Assuring the quality of osteopathic qualifications

The GOsC is in the process of reviewing the quality assurance procedures used to assess the standards of osteopathic training courses and the course providers.

As part of this review, we sought feedback from the osteopathic educational institutions, the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE), the Department of Health, and the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), an independent body employed to conduct the review of qualifications on behalf of the GOsC. This feedback is vital in helping us to ensure that the quality assurance process is fit for purpose, transparent and up to date.

From the feedback we received it was clear that revisions are needed to the annual reports submitted by the osteopathic educational institutions to the GOsC, and to the GOsC/QAA handbook which sets out the process for the quality assurance of osteopathic educational courses. Further information on the handbook can be found on the QAA website (www.qaa.ac.uk).

Consultation

Beginning in February 2011, the QAA will be holding a formal consultation on the changes to these documents. You will be able to comment via this website and it is expected that the revised documents will be published later this year.

Further information will be available shortly.