Special Treatment Therapist Registrations

Licence summary

The Therapist Registration scheme runs alongside Part II of the London Local Authorities Act 1991 relating to Special Treatment Premises. Standard Condition 10(a) attached to special treatment licences issued under Part II of the London Local Authorities Act 1991 states that ‘Only those persons currently registered by the Council may give Special Treatment and may only give those treatments specified on the registration document.  Such persons shall wear an identification card supplied by the Council’

Applications made to this Licensing Authority are split into 2 categories:

• Lower Risk Treatments (considered a low risk as the treatment itself is unlikely to cause any harm to the person receiving the treatment); and
• Higher Risk Treatments (WCC consider treatments such as Acupuncture, Body Piercing, Tattoo and Micropigmentation, etc to be higher risk as there is a potential to cause harm and a likelihood of the practitioners coming into contact with blood or bodily fluid.  Laser and IPL are considered high risk because of the nature of the machines.  If the machines are misused then there are risks of eye damage or skin burns, etc).

For a complete list of the treatments that individuals are required to be registered to administer click here.  

Please note that the Council does not charge a fee for any therapist applications.

Eligibility Criteria

You will be refused a licence if:

• you have been convicted of a relevant offence or you are deemed unsuitable;
• you do not have the qualifications to provide the treatments requested;
• you have not provided a signed passport sized photograph

To view the recognised types of qualifications accepted by Westminster at this time click here.  Please note this document is subject to changes/updates.  Therefore if a qualification is not on the list please contact  020 7641 3161 to check whether it can be accepted. 

Exemptions

The exemption from the requirement for registration are only those persons employed to provide special treatment that are current and valid members of an exempted body that appears on the current ‘List of Bodies of Health practitioners Granted Exemption Under Section 4’ that is updated periodically by Westminster City Council. To view the list of exempted bodies please click here.

Regulation Summary

The Massage and Special Treatment Therapist registration scheme has been established by the Council via a resolution.  The Council using its powers under the London Local Authorities Act 1991 to prescribe standard conditions on Massage and Special Treatment Premises Licences has established a standard condition that no persons can provide massage or special treatments in a licensed premises without being registered by the Council.

Application Evaluation Process

The Licensing Authority will take into account your qualifications, experience and any representations made by the Environmental Health Service regarding your application.

Will Tacit Consent Apply?

No - It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the Licensing Authority within a reasonable period, please contact us.  If you wish to contact the Licensing Authority please telephone the Licensing hotline on 020 7641 8549 or email generallicensing@westminster.gov.uk.

Apply

To apply for a licence please complete the relevant form below.

• Apply for a new massage and special treatment therapist registration.
• Apply to renew a massage and special treatment therapist registration.
• Apply to vary a massage and special treatment therapist registration.

Once the forms are completed please send them to the address below with any required certification or qualification or training.  If it is a new application or renewal then please also include the named therapists photograph.

Licensing Service, Westminster City Council, 4th Floor, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP.

If you have any questions relating to the application process or forms please do not hesitate to contact the Licensing Hotline on 020 7641 8549 or email generallicensing@westminster.gov.uk.

Register

A public register is available to view at the Council's Offices during normal office hours.  To make an appointment to view the register please contact the Licensing Service on 020 7641 8549 or alternatively email generallicensing@westminster.gov.uk.

Failed application or licence Holder Redress

Please contact your local authority in the first instance please telephone the Licensing hotline on 020 7641 8549 or email generallicensing@westminster.gov.uk.

The council operates a complaints procedure if you have not been satisfied with the way in which the Council has interacted with you.  To view the complaints procedure or to make a complaint relating to the service you have received please click here.

Consumer Complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery).  If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre. 

If  you wish to make a complaint relating to a registered therapist please put your complaint in writing and send it to The Licensing Service, Westminster City Council, 64  Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP or alternatively you can email generallicensing@westminster.gov.uk. 

Other Redress

Should any person have a complaint relating to a registered therapist or suspect that a person is providing massage or special treatments without the required registration please contact the Council's Licensing Inspectors on 020 7641 3385 or email premiseslicensinginspectorate@westminster.gov.uk.

Trade Associations

British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC)

Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT)



British Association of Skin Camouflage

Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (SCP)