May I go to a reflexologist that is not registered?
We live in a free country and you may do what you like to, but just because you can, does not mean you should. Let us look into the matter of so-called reflexologists practicing in South Africa, but not being properly registered.
Legislation
The Allied Health Professions Act (Act No. 63 of 1982) regulates the profession of Therapeutic Reflexology in South Africa and with latest recommendations by the National Minister of Health, it seems like the profession of Reflexology (without the term “therapeutic” preceding it) will also soon be part of this legislation.
What does this mean?
It simply means that any person wanting to practice reflexology in South Africa should be formally registered with a specific statutory council and to do so, they need to comply with the basic requirements with regards to qualifications, training and practical experience.
Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA)
The AHPCSA is the statutory council appointed by the Minister of Health to enforce the Allied Health Professions Act and to regulate numerous professions in South Africa, including therapeutic reflexology.
The AHPCSA is a statutory council and that means it compares to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) which regulate the conventional medical professions like medical doctor, medical specialists, dentists, physiotherapists, psychologists and so forth. This should make you aware of the seriousness of regulation by a statutory council.
If a medical doctor practices in South Africa without being registered and regulated by the HPCSA, it means they are practicing illegally and they will be prosecuted. Therapeutic Reflexologists function under similar legislation and when practicing illegally in South Africa by not being registered and regulated by the AHPCSA, they may be prosecuted accordingly.
Something that should be made very clear to the South African public is the following: Therapeutic Reflexologists do not have a choice of whether they want to register with the AHPCSA or not, they are required by law to register with the AHPCSA or else they are not allowed to legally practice within the country. Statutory council registration is totally different than registration with an association.
The AHPCSA is the only statutory council formally regulating the profession of Therapeutic Reflexology and there are no other organisations available that can provide the right to practice within South Africa. This is so formal, that when therapeutic reflexologists get to be entered into the practitioner register for therapeutic reflexology, their names are published in the Government Gazette; no organisation other than the AHPCSA provides this privilege for the profession.
Reflexology Association Registration
There are numerous associations available where therapeutic reflexologists may register with like The South African Reflexology Society (TSARS), The National Reflexology Association (TNRA), The International Academy of Reflexology and Meridian Therapy (IARAMT) Alumni Association, international organisations like the Irish Reflexologist’s Institute and so forth.
Registration with these associations are totally voluntary in South Africa and it does not give therapeutic reflexologists the right to practice the profession. These associations are there to help grow the profession and the reflexologists so it may be beneficial to belong to them for the sake of professional growth and continuous development, but belonging to any of these organisations does not provide reflexologists with the right to practice and earn an income from the profession; that is only possible by belonging to the AHPCSA.
Registration with other organisations
There are various other organisations available that attempt to regulate certain professions by making them register with them and then providing continuous development programmes to those practitioners. It should be clearly stated that there are no organisations in South Africa that can provide therapeutic reflexologists with the right to practice other than the statutory council, the AHPCSA; any organisation portraying to do so, it doing so illegally.
Therapeutic Reflexologist
The term Therapeutic Reflexologist can legally be used in South Africa only if the therapist is registered and formally regulated by the AHPCSA. In order to register with the AHPCSA, certain requirements with regards to minimum qualifications, subjects covered by the qualifications, the institution offering the qualifications and practical experience, should be in place and adhered to.
To be termed a Therapeutic Reflexologist is a great privilege as it means that the therapist has completed the necessary recognised training from a reputable institution (approved by the AHPCSA) and that the minimum required subjects have been successfully completed along with the necessary practical experience and community service hours. This is the basic requirements needed to be registered with the AHPCSA and thereafter the therapeutic reflexologist may apply for a practice number from the very same organisation that issue practice numbers to medical doctors in order to make reimbursement from medical schemes possible.
Any person portraying themselves to be a therapeutic reflexologist without being registered and regulated by the AHPCSA, is doing so illegally and they open themselves up to prosecution by law. This strict rules are in place to protect the public.
Public Protection
The AHPCSA is there to protect the public and to ensure that any person calling themselves a therapeutic reflexologist (or any of the other professions regulated by this statutory council), is legally allowed to do so.
It is therefore always a good first step for any person that wants to make use of the services of a therapeutic reflexologist, to have a look on the website of the AHPCSA and to see if the specific reflexologist’s name actually appears on the list of names registered with the council.
If the person’s name is not present on the list of therapeutic reflexologists on the website of the AHPCSA, it may be beneficial for your own protection to give the AHPCSA a call and to find out if the person is registered or not. If not, it is suggested that you rather find an alternative therapeutic reflexologist to make use of; for your own protection.
There are various organisations or associations having lists of reflexologists available and it may be good to know that a specific therapist belongs to these associations, but listings on these sites should always be verified with the list of registered practitioners on the AHPCSA website; it is ultimately the AHPCSA that regulates the profession of therapeutic reflexology.
May I use a non-registered reflexologist?
Now we are back to this question that was asked in the beginning of this article and the article remains the same, yes, you are free to make use of any reflexologist, but do you really want to?
The profession of therapeutic reflexology is formally regulated by the AHPCSA for the protection of the public so if any so-called therapeutic reflexologist is not registered with them, why would you want to make use of their services?
Don’t you think you deserve the best possible therapeutic reflexology? That is only possible in South Africa if the therapeutic reflexologist is fully qualified, registered and formally regulated by the AHPCSA.
Have you ever wondered why a specific reflexologist may not be registered by the AHPCSA, but still offers their services to the public? Is it because the person is not properly qualified and therefore the AHPCSA does not recognise their limited training? Is it maybe because the person studied from an unrecognised institution and the standard of their qualification is not acceptable to the AHPCSA or maybe the person could not pass the board exam? Is it perhaps because the person does not have the necessary practical experience? Is it possibly due to the person not wanting to comply to legislation and regulations that are in place to protect the public?
These are a few questions you should ask yourself before choosing a non-registered reflexologist. It is always better to choose a properly qualified and registered therapeutic reflexologist that is regulated by the AHPCSA for your own protection, but also to ensure you get the best possible service for the price you are paying; you deserve the highest quality of therapeutic reflexology for your feet. Do not settle for anything less.
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Christo A. Scheepers: Therapeutic Reflexologist
Dip.T.R.(Cum Laude) [IARAMT]
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 1080000737453
Tel. 072-800 7243