For IARP Reiki Practitioner and Reiki Master Teacher Professional Members

This Code reflects IARP’s founding commitment to Energy, Ethics, Excellence™. It is the shared standard that IARP Professional Members agree to uphold to best serve their clients and students. 

The IARP Code of Ethics exists to protect the people we serve — clients, students, and the broader public — and to protect the integrity of Reiki as a profession. Every IARP Reiki Practitioner (RP) and Reiki Master Teacher (RMT) Member agrees to uphold this Code as a condition of membership.

This Code is not a list of restrictions to work around — it is the shared standard behind every IARP Professional Membership.

This Code applies equally to in-person, distance, and virtual Reiki sessions and classes, unless a specific provision states otherwise.

Contents

• 1. Confidentiality & Privacy
  2. Scope of Practice & Non-Diagnosis
  3. Client & Student Care
  4. Standards for Master Teachers

• 5. Professional Conduct
  6. Ongoing Personal Growth
  7. Use of IARP Credentials
  8. Upholding This Code

1. Confidentiality & Privacy

1.1 Information shared by a client or student in the context of a Reiki session or class is confidential. Members do not disclose what a client or student shares, or the fact that someone is a client or student, without their permission — except where disclosure is required by law or necessary to prevent imminent harm to the client or another person.

1.2 Members who keep session notes or client records store them securely and limit access to those records appropriately, consistent with applicable privacy laws in their jurisdiction.

1.3 Confidentiality obligations continue even after a client or student stops working with a member, and even after a member’s IARP membership ends.

2. Scope of Practice & Non-Diagnosis

2.1 Reiki is a complementary practice. Members never diagnose, treat, or claim to cure any medical, psychological, or psychiatric condition, and never suggest that Reiki is a substitute for qualified medical or mental health care.

2.2 Members never advise a client to delay, change, reduce, or stop treatment, medication, or care prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider.

2.3 Members practice only within the scope of their actual training and certification. A member does not offer, imply, or advertise services — Reiki or otherwise — beyond what they are qualified and, where applicable, licensed to provide.

2.4 Members refer clients to an appropriate licensed professional (physician, licensed therapist, or other qualified provider) when a client’s needs fall outside the scope of Reiki or the member’s other qualifications.

2.5 Before a client’s first session, members provide a clear description — oral or written — of what a Reiki session involves and what the client can expect, including that Reiki is complementary and not a guaranteed cure but a supportive modality.

2.6 Before a Reiki class begins, members provide a clear, written description of what will be taught at each level and what the student will be able to do upon completion.

3. Client & Student Care

3.1 A safe, respectful environment. Members provide a safe, comfortable, and professional space for sessions and classes, whether in person or virtual, and work to create an environment that is empowering and supportive for everyone they serve.

3.2 Informed consent. Members ensure clients and students understand and agree to what a session or course involves before it begins, including any physical contact involved.

3.3 Physical boundaries. A Reiki session is always conducted with the client fully clothed. Members never ask a client to disrobe. Members never touch the genital area or breasts under any circumstance; where treatment near these areas is indicated, members practice hands-off healing, maintaining a minimum distance of two feet or 0.6 meters from the body.

3.4 Sensitivity to individual boundaries. Members remain attentive to each client’s or student’s individual comfort level and boundary needs, adjusting their approach — including offering hands-off or distance sessions — whenever a client or student requests it.

3.5 Respect and non-discrimination. Members treat every client and student with respect and dignity, and do not discriminate in the provision of services on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.

3.6 Respect for other paths. Members are respectful of other practitioners’ Reiki lineages, styles, and views, and of clients’ and students’ own spiritual or religious beliefs, refraining from disparaging other legitimate approaches to Reiki.

4. Standards for Reiki Master Teachers

In addition to the standards above, which apply to all members, Reiki Master Teacher members agree to the following:

4.1Provide instruction that meets or exceeds the generally accepted standards for each level of Reiki being taught, using clear, organized course material.

4.2 Support students beyond the classroom — remaining reasonably available to answer questions and provide guidance as students begin applying what they’ve learned directly after a course.

4.3 Teach in a manner that empowers students toward their own growth and self-sufficiency in their Reiki practice, rather than fostering unnecessary dependence on the teacher.

4.4 Issue certificates and credentials accurately and only upon a student’s genuine completion of the applicable training, in accordance with IARP’s certificate and diploma program standards where used.

4.5 Represent their own lineage, training, and credentials honestly in all teaching materials, advertising, and communications with prospective students.

5. Professional Conduct

5.1 Members represent IARP professionally in the community, in person or online, working to build harmony and cooperation among Reiki practitioners and teachers rather than public conflict or disparagement.

5.2 Members advertise their services honestly, without exaggerated, misleading, or unverifiable claims about the effects of Reiki.

5.3 Members maintain compliance with all applicable local, county, state or province, and national laws and regulations governing the practice of Reiki and any complementary modalities they offer.

5.4 Members strive to be a positive presence in their community, doing consistently good and honest work as a representative of the Reiki profession.

6. Ongoing Personal Growth

6.1 Members are encouraged to maintain and deepen their own Reiki practice and personal growth, recognizing that a practitioner’s own well-being and self-awareness directly affect the quality of care they provide to others.

6.2 Members pursuing continuing education and additional training are encouraged to do so with the same standards of honesty and diligence expected of their own students and clients.

7. Use of IARP Credentials

7.1 Members may use approved IARP designations, badges, and the IARP name only while their membership is current and in good standing.

7.2 Upon lapse, resignation, suspension, or termination of membership, members must immediately discontinue use of all IARP badges, designations, certificates, and any reference to current IARP membership in advertising or professional materials.

7.3 Members do not misrepresent their membership status, tier, or any IARP-issued designation (including a future IARP Certified™ credential, once available).

8. Upholding This Code

8.1 IARP relies on the integrity of its members to uphold this Code. IARP reserves the right to review reported concerns regarding a member’s conduct and, where a violation of this Code is substantiated, may take action up to and including suspension or termination of membership, consistent with IARP’s Membership Terms and Conditions.

8.2 Concerns about a member’s conduct may be directed to IARP through the Contact page.

Acknowledgement

By maintaining IARP Professional Membership, Reiki Practitioners and Reiki Master Teachers affirm their agreement to uphold this Code of Ethics in full.