How to Become a Homeopath in the UK
How to become a homeopath in the UK: there is no statutory licence for homeopathy, so most professional homeopaths complete a practitioner-level course with supervised clinical work and then join a voluntary register: the Society of Homeopaths (RSHom), the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths (ARH) or, for statutorily regulated health professionals, the Faculty of Homeopathy. This guide sets out each route, the legal position, typical hours, and where the 2-year live online Vithoulkas College UK course in the method of Professor George Vithoulkas fits. When you are ready, register.
A practical pathway
- Choose a practitioner-level course with clinical training (not only self-help, short weekend diplomas or Level 3 CPD products).
- Complete the live teaching hours, assessments and supervised case work.
- Study a coherent method (Levels of Health, Organon, Materia Medica).
- Join a voluntary register or professional body whose entry criteria you meet, with professional indemnity insurance.
- Practise and advertise within your register’s code of ethics and the ASA/CAP advertising rules.
UK registration routes compared
| Body | Who it is for | Requirement summary | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Society of Homeopaths (RSHom) | Professional homeopaths, including those without a medical background | The Society’s route is a Society-recognised UK course, or an international course recognised under its SIRS scheme, reviewed against UK Higher Education Level 6 standards. Graduates then apply for RSHom, subject to the Society’s membership requirements. Practitioner membership includes professional indemnity insurance. If you trained elsewhere, ask the Society about eligibility before you apply. | Training to become a homeopath SIRS |
| Alliance of Registered Homeopaths (ARH) | UK-based practising or newly qualified homeopaths | Registered membership is for graduates of courses accredited by the Independent Homeopathy Association (IHA) and holders of a BHMS or DHMS degree; applicants with other qualifications can follow an individualised route to registration. The ARH does not accredit courses itself. Professional indemnity insurance is compulsory for members practising in the UK, and members follow the ARH Code of Ethics. | Join the ARH |
| Faculty of Homeopathy | Statutorily regulated health and veterinary professionals (for example doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and vets); practitioners who already hold a homeopathic qualification can join as Affiliates | Under the Faculty of Homoeopathy Act, Faculty training and qualifications are offered only to statutorily regulated practitioners: the Primary Healthcare Examination leads to LFHom and the Member examination to MFHom, and qualified medical homeopaths can apply through equivalence. Affiliate membership (AFHom) is open to medical and non-medical practitioners with an existing homeopathic qualification. | How to join Membership categories |
The legal position in the UK
- No statutory regulation. Homeopathy is not subject to statutory regulation in the UK and there is no legal licence for homeopaths. Registers such as RSHom and the ARH are voluntary.
- Your own regulator still applies. Doctors and other regulated healthcare professionals who practise homeopathy remain regulated by their professional body (for doctors, the General Medical Council). You cannot call yourself a homeopathic doctor unless you hold a licence to practise medicine in the UK.
- PSA Accredited Registers. The NHS advises checking that a private therapist is registered with an organisation accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). The Society of Homeopaths’ register was first accredited in 2014; the PSA suspended that accreditation in January 2021, and the Society withdrew from the Accredited Registers programme with effect from 23 July 2021. Check the PSA’s Find an Accredited Register tool for the current list.
- Advertising rules. Once you practise, your website and adverts fall under the CAP Code, enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). CAP advice is that homeopaths should not claim to treat medical conditions without robust evidence, that practitioners who are not medically qualified should not refer to serious medical conditions, and that marketers must not discourage essential treatment for conditions for which medical supervision should be sought.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check current requirements with the body you plan to join.
