This page tells you about the standards osteopaths must meet during their training, their practice and their continuing professional development.
All osteopaths practising in the UK have completed rigorous training. Students of osteopathy follow a four or five-year degree course, during which they study anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, nutrition and biomechanics. In addition they undergo a minimum of 1,000 hours of clinical training. Qualification generally takes the form of a bachelor’s degree in osteopathy – a BSc(Hons), BOst or BOstMed – or a masters degree in osteopathy (MOst).
The standards of competence expected from an osteopath in their practice are outlined in the document Standard 2000 - Standard of Proficiency.
Osteopaths must also comply with a code of ethics, the osteopathic Code of Practice.
We set the standards of osteopathic education, and require qualified osteopaths to update their training throughout their working lives, a process known as Continuing Professional Development.
We are currently developing a scheme for revalidating our registrants, as all healthcare regulators are required to do by the Government. Revalidation is the process by which osteopaths will have to demonstrate to us that they are up to date and fit to practise, and meet the relevant professional standards. For further information visit our Revalidation page.
As well as completing the necessary training, osteopaths must also prove themselves to be in good health and of good character, and have professional indemnity insurance cover.
There may be occasions when a UK osteopath graduate could have their registration application reconsidered on the grounds of conduct or health. Our statement on the relationship between recognised qualifications and registration outlines the limited circumstances in which this might happen. For further information about this, see How to register - UK qualified.
We are currently reviewing the Code of Practice and Standard 2000 - Standard of Proficiency and initial consultations were held in 2009. Following these it was decided to bring together the revised Code and standards and we will be consulting on these towards the end of 2010, with a view to publishing the new Code and standards in 2011.
There is a report on the results of the consultation on the Osteopathic Practice Standards in The Osteopath for February/March 2010. For more information about these, and other consultations, visit our Consultations page.
We welcome comments and feedback about this website and the information on it. If you have any comments or if you have not been able to find the information you want in this section or on the website as a whole, please contact us by using the form on the Contact us page or by emailing info@osteopathy.org.uk.
