A Unique and Flexible Approach to Membership and Accreditation
The National Hypnotherapy Society is a not for profit organisation whose primary purpose is the advancement of hypnotherapy, and of course the support and encouragement of all our members.
We believe that membership of a professional association is essential as it gives confirmation of your professional standing to both your peers and clients - and gives you a voice in the future of our profession.
In recognition of the different training and experience levels of a hypnotherapist we offer the following levels of membership.
Membership Grades
A member of the Society may be a Registrant or a non-registrant member.
A Society Registrant is listed publicly on our website and is recorded as a Registrant in our Accredited Register. The Society allows Registrants to progress through different levels of membership depending upon qualifications and experience, but all Registrants have met the Society’s standards for practice.
The different kind of Registrants are:
Registrant Member (MHS) A practitioner who has met the standards for registration.
Accredited Member (MHS Accred) A practitioner who has met the standards for Registrant membership, and has further qualifications and/or experience.
Fellow Registrant (FHS) A practitioner who has met the standards for Accredited membership and who has significant further professional experience which has made a notable contribution to the profession. (This grade cannot be applied for.)
Non-Registrants are not listed on our website and can be:
Student Member
A non-registrant member who is on a training course to become a hypnotherapist. The criterion for student membership is to demonstrate enrolment on any hypnotherapy training course which is compatible with the Society’s Code of Ethics. This does not have to be a course recognised by the Society.
Student Members cannot advertise their membership and insofar as they are seeing clients may only do so as part of their on-going studies under the supervisory arrangements specified by their trainer. They must agree to be bound by the Society’s Code of Ethics.
Member
A non-registrant member with an interest in hypnotherapy, who is not currently a student on a course that would lead to Registration with the Society.
Members cannot advertise their membership and they must agree to be bound by the Society’s Code of Ethics.
Members receive all the benefits of Society membership bar admission to the Accredited Register.
Honorary Fellow (HonFHS)
This Special Award may be given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the Society or the profession of Hypnotherapy. Honorary Fellows are not on the Society’s Accredited Register unless they also hold a Registrant grade of membership. Fellow Registrants who cease practice and leave the Society's register become Honorary Fellows.
Routes to registrant membership
Registrant Member (MHS)
There are 2 routes to Registrant Membership
1) Training and Qualification
Under this route membership is awarded to a member who has successfully completed one of the following:
- A Society Accredited Course.
- an Ofqual RQF Level 3 Certificate in Hypnotherapy Practice or equivalent, which complies with the Skills for Health National Occupational Standards for Hypnotherapy and the Society’s currently published standards of training for MHS.
Complex applications
Applications which contain complex information; for example, from long standing practitioners where historical training routes show a marked difference from current training routes, may be referred to the Professional Standards Committee for a complex case review. The committee will ensure that the application meets the Society’s published standards and decide at what level to place the successful applicant on the register; unsuccessful applicants will be assisted with clear guidance about suitable routes for registration.
Please note that training that is conducted purely online is not accepted for Registration.
2) Equivalent Register
Under this route, Registrant Membership is awarded to a practitioner who holds an equivalent membership grade already attained via another Accredited Register.
Accredited Member (MHS Accred)
There are 3 routes to Accredited Membership:
1) Training and Qualification
Under this route, Accredited Membership is awarded to a practitioner who, having met the requirements for Registrant Member status has completed one of the following:
- A Society Accredited Course at minimum Ofqual RQF Level 4 or equivalent.
- A qualification in hypnotherapy practice at minimum Ofqual RQF Level 4 which complies with the Society’s currently published standards of training for MHS Accred.
2) Post-Qualification Experience & Training
Holders of a practitioner qualification in hypnotherapy at Ofqual RQF Level 3 (or one deemed equivalent by the Society) can gain Accredited membership by providing evidence:
- 3 years on an Accredited Register
- Completion of 100 hours of post qualifying clinical experience evidenced by a client hours log, verified by a supervisor
- Written Statement (please click on this link to access written statement guidelines)
- Supervisor’s report (please click on this link to access report guidelines)
- A professional reference
- Evidence of 30 hours of CPD. (please click on this link to access the CPD template in order to submit this information)
3) Equivalent Register
Under this route, Accredited Membership is awarded to a practitioner who holds an equivalent membership grade already attained via another Accredited Register.
Complex applications
Applications which contain complex information; for example, from long standing practitioners where historical training routes show a marked difference from current training routes, may be referred to the Professional Standards Committee for a complex case review. The committee will ensure that the application meets the Society’s published standards and decide at what level to place the successful applicant on the register; unsuccessful applicants will be assisted with clear guidance about suitable routes for registration.
Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)
MHS (Accred) members are eligible to register their interest to join the CNHC. For further information please email hello@nationalhypnotherapysociety.org
Fellow Registrant (FHS)
Practitioners who have met the requirements for Accredited membership and have significant further professional experience which has made a notable contribution to the profession may be considered by the Society for Fellowship. Fellowship cannot be applied for and is awarded at the discretion of the Society.
Page last reviewed: 23/06/2022
Next review due: 23/06/2023