I am a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) which is the leading self-regulatory body for the practice of traditional acupuncture in the UK. It is a member-led organisation, governed by an elected Governing Board and driven by a specialist staff team. 

They provide members with a wide range of services to facilitate practice and ensure the highest standards. Their responsibilities include:

maintaining the highest professional standards of practice for acupuncture in the UK
overseeing and accrediting acupuncture education to ensure excellence in training
funding evidence-based clinical research on the benefits of traditional acupuncture
As a member I am bound by the Council’s stringent Standards of Practice and Codes of Ethics.

The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care is a government body set up to oversee statutory bodies that hold voluntary registers of health and social care professionals, such as the British Acupuncture Council. Acupuncture in the UK is not covered by statutory regulation, and as such it was felt that distinguishing between acupuncturists who had undertaken short courses, and those that had undertaken more extensive study, was of interest to members of the general public looking for high standards of care.  The BAcC was an early member of the Professional Standards Authority’s ‘Accredited Voluntary Register’ (AVR), which recognises the fact that they maintain high standards of training, safe practice and professional conduct among members. You can read the BAcC’s entry on their register here if you would like to know more

The Shiatsu Society ‘Established in 1981, the Shiatsu Society is the UK’s leading professional Shiatsu organisation and is internationally recognised for its high standards. The Shiatsu Society is comprised of a Governing Body and members.  The Shiatsu Society holds a Register of Practitioners: All Registered Practitioners have completed an approved level of training, follow the Code of Conduct and Ethics and are fully insured.

The Shiatsu Society is committed to:

• Expanding awareness of Shiatsu
• Establishing and maintaining the highest professional standards of practice for Shiatsu in the UK
• Overseeing and accrediting Shiatsu education to ensure excellence in training
• Representing the interests of our Shiatsu practitioners
• Funding evidence-based clinical research on Shiatsu
• Participating with Government recognised Regulators in voluntary regulation of Shiatsu in the UK
• Promoting integrated healthcare and contributing to the development of national healthcare policy