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To work as an osteopath, you will need either a Bachelor’s (BSc) or Masters of Science (MSc) approved by the General Osteopathic Council and be registered with the Council. Courses typically last three to five years and are a combination of academic, research and more than 1,000 hours of hands-on patient-facing clinical training.

Hours will vary, depending on where you work - for example if you have your own practice. The average full-time equivalent income for an osteopath is £55,708. An associate (an osteopath working within an osteopathic or multidisciplinary practice) earns an average of £41,000. (All figures provided from the 2024 Institute of Osteopathy census of the profession). Approximately 6% of the profession work for the NHS.

To work in osteopathy, you will need a patient-centred approach, an interest in people and how the body works, the ability to work by yourself and think independently, to be able to follow rules, a scientific, enquiring mind, curiosity and creativity, integrity, and the ability to take responsibility.

On graduation, most osteopaths choose to set up their own private clinics, working as a sole practitioner or with other healthcare professionals. They may then choose to pursue advanced clinical practice pathways through postgraduate training in a particular area of practice such as sports injuries, care of the elderly or working with children. There are also opportunities for study at MSc and PhD level. Non-clinical career roles also exist in teaching, professional development and research providing opportunities to create a varied portfolio career. In the NHS, osteopaths may choose to expand their post by taking on the management and leadership of a team or by pursuing an ‘extended scope practitioner’ role.