The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)
CNHC is the UK voluntary regulator for complementary healthcare practitioners that was set up with government support to protect the public by providing a UK voluntary register of complementary therapists.
CNHC’s register has been approved as an Accredited Register by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care. This means CNHC has met the Professional Standards Authority’s demanding standards.
All CNHC registered practitioners are entitled to use CNHC’s quality mark which demonstrates a commitment to professionalism and high standards. The public and those who commission the services of complementary healthcare practitioners can choose with confidence, by looking for the CNHC quality mark.
Who is eligible to apply to CNHC?
CNHC registration is possible if the practitioner practices one or more of the below disciplines:
Alexander Technique Teaching; Aromatherapy; Bowen Therapy; Colon Hydrotherapy, Craniosacral Therapy; Healing; Hypnotherapy; Kinesiology; Massage Therapy; Microsystems Acupuncture; Naturopathy; Nutritional Therapy; Reflexology; Reiki; Shiatsu; Sports Massage; Sports Therapy; Yoga Therapy.
Reiki Practitioners and Professional Advantages of CNHC registration
By registering with the CNHC, Reiki practitioners demonstrate to the general public and to other healthcare providers that they meet national standards of practice in their work.
Choosing to register with CNHC brings a wide range of benefits – but most importantly shows to the public that you uphold high standards of practice in your work. Being registered builds trust with your clients, health providers and the public by demonstrating that you “Stand up for Standards.”
The benefits of registering with CNHC include:
Public – and growing – recognition of your role as a Reiki practitioner
A joint report from the Royal Society for Public Health and the Professional Standards Authority, Untapped Resources: Accredited Registers in the Wider Workforce, highlighted that “Practitioners registered with CNHC support public health by encouraging their clients to make a range of lifestyle changes. These include improvements to diet and nutrition, support with giving up smoking and losing weight, support with reducing stress, improving sleep, managing pain and other symptoms, as well as overall enhancements to wellbeing. All CNHC registrants are committed to enhancing the UK public’s health and wellbeing.”
CNHC champions complementary healthcare
CNHC work hard to keep complementary healthcare, and in particular CNHC registrants, at the forefront of decision-making by bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Charity Commission.
Listing on an Accredited Register
CNHC is approved as an Accredited Register by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care, a body accountable to Parliament. This provides additional assurance that CNHC registrants meet UK-wide standards of patient safety and service quality.
General Medical Council guidance
Doctors are able to refer patients to Reiki practitioners on Accredited Registers – which includes everyone registered with CNHC.
Private health cash plans
CNHC registration is recognised for reimbursement with a number of private health cash plan providers. This means that clients who are members of the relevant plans can claim for the cost of the treatments when they visit CNHC registered complementary therapists.
Government support
The Department of Health has recommended that where people are looking for Reiki practitioners they use someone who is registered with CNHC.
Use of the CNHC Quality Mark
Only those Reiki practitioners who register with us can use the CNHC Quality Mark on their websites and publicity materials.
Access to MyCNHC
All CNHC registrants have access to “MyCNHC” where you can download a wide range of useful resources including PR and marketing tips, personalised leaflet templates and letters to take to GP surgeries.
London Boroughs Special Treatment Exempted Status
CNHC registrants enjoy ‘exempt status’ in most London boroughs, which saves them from needing to apply for a special treatments license.
Holistic Therapist Magazine
A free digital edition of Holistic Therapist magazine is sent to all CNHC registrants quarterly. The magazine contains topical articles designed to support practitioners with running a successful practice.
CNHC Newsletter and Blog
All CNHC registrants receive the CNHC free monthly e-newsletter (CNHC Newsupdate) which contains a wealth of information and is sent to all CNHC registrants via email.
Employment opportunities
CNHC regularly publish details of job and volunteer roles for CNHC-registered practitioners on the CNHC website, Facebook page and Twitter feed.
Guidance for registrants
CNHC issue useful guidance for registrants which includes general advertising guidance, specific guidance in relation to the Cancer Act 1939, HMRC guidance and more. Find out more information here.
Social Media presence
CNHC is active on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.
CNHC Registration
Reiki practitioners who have undertaken a programme of education and training which meets, as a minimum, the National Occupational Standards and the Core Curriculum for Reiki are eligible to register with the CNHC (courses delivered entirely by distance learning do not meet CNHC requirements).
The Professional Reiki Practitioner Diploma is a qualification which demonstrates that the student has followed a specific programme of study that adheres to the National Occupational Standards (NOS) and Core Curriculum for Reiki training (as devised by the Reiki Council).
This programme is accredited by the UK Reiki Federation for registration with the government funded Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), the independent UK regulator for complementary healthcare practitioners.
It is designed to enable students to gain competence and confidence to professionally work as a Reiki Practitioner. Qualified students will be eligible to apply to the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council and receive the CNHC Quality Mark.
Registered CNHC Reiki Practitioners can work in professional environments where verification is required, such as the National Health Service (NHS), GP surgeries, professional bodies, and some private healthcare companies as being of a high standard and quality assured. GPs can refer their patients to professional practitioners on the CNHC register.
The Professional Reiki Practitioner Diploma Course takes place in-person in London, United Kingdom and runs every year, starting in October.
Click here to find out more about the Professional Reiki Practitoner Diploma.
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Giancarlo Serra
Giancarlo is a Reiki Master/Teacher of the Western Lineage of Reiki, as well as a Gokuikaiden (Reiki Master) of the Japanese Lineage. He is an accredited Spiritual Healer and a Past Life and Regression Therapist. Read more.