Typical hours and duration
UK registers do not set one national hours figure. The Society of Homeopaths and the Independent Homeopathy Association benchmark professional practitioner courses at UK Higher Education Level 6 (first-degree level), so look for a multi-year course with supervised clinical work rather than a short certificate. For the Vithoulkas College UK course:
- 300 hours of video and audio lectures, 300 hours of study and 150 hours of clinical practice: 750 hours in total
- Two years of live online classes, plus a third year to submit cases (clinical practice)
- Students without a medical background must also complete studies in anatomy, physiology and clinical medicine (see the Anatomy, Pathology and Physiology course and admissions)
Where the Vithoulkas College UK course fits
The UK course is a synchronous live online classroom based on the IACH program of Professor George Vithoulkas, with the course headquarters in Greece. The 2-year Diploma holds a Certificate of Quality Assurance from the Faculty of Homeopathy, UK, an appraisal of course ethos, organisation, programme content, educational level, teaching and assessment (see Faculty of Homeopathy CQA). It is not a London campus and not the self-paced 2-year E-Learning option; see the FAQ for the comparison.
For the IACH Diploma you attend the full course, pass the module tests and final exams, and submit 10 cases with six months’ follow-up; otherwise you receive a Certificate of Attendance. Eligibility for the Diploma is set out in the 2-year course conditions. The Diploma certifies knowledge but does not automatically give a right to practise, and completing the course does not by itself register you with the Society of Homeopaths, the ARH or the Faculty: each body applies its own criteria, so confirm your eligibility with them before you rely on a particular route.
How to become a homeopath in the UK: FAQ
Do you need a licence to practise homeopathy in the UK?
No. Homeopathy is not subject to statutory regulation in the UK, so there is no legal licence for homeopaths. Most professional homeopaths join a voluntary register such as the Society of Homeopaths (RSHom) or the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths (ARH). Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other regulated professionals remain bound by their own regulator, and any advertising must follow the CAP Code.
How long does it take to become a homeopath in the UK?
There is no single national hours figure. The Society of Homeopaths and the Independent Homeopathy Association benchmark professional courses at UK Higher Education Level 6 (first-degree level), so expect a multi-year course with supervised clinical work rather than a short certificate. The Vithoulkas College UK course runs for two years of live online classes, plus a third year to submit cases, with 750 hours in total.
What is the difference between RSHom, the ARH and the Faculty of Homeopathy?
RSHom is the registered-member title of the Society of Homeopaths, reached through Society-recognised UK courses or courses recognised under its international scheme (SIRS). The ARH registers homeopaths who trained on IHA-accredited courses or hold a BHMS or DHMS degree, with an individualised route for other qualifications. The Faculty of Homeopathy trains and examines statutorily regulated health and veterinary professionals (for example LFHom and MFHom) and offers Affiliate membership (AFHom) to practitioners who already hold a homeopathic qualification.
I am a doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Which route applies to me?
Statutorily regulated health and veterinary professionals can take Faculty of Homeopathy qualifications: the Primary Healthcare Examination leads to Licentiate membership (LFHom) and the Member examination to MFHom. You stay bound by your own regulator, and you cannot call yourself a homeopathic doctor unless you hold a licence to practise medicine in the UK.
Can I study homeopathy online from anywhere in the UK, including London?
Yes. Vithoulkas College UK teaches in a synchronous live online classroom, so you can join the live classes from anywhere in the UK, including London. There is no UK campus; the course headquarters are in Greece.
Is the Vithoulkas College UK course accredited, and will it make me a registered homeopath?
The 2-year Diploma holds a Certificate of Quality Assurance from the Faculty of Homeopathy, UK. Completing the course does not register you by itself: the Diploma certifies knowledge but does not automatically give a right to practise, and the Society of Homeopaths, the ARH and the Faculty each apply their own entry criteria. Check your eligibility with the body you plan to join.
Sources (checked October 2026): Faculty of Homeopathy FAQ · Faculty membership categories · Society of Homeopaths: training · Society of Homeopaths: SIRS · ARH: join · PSA, 26 July 2021 · NHS: complementary therapies · ASA/CAP: homeopathy
Next steps
UK students who want a practitioner path (not a London campus timetable) should compare the homeopathy training UK outline, the Faculty of Homeopathy CQA page, and the 2-year course conditions before they register. Read the Program Overview, then admissions and register.
Continue: Program Overview · Curriculum · Homeopathy training UK · Register
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