Hi ya
Jupiter: I belong to Embody/CThA and the Association of Reflexologists. I not biased towards these organisations, it just my perceived convenience and personal choice. They are others, but organisations like Embody, AoR, and of course FHT do look after the interests (I hope) of us practitioners. But if they don't, fire them! Sounds like Paul has already has. One thing I would be positive about Embody is that the insurance policy is pretty good, and their therapist search engine is very good, much better than others.
reepicheep: I can understand that you wish to progress in your training, but a correspondance course in Aromatherapy is not the way to go, unless it has mountains of practical workshops and exceptable to associations and insurance providers. If you go the student and training forum, you will find many threads about such courses. Personally I wouldn't let anyone who has just studied a BSY aromatherapy touch me with a barge pole, let along give them money. There is nothing wrong in personal study and even distance learning, but there is no short cut in proper professional training. Even if the courses local to you are not very holistic, you can make them holistic with personal study and CPD training. As for governing bodies - who knows. The main aromatherapy organisation is the Aromatherapy Council and that has just closed and has become a therapy forum. Hardly anybody joined them. If a course isn't a minimum of a NVQ level 3 ie ITEC, VTCT, APNT and a few others I can't remember, you are pouring money down the drain. Welcome to HP and hope you enjoy yourself.
Best Wishes
Reiki Pixie