Certifications and Associations

American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (A.C.H.E.)

Based in San Diego, California, and with 9400 members world-wide, the ACHE is the primary hypnotherapist certifying association in the United States. It has the highest educational standards of any hypnosis association in the world, only accepting hypnotherapy schools, such as the Hypnotherapy Training Institute, which satisfy the strict licensing requirements of the California State Council for Private, Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

During the past 20 years, the ACHE has done crucial work to legitimatize, protect and strengthen the hypnotherapy profession in federal and many state legislatures throughout the United States, far more than all the other certifying agencies combined. To become a certified hypnotherapist, candidates must complete the required minimum number of 200-300 classroom training hours by an ACHE approved school (not by mail order) and pass both a written and practical test. Members must agree in writing to abide by the ACHE’s code of ethics in their practice. Every two years thereafter members must complete 30 hours of continuing education for re-certification, as do other health professionals.

Because of its rigorous standards, the ACHE is the only hypnotherapy certification association which accepts non-licensed professionals that is recognized by the State of California and many other state and federal government agencies. By comparison, the hypnosis training requirements for both the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis and the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, which both only accept licensed professionals, are just a fraction of the ACHE’s training requirements. (The reason why hypnotherapists are generally not licensed by the state is that hypnosis is considered a safe procedure, without harmful side-effects… unlike a dentist, doctor, massage therapist or even a hair dresser; the things that they do could possibly harm you.)

Consumer Beware! Make sure your hypnotherapist is certified by an independent association, and not just the bearer of a “certificate of completion” by the weekend training program they attended or home study course they completed. Claiming to have the title of “Certified Hypnotherapist” without any accountability to an association overseeing the certification, in my opinion, is unethical and lowers professional standards. This manipulation of language is encouraged by some hypnotherapy training programs to both further their own interests and illegitimately mimic the ACHE’s high standards.

As a Hypnotherapist holding a Certification from the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners, I commit myself to conduct my professional relationships in accord with the Code of Ethics and subscribe to the following statements:

• I regard as my primary obligation the welfare of the individual or group served.
• I will not discriminate because of race, color, religion, age, sex, or national ancestry and in my job capacity will work to prevent and eliminate such discrimination in rendering service, in work assignments, and in employment practices.
• I give precedence to my professional responsibility over my personal interests.
• I hold myself responsible for the quality and extent of the service I perform.
• I respect the privacy of the people I serve.
• I respect the rights, desires and needs of my clients at all times.
• I use in a responsible manner information gained in professional relationships.
• I treat with respect the findings, views, and actions of colleagues and use appropriate channels to express judgment on these matters.
• I practice hypnotherapy within the recognized knowledge and competence of the profession and findings to the body of hypnotism knowledge and practice.
• I accept responsibility to help protect the community against unethical practice by any individuals or organizations engaged in hypnotic services.
• I distinguish clearly, in public, between my statements and actions as an individual and as a representative of an organization.
• I support the principle that professional practice requires professional education.
• I teach self-hypnosis to my clients/students whenever possible.
• I contribute my knowledge, skills and support to programs of human welfare.
• I agree to conduct my practice and all professional interactions in strict accordance with the Code of Ethics as defined. If I am charged with an ethics violation, I understand that an investigation may be conducted upon receipt of a written complaint signed by a complaining victim. I will be given an opportunity to present my version of the complaint to the Ethics Committee. I understand that my Certification could be suspended for a specified period of time or revoked by a unanimous vote of the Ethics Committee. In any case, I agree to hold the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners harmless for such actions.

If you would like to check on the status of an ACHE member, or find an ACHE Hypnotherapist or ACHE approved school in your area, please call 1-800-894-9766.