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Osteopath
Hours
Variable
Starting salary
£15,000 + per year
Osteopaths use their highly developed sense of touch (known as palpation) to reduce swelling, ease pain, locate strains and increase mobility. They work with clients to achieve a sense of wellbeing by helping them develop muscles, bones, ligaments, nerves and joints that work efficiently together. If you're interested in human biology, and have good co-ordination and practical skills, this job could be just right for you.
To be good at this job you will also need to be a good listener and have a genuine desire to help people. You will need to be physically fit.
To work as an osteopath, you need to complete an approved degree or Masters degree, and gain registration with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). If you are already medically qualified, you may be able to take a shortened programme. As part of your registration with the GOsC you will need to provide health and character references, and undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check.
WorkDesc
The work
As an osteopath, you would work with a variety of clients experiencing a range of problems including:
- older people with arthritis
- babies with colic
- adults with lower back pain
- people recovering from a sports injury
- women going through posture changes caused by pregnancy.
Before starting treatment, you would discuss with clients their health problems and medical history. You would examine their posture and gait, paying particular attention to their muscles, ligaments and vertebrae. You may also use X-rays and other traditional methods to help with your diagnosis.
With a diagnosis, you may plan a course of treatment, which would involve using gentle, hands-on techniques such as:
- joint mobilisation
- manipulation
- massage
- deep pressure.
You could also advise your clients about issues such as diet, exercise and lifestyle. If you were unable to fully address your clients issues, you would refer them to a doctor or another complementary therapist. You may also receive client referrals from GPs.
HoursDesc
Hours
You are likely to be self-employed, so flexible hours may be possible. However, you may need to cover some evenings and weekends to fit in with clients.
You will carry out your work in a consulting room, although you may treat patients in their own homes. For this reason, the ability to drive would be an advantage.
This work can be physically demanding.
IncomeDesc
Income
Starting salaries for osteopaths can be between £15,000 and £20,000 a year. With experience this can rise to around £20,000 to £40,000. In private practice, salaries can reach around £50,000 a year.
Most osteopaths are self-employed and can charge a sessional rate (often 30 minutes) of between £35 and £50.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
To work as an osteopath, you need to complete an approved degree or Masters degree, and gain registration with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). If you are already medically qualified, you may be able to take a shortened programme (see course providers for details).
To get on to a degree in osteopathy or osteopathic medicine, you will usually need:
- five GCSEs (A-C) including English, maths and science subjects
- two or three A levels, preferably including biology, human biology, physics or chemistry.
Check with universities for exact entry details because alternative qualifications, such as an Access to Higher Education course, may also be accepted. See the GOsC website for a list of approved courses.
Before you can register with the GOsC you will need to provide both health and character references. You will also need liability insurance and a Criminal Records Bureau check.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you are on an approved degree, you will combine academic study with practical training and clinical work placements (including a large amount of client contact).
You will study areas such as:
- medical sciences (anatomy and physiology)
- patient skills (psychology and communication skills)
- clinical medicine, pathology, diagnosis and treatment planning
- osteopathic techniques, concepts and philosophy (this element is integrated into all subject areas).
As a qualified osteopath, you will need to complete 30 hours of relevant learning each year as part of the GOsC's compulsory scheme of continuing professional development (CPD); see the GOsC website for details.
You could go on to take further courses in accounts, business or marketing or a specialised area of osteopathy, such as paediatrics or sports care.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To be an osteopath you should have:
- a genuine desire to help people
- the ability to gain trust and reassure your clients
- good co-ordination and practical skills
- good listening skills
- an interest in science, particularly human biology and chemistry
- a good level of physical fitness
- an understanding of when to refer clients to a qualified medical doctor
- good problem solving skills
- strong powers of observation
- the ability to run your own business, including marketing and accounts.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) 
Osteopathy House
176 Tower Bridge Road
London
SE1 3LU
Tel: 020 7357 6655
www.osteopathy.org.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
There is an increasing interest in posture-related problems (for example, with car drivers and computer users) and the demand for qualified osteopaths has grown 25% since the 1990s according to the GOsC. Currently, over 3,500 osteopaths are registered with the GOsC in the UK.
You are likely to find most work as a self-employed osteopath in the private sector, running your own practice or working in a private health care centre or sports clinic. You may also find some opportunities in the NHS (for example in an integrated, community-based clinic, working alongside chiropodists and physiotherapists) or within occupational health teams or consultancy firms.
With experience you could go into research or training. You could also work overseas.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
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