How to become a Hypnotherapist in the UK
If you are looking to move into a meaningful, rewarding career as a hypnotherapist, the path begins with choosing an accredited, ethically grounded training school. Here is how to train as a hypnotherapist in the UK, and how we can help.
Why your choice of training school matters
Because hypnotherapy is not statutorily regulated in the UK, learning from the right training provider really matters. The quality of your qualification, your professional insurance, your clients' trust and your ongoing community all rest on the standard of your training.
What qualification do I need to become a hypnotherapist?
When you compare UK training options, look for a curriculum that bridges rigorous academic standards with hands-on clinical confidence. With us, that means an NCH-accredited route to the Hypnotherapy in Practice Diploma, HPD (NCH), a qualification employers, insurers and professional registers recognise.
- Accreditation: we are an NCH (National Council for Hypnotherapy) Accredited Training School, and the APHP (Association for Professional Hypnosis and Psychotherapy) recognises our CPD training.
- 10 modules over one year: our next diploma cohort starts in April 2027. You'll have one training weekend a month, with two months off so you have free time to practise. Step by step, we take you from the foundations of hypnotherapy through inductions and solution-focused techniques to ethical client work.
What is it like to train with us?
Balancing a career change, family or existing work with professional training needs a well-structured, modern approach. We combine the best of both worlds:
- Blended delivery: a thoughtful mix of live, interactive training on Zoom and immersive in-person training weekends. Seven of the ten modules are in person and three are live online.
- A calm, professional venue: our in-person training days take place at the tranquil Mendip Spring Golf & Country Club in Congresbury, North Somerset, a short distance from Bristol and Weston-super-Mare, with good links to the M5 and M4. You'll have complimentary parking, lunch and refreshments on training days.
- The NHTA Student Hub: our web-based learning Hub, where you'll find your resources and complete your course work between modules, with regular feedback throughout your training.
Who will teach me?
You won't just be learning from a textbook. You'll be taught by practitioners who work with clients in the field. Our academy is led by its two founders:
Lisa Williams Edgar
Founder, Director & Senior Trainer
Qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Senior Lecturer and Supervisor in Integrative Clinical Hypnotherapy, with additional training in psychotherapy, CBT skills and NLP. Practical and focused on building ethical professional identity.
Angie Hayes
Founder, Director & Senior Trainer
Clinical Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist and Solution Focused Brief Therapist with a background in corporate coaching. Trained with BRIEF International alongside Elliott Connie, bringing solution-focused approaches to meaningful change.
What support is there after you qualify?
Getting your diploma is just the beginning. A thriving practice needs community, support and continuous growth, and we support you long after graduation day:
- Supervision: we offer NCH Certified Supervision, a safe, reflective space to explore your client work and grow your skills.
- CPD and workshops: throughout the year, you can expand your toolkit with specialist live training in areas such as phobias, OCD, addiction, NLP, mindset and working with young people. The APHP recognises our CPD training.
- Professional membership pathways: your training is a route into professional membership with bodies such as the NCH and APHP, and eligible graduates may apply for CNHC registration through an approved verifying organisation.
Your next steps
Whether you are looking to change careers entirely, add a powerful therapeutic approach to an existing counselling or coaching practice, or deepen your professional skill set, the journey starts with a conversation and a prospectus.
Frequently asked questions
How long does hypnotherapy training take?
One year. You have ten monthly training weekends, one module at a time: seven in person at our venue and three live online, with two months free for practice. You have 120 live teaching hours, plus practical work and independent study between modules. Our next intake is the April 2027 cohort.
How much does the hypnotherapy course cost?
The New Horizon Training Academy Diploma in Clinical Solution Focused and Integrative Hypnotherapy training fee is currently £3,325 if you pay in full at the start or £347.50 per month for ten months. HPD registration and assessment are included, and NCH student membership is free for 18 months while you study. Beyond that, budget for student insurance once you start client practice (as a guide, around £41 a year; check it covers reduced-fee client sessions) and, where appropriate, an Enhanced DBS check (about £60–£70 in total, including the £41 government fee).
Who can apply for the diploma?
You need to be 18 or over, and you don't need any previous qualifications or experience in hypnotherapy. Before you're accepted, we have an individual conversation with you to make sure the training is right for you. You'll also need to be comfortable using email, Zoom and our online Learning Hub, but you don't need advanced IT skills.
What accreditation does the diploma have?
We are an NCH Accredited Training School. We award our own Level 4 diploma: the New Horizon Training Academy Diploma in Clinical Solution Focused and Integrative Hypnotherapy (NHTA Dip.CSFIH). You may also work towards the Hypnotherapy in Practice Diploma, HPD (NCH), through the National Council for Hypnotherapy. The HPD is accredited and externally verified by NCFE through the NCH, and benchmarked at Level 4. After the course and external moderation, HPD certificates are issued jointly by the NCH and NCFE. The APHP recognises our CPD training, and both the NCH and APHP offer routes into professional membership.
Can I register with the CNHC after this course?
CNHC registration isn't automatic. Eligible graduates may apply for CNHC registration through an approved verifying organisation.
Is the hypnotherapy course online or in person?
Both. You will have ten training weekends, one a month. Seven of these will be in-person weekends at our venue. The other three will be live online. In between you will work on your module with our learning system.
How much independent study is there between modules?
Allow about 8–10 hours a week. That covers reading, written assignments, practising techniques and reflective learning, and later in the course your supervised client practice and case studies. If you're working towards the HPD, it also includes your HPD portfolio.
How many students are in each group?
We keep groups small so you get plenty of individual attention. The April 2027 intake has a maximum of 16 students.
Can I practise with clients while I'm training?
Yes. From Module 7, once you're ready, you can see members of the public and charge half the usual fee, about £35 an hour. You'll need supervision, client documentation and insurance in place first, and you should confirm that your insurance covers paid student practice.
What career or earnings can I expect?
The diploma is your route into a new career. One module covers ethics, insurance, supervision and finding your first clients, and your assessment includes a minimum of five formal case studies, so you finish the course with real client experience.
Is supervision available after I qualify?
Yes. We offer professional supervision as a separate paid service, not included in the course fee. It takes place online via Zoom, and you can choose individual or group sessions.
What letters can I use after my name?
Once you're awarded our diploma, you can use NHTA Dip.CSFIH, and HPD (NCH) once the HPD is awarded. Membership letters such as MNCH (Reg.) or MAPHP can be used only once you've been accepted into that membership grade. NCFE doesn't award post-nominal letters, and CNHC registration isn't automatic.
Where can I find out more?
Read about our hypnotherapy training course, or see where we train in Bristol and the South West. After you qualify, you can find supervision with us. If you have a question, contact us.
Start your hypnotherapy training
Our next diploma cohort begins in April 2027. Book a call with us to start your enrolment and secure your place, or download the prospectus first.