodies help you gain accreditation.
IPHM helps you build a recognised and thriving business.
Accreditation is where the journey starts, not where it ends. Through accreditation, business support, technology, marketing tools, training and community, we help practitioners and training providers gain the confidence, credibility and visibility they need to grow.
That's the difference.
Yes. As part of your IPHM accreditation, we ask that you have five core policies in place: Privacy & Data Protection, Complaints Handling, Health & Safety, Refund Policy, and Professional Conduct.
These apply regardless of where in the world you're based and are there to protect both you and the people you work with.
If you already have your own policies, just include them with your application and we'll review them as part of the process.
If you don't have them yet, the IPHM Growth Hub has a Starter Policy Bundle with all five included, written and ready for you to customise for your business. There is a small cost for the bundle.
Yes, but please be open about it. If AI has helped write any part of your course materials, label it in your manual and let us know whether the content is fully AI generated or AI assisted, with a few examples of where it helped. If AI content isn’t labelled, we’ll ask you to add a label before your course can be approved.
We always encourage you to write in your own words and share your own experience. That’s what makes your training authentic, and it’s what your learners are coming to you for.
Every course is reviewed individually against IPHM’s standards and needs to reach a minimum of 85%. If it doesn’t get there first time, we’ll give you clear feedback on what to update so you can resubmit.
This is different from the 80% pass mark your students need on their written assessment.
No, there’s no set page count. What matters is that your manual covers everything your learners need to practise safely, at the right depth for the course. A shorter manual can be absolutely fine, especially for face-to-face courses. Just remember that in-person and live online courses also need a lesson plan to go with the manual.
Do you have a product or service that could benefit our members? Join our Preferred Partner Programme to showcase your business, offer an exclusive member discount, and connect with a global community of wellness professionals.