Professional Associations
Complementary Medicine

The British Complementary Medicine Association  (BCMA)

The BCMA is the major Complementary Medicine (CM) multi-therapy umbrella body in the UK, representing some 45 single therapy organisations (some of which are in themselves umbrella bodies but for a single therapy) and some 18 independent schools. Through this structure it speaks for over 20,000 practitioners of 11 different therapies.

The BCMA operates a system of voluntary self-regulation with a Code of Conduct and a Complaint Investigation and Disciplinary Procedure (with lay involvement) which are mandatory for all members and their practitioners. All applicants for membership undergo an investigation to ensure they have a satisfactory standard of education and training as part of their entry requirements. A minimum level of Medical Negligence and Public Liability insurance is also a requirement. It is also moving towards a requirement for Continuing Professional Development for membership and maintains a Practitioner Register for referrals of suitably qualified practitioners to the public.

It is encouraging all its members i) to become involved in the development of National Occupational Standards through Healthcare UK and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority as part of its commitment to ongoing standard-raising and ii) to seek Voluntary Statutory Self-Regulation as is available under the recent Health Act.

The basic aim of the BCMA is to help deliver safe and efficacious Complementary medicine to the public.

For more details, contact:

The British Complementary Medical Association
PO Box 2074
Seaford BN25 1HQ

Tel: 0845 5977
Fax: 0845 345 5978
Email: info@bcma.co.uk 
Web: www.bcma.co.uk