CNHC London Boroughs Special Treatment Exempted Status
What is a Special Treatment licence?
Under Part II of the London Local Authorities Act 1991 you are required to apply for a Special Treatment licence from a local council if you provide certain treatments from a premises based in that borough.
It is illegal to provide or advertise special treatments without a licence and you will be fined.
A licence lasts for a year and you must renew it before the expiry date or you will have to apply for a new one.
Definition of Special Treatments
Special Treatments include, but are not limited to: • Tattooing, including micropigmentation • Cosmetic piercing including ear piercing • Massage treatments including aromatherapy and reflexology • Electrical treatments such as hair removal by electrolysis and galvanic/faradic treatments • Nail treatments including manicure and pedicure • Light treatments such as sunbeds, lasers, intense pulse light treatments • Sauna, steam, spa–pools or other baths • Acupuncture • Facials • other such similar treatments.
Note:
- In the City of London you’ll need a separate licence from a Special Treatment licence for any skin piercing treatments, eg tattooing or acupuncture.
- In some boroughs, therapists you employ to carry out special treatments should also register with the council for a Therapists licence.
- The CNHC registered disciplines that require a Special Treatment licence are Aromatherapy, Bowen Therapy, Massage Therapy (including Sports Massage), Microsystems Acupuncture, Reflexology, and Shiatsu.
Exemptions
You do not need a Special Treatment licence for your premises if:
- there is no gain or reward – all treatments are provided free of any sort of charge or donation.
- you only provide a mobile service, carrying out treatments in a vehicle or in a client's home – but you may need to register with your local council.
- the special treatment is carried out by or under the supervision of a medical practitioner registered by the General Medical Council or, in the case of acupuncture by or under the supervision of a dentist.
- it is a hospital or nursing home.
- you are member of certain bodies of health practitioners which has given notice in writing to the borough council and has been granted exempted status (see below).
CNHC London Boroughs Special Treatment Exempted Status
CNHC has been granted exempted status by the London Special Treatment Group for CNHC registered therapists working in London Boroughs. This means that any CNHC registered complementary therapist wishing to open premises in London will be eligible for a license exemption.
CNHC registrants should check with their local council before going ahead as some may still require a license despite the recommendation from the London Group. In addition, some Councils may require you to apply for an exemption from the licence.
The exemption applies to CNHC registered practitioners using: Aromatherapy, Bowen Therapy, Massage Therapy (including Sports Massage), Microsystems Acupuncture, Reflexology, and Shiatsu.
Licences are not required for the remaining CNHC registered disciplines, so the exemption is not relevant for those disciplines.
Contact your local council
Contact your local council to check if an exemption applies for a Special Treatment licence for your premises, if you have to apply for an exemption, or if you need to apply for Therapist licence.
You can find contact details by entering your post code here.
