Clinical Aromatherapy for Health Professionals (CCAP) In-Person or Online
CCAP Course Content
Module I
Introduces the core concepts of clinical aromatherapy using touch and smell, emphasizing its place within the history of medical therapies, plus different clinical application methods, safety, biosynthesis, and basic plant taxonomy. Details on how to take a clinical case-study & generic consent forms. Introduction to The 'M' Technique® on the hand. Ten essential oils are covered with evidence-based, research-backed material.
Module 2:
Outlines the chemistry and main functional chemical groups found in essential oils. Also covered is blending concepts and special carrier oils. Ten new essential oils.
Module 3:
Emphasizes key concepts in the clinical use of essential oils and their potential use within a health care framework with specific reference to immune system including aromatogram and infection, cardiovascular, respiratory, stress, digestive, lymphatic, endocrine, and muscular-skeletal. Tutorials on research projects. Ten new essential oils.
Module 4:
Clinical use of essential oils in women's health, pediatrics, geriatrics, pain & palliative care and mental health. Ten new essential oils. Clinical policies and procedures are discussed. Oral presentation guidelines and exam prep.
Endorsement
Clinical Aromatherapy for Health Professionals (CCAP). This program has been peer-reviewed and is endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Association.
It was the first aromatherapy course to be endorsed by a national nursing organization. The course has been continuously endorsed since 1999. www.ahna.org
CCAP Course Details
Length - In-Person or online
The course comprises four modules, each one over two full-day classes. The modules are spread out over 9-12 months. The modules must be taken in consecutive order. Contact hours are awarded upon completion of each module.
Homework
There is homework in the form of 40 case studies (10 per module), one for each essential oil studied. These are to be completed between modules and presented in class. They give the student an ongoing practical experience of applying essential oils in a clinical setting.
Project
Each student completes a research project that results in a written paper.
Exam
The exam is in 2 parts – a written test and presentation of a small research project – both parts are externally assessed.
Certification
Certification as a Clinical Aromatherapy Certified Practitioner (CCAP) is awarded after the completion of 40 case studies, project presentation, and successful written examination.
CCAP Course Purpose
The learner will be able to apply conceptual knowledge of the safe and effective use of essential oils related to patient assessment, development of a plan of care, implementation, and evaluate the effects of the treatment, as evidenced by course work, written case studies, and feedback with instructor.
Course Objectives
- Use 40 essential oils safely and effectively
- Demonstrate safe application methodologies
- Use aromatherapy in clinical interventions
- Use essential oils to enhance treatment of chronic conditions
- Evaluate the role of essential oils in infection
- Use aromatherapy in stress, infection and emerging diseases, women’s health, oncology, critical care, palliative care, depression, insomnia, chronic pain, slow wound healing, sinusitis and skin problems
- Write protocols and policies for integrating aromatherapy into practice
- Demonstrate the hand ‘M’ Technique®
- Discuss the importance of integrating aromatherapy as a complementary integrative modality within multi-disciplinary health teams
- Carry out a small research project and present the findings
- Successfully complete the three-part (40 case-studies, research project and written exam paper) externally- administered Examination for Certification.
CCAP Course Approval
Nurses
Click here for nursing continuing professional development approval details
Massage Therapists
R.J. Buckle Associates LLC is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (www.ncbtmb.org) as a Continuing Education Approved Provider. Approved since 1997. Provider No 1179, thru 8/30/2025.
Disclosures
The instructors teaching Clinical Aromatherapy for Health Professionals have no conflict of interest relative to the content of this educational activity.
Research into Aromatherapy
One of the requirements of the CCAP course is to complete a small research project. Some students carry out ambitious hospital-based studies that require IRB (Internal Review Board) approval. Others complete more modest, but still interesting, studies on family and friends exploring the effects of clinical aromatherapy on insomnia, menopausal symptoms, gender preference, memory enhancement, nausea and so on.
There is new research into the clinical use of essential oils emerging all the time and it would not be possible to list it all on this website. However, there are many on-line databases, such as PubMed and Medline that will enable you to search. It is best to use the botanical name of the plant rather than 'aromatherapy'.
R.J. Buckle Associates reads and critiques every study. Typically more than 50% are suitable for publication. However, very few students actually follow this path! Getting published in a peer-reviewed journal is hard work. The best paper is not written, it is rewritten. But unless your work is out there for the world to read, what you have done will have minimal impact.
Dr. Buckle was a reviewer for NIH and NHS and says that the best research in the world has often started in a very modest way. Go on and have a try! Sometimes, a meticulously observed and documented case-study will be accepted for publication. —Dr Jane Buckle PhD, MA, RN, Cert Ed
CCAP Course Fee and Locations
CCAP Course Fee
Live IN-PERSON, ONLINE via Zoom
The tuition is $2,495 ($2,395 for AHNA and AIA members), payment plan is available. The tuition includes: 40 essential oils (10 essential oils at the beginning of each module), and a starter kit with supplies for creating essential oil products. The essential oils come from 4 separate distributors. RJBA does not sell essential oils. For a list of distributors for the course and recommended, please click here.
Does NOT include textbooks.
ALL Students
The course textbook, Dr. Jane Buckle's Clinical Aromatherapy: Essential Oils in Healthcare (3rd Edition) is available directly from Amazon or elsevier.com.
The course and materials may be tax-deductible for education, check with your tax advisor.
Welcome to our courses!
How to Find a CCAP Course
>>>LINK for course schedule<<<
>>>Email info@rjbuckle.com for course schedule<<<
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