What training do Osteopaths receive?
All osteopaths are trained at colleges approved by the General Osteopathic Council (“RQ status”). They provide four or five year courses which include subjects such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, embryology, statistics, biomechanics, research methodology, pathology, practice of medicine, diagnosis, applied anatomy and physiology, technique, and specialized areas of patient care. The colleges have out-patients clinics where students treat patients under supervision of osteopathic clinical tutors. Rigorous examinations culminate in the Final Clinical Competence examination, a practical external examination under the aegis of the GosC. Once qualified, osteopaths are expected to undergo continuous professional development (CPD) by attending post-graduate courses and conferences and maintain high standards of theoretical and practical skills.
