What you need to know
All premises offering massage and other special treatments must apply for a licence before they commence trading. It is an offence to operate without a licence.
The following treatments would require a licence:
- acupuncture
- body piercing
- chiropody
- cosmetic piercing
- electrolysis
- facial treatments
- massage treatments, aromatherapy and reflexology
- nail treatments
- non-surgical lasers and intense light source systems
- saunas and steam rooms
- spa pools
- tattooing
- ultra violet light treatments
- other treatments of a like kind to those listed above.
There are guidance notes and codes of practice available to download on our website.
There are a number of organisations do not require a licence. In certain circumstances, we may grant an exemption to a business or individual therapist from the requirement to have a licence when the therapists or practitioners are members of specific professional bodies.
Exemptions
- premises not used for gain or reward
- certain exemptions for medical practitioners, dentists and professions supplementary to medicine (nurses) hospitals and nursing homes
- applicant membership of an approved body of health practitioners
- registered osteopaths under the Osteopaths Act 1993
- registered chiropractors under the Chiropractors Act 1994
- state registered chiropodists/podiatrists
- state registered physiotherapists
If you feel you may be exempt from licensing, you will need to supply us with a copy of the membership certificate for your particular professional body and proof of identity. This will enable the us to establish your exemption status. If you are exempt, we will issue a registration of exemption from licensing.
Licence conditions
Before you make an application, you may check with us that your qualifications meets the licensing requirements by emailing them to licensing@hillingdon.gov.uk.
We thoroughly check the adequacy and authenticity of any practitioner's qualifications submitted in support of a licence application. Any practitioner without appropriate qualifications or experience may not be licensed to administer special treatments.
We may require you to take further qualifications in line with industry guidance.
A photocopy of qualification certificates must be submitted with applications.
Please note: We cannot take responsibility for loss or damage to any certificates posted to us.