What legislation and legal obligations are there when becoming a Kinesiologist?

Hi ZJ and welcome to Hp 🙂

The only CAM therapies in the UK that are registered by law at the moment is chiropractic and osteopathy. All other therapies (including applied kinesiology) can be practiced under commonlaw without state registration or licence. The only exception I can think of is any technique that is trademarked (TM) which certain conditions of practice may be asked for, ie to say that you are a registered practitioner of ***** therapy (TM).

Best Wishes

RP

Thanks Reiki Pixie for your welcome and your prompt response!

I didnt know that. So really, in actual fact, anyone could set up and practice any therapy except the ones you mentioned?

What about getting insurance though, by law I guess all therapists need this? to be honest im a bit confused about all the legal requirements etc.

Thanks for your imput though its really helpful 🙂

I love this place! So many likeminded people. How can I have got to being 28 and not met anyone in real life like me 🙂

thanks again 😀

Hi ZJ

Do you need to have insurance by law? I have often heard this been said but I have never seem this in B&W. It would be nice if someone could show the answer to that. I have never heard of a case where a therapist was taken to court for not having insurance. But it would be silly for a professional therapist not to have insurance for obvious reasons. Clinics generally won't rent rooms to therapists without insurance coverage, as the management won't want to be liable if things go wrong.

You see ZJ in something like 1548 (i think) the medical profession in England wanted to have the total control over treating patients, but Henry VIII stopped this and developed the Herbalists Charter. This allowed a patient to see anyone they liked to be treated by. So we (therapists) are in a position in this country to treat anyone. There are exceptions like we cannot treatment problems like STD, but would you want to? Lol. So CAM (apart from Chiro's & Osteo's) is an unregulated profession that can be practiced legally. There is national voluntary self-regulation (VSR), but that is just a recommendation and isn't a legal requirement to register. So, yes anyone can start a complementary therapy business up tomorrow and screw you up! All that can be done is to take that therapist to court and sue for compension over malpractice.

Mustn't forget there are local byelaws. Like in London you have to be registered with the local authority unless you are a member of a recognised professional body (unless that has changed). Also acupuncture clinics in all areas has to be checked out by environmental health as do beauty therapists providing electrolysis and tattoo artists.

Best Wishes

RP

....and not forgetting that if a therapist is working on a self-employed basis, you have to register with the HMRC within 3 months, otherwise you get a fine (about £100).

the worry is also that if u have no insurence and someone sues you then youd be left to cover costs yourself

Paula
xxx

Hi ZenJen

Although kinesiology is not one of the therapies that has statutory regulation it does have National Occupational Standards in place which define what training has to be done to reach these standards. Although people can call themselves a kinesiologist with little or no training, those who have done both Foundation and Advanced Kinesiology training and have also completed core subjects of Anatomy & Physiology, Nutrition, Inter-personal Skills and Practice Management reach the NOS and so have a far wider skills base and knowledge.
As for insurance, professional associations insist on it and any voluntary register that either exists just now or comes into being in the future is going to insist on it as well. It is there as much for the protection of the therapist as for protection of the public.

El

Hey guys

Holisticbabe - yup hadnt thought about that! 😮

Elliet - thanks for your response, this is all really interesting and so incredibly helpful to me. Im new to all this and despite having done the business module for ITEC i still don't really grasp the whole thing completley... so thanks for your clarification!

Reiki Pixie - thanks for that informative post, too. The history regarding Henry VIII - very interesting! And why specifically can't therapists treat STD problems?! Seems odd to single out an illness/ailment just because its transmitted in a particular way?! I want to treat anyone who needs help on any level eventually!

Im in no position to set up yet, but I think when I do it will be from the spare room in this house initially, so I guess I will look into insurance then. there's so much to think about but all very exiciting 🙂

Hi Zenjen

I mentioned STD as it is to do with the Venereal Disease Act 1917. It is illegal to treat for reward, directly or indirectly. Any service must be provided free.

Also (I need to look this up) it is illegal to advertise reference to any article or any description for any treatment for the following diseases:

Bright's Disease
Glaucoma
Cataracts
Locomotor Ataxy
Diabetes
Paralysis
Epilepsy
Tuberculosis

It is an offence to advertise treatment or remedies for cancer.

But you can still treat the "whole person".

This may seem unfair as we all wish to help others, but there are con artists out there that will offer cures for cancer, and the patient needs to be protected from them.

Best Wishes

RP