Basic standards expected of all our members

• All practitioners registered with the SHTC must carry professional insurance at a minimum level of £1 million. Membership for practice is only valid when accompanied by valid insurance.
  
  
• Associate and Full level practitioners will hold a Level 3 or above externally accredited award in an appropriate subject. This includes awards externally accredited by QCA / SQA approved awarding bodies, NQF approved appropriate courses, University courses, University Degrees and University Post Graduate awards. Typical awards include ASET, NCFE, VTCT, NVQ, SNVQ, ITEC and University Diplomas / Degrees. Applicants already registered as fully accredited with other professional bodies may be allowed membership at Associate or Full level if comparable standards apply in the opinion of the SHTC Director. Associate level applies to IPTI and Sherwood Foundation graduates of appropriate courses, and Full membership applies to ISPC members, NACHP members, NCP members and CTHA members. Full membership also applies to CHNC registered therapists. Open College graduates in therapeutic courses are welcome, as are Mindfulness Course graduates of Shamash's blended learning courses. 
  
  
• Non traditional members will normally not have an accredited qualification because of the nature of their work and the fact that "qualification" is usually by "attunement". However they are expected to adhere to the codes of conduct and ethics, adhere to appropriate NOS, carry professional insurance and be able to certify their attunement and lineage. 
  
  
• All members must adhere to appropriate National Occupational Standards for therapies used. There is usually a choice of NOS for holistic therapy, but we require members to have a core set of standards, and obey additional role specific standards for other therapies used. National Occupational Standards can be located via the UK National siteHERE
  
  
• All members must adhere to the Society codes of conduct and ethics and use logos and letters according to the code. In particular note the regulations in regard to statutory regulation and use of the term "healer".
  
  
• Members must adhere to other legal requirements in the UK including child protection, data protection, health and safety, trading and advertising standards, tax registration, statutory registration if required by certain professions.
  
  
• International members must adhere to the appropriate laws and legislation of their Country / State. We recommend UK NOS as a starting point, but additional rules and laws in your country / state must be adhered to and is it your responsibility to ensure this is the case.
  
  Important
  
  Please note that membership certificates should be accompanied by professional insurance certificates for your client's reference. On leaving the SHTC membership certificates must be returned, although a photocopy should be retained for your records and any portfolio of achievement. Your SHTC membership is invalid if you do not hold insurance cover.
  
  If you are applying for a practitioner grade membership, but will not be in practice yet, or are taking a break from practice, you can be issued with a "uninsured practitioner completing study leave" certificate. This means you can benefit from membership and it's facilities and begin to build seniority, but will not be pressured to gain insurance until actually practicing.