The CAOA is dedicated to providing up-to-date guidelines for the safe use of essential oils and aromatherapy products. To this end, we have given here basic information on how to use essential oils safely and understand their potency. This does not replace professional education or medical guidance or information. Always seek professional help if you are unsure. To locate an aromatherapist near you, see our Find An Aromatherapist page.

For those looking for more in-depth information on essential oil use, we have created our Precautions and Contraindications of Essential Oils booklet, published annually, and Aroma Wisdom – The Canadian Aromatherapy Journal which is published quarterly. Both are available for purchase through our web store in print format, and Issuu.com for online format.

Aromatherapy Safety

If you would like to learn even more about aromatherapy and essential oils, please see below, or if you would like to join the CAOA, please see our Membership section for all available levels.

In November 2003, the CAOA established rules for recognition of a teacher, school, or course. To qualify for recognition, the following criteria must be met:

Teachers/Schools

If teaching within British Columbia, a teacher must be a Registered Aromatherapist, a member in good standing of the CAOA, have a minimum of two (2) years relevant experience in practical aromatherapy, and have completed the Teacher’s Agreement to teach, at a minimum, to the current CAOA Core Curriculum(s).

If teaching outside of British Columbia, a teacher must be certified as a qualified aromatherapist, be a member in good standing of the CAOA, have a minimum of two (2) years relevant experience in practical aromatherapy, and have completed the Teacher’s Agreement to teach, at a minimum, to the current CAOA Core Curriculum(s).

Recognized teachers are identified by the issuance of a CAOA Teacher Identification Number. The identification number is only issued after the teacher has agreed in writing to teach to the CAOA core curriculum(s) at a minimum.

Recognized Courses, Teachers, and Schools

Aromatherapy Practitioner Courses

A review of the course must demonstrate that it meets the educational standard as established by the current CAOA Core Curriculum. If presented in British Columbia, it must be registered with the Private Post-Secondary Education Commission (PPSEC), or be taught through an institution, which is governed by another provincial act such as the Universities Act

The CAOA conducts reviews of a teacher/school’s aromatherapy practitioner course to ensure the course is presenting the information at the level required by the current CAOA Core Curriculum. Upon successful completion of the review, a Course Identification number is issued.

Although the CAOA recognizes teachers and aromatherapy practitioner courses with the assignment of an Identification Number and the awarding of a certificate, the Board of Directors and the Association take no responsibility for the teacher’s presentation methods or the information they present. The CAOA takes no responsibility to ensure the course presented is, in fact, the course reviewed and approved.

The recognition of a teacher simply acknowledges that the teacher has stated they will teach to the current CAOA Core Curriculum and has met the CAOA’s teacher requirements. The recognition of a course is simply a statement that the course material as presented at the time of the review met the standards of the current CAOA Core Curriculum.

If you would like to become a CAOA Recognized Teacher or have your course recognized, please contact us for more information at secretary@caoa.ca or click here to apply.