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Wellbeing

Osteopath

Osteopaths massage, move and stretch clients' muscles and joints to improve wellbeing or help with a health issue.

Annual Salary

£0 to £0

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

37 to 39 variable

You could work: in your own business; managing your own hours

3.8%
Future employment

There will be 3.8% more Osteopath jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As an osteopath you could:

  • ask clients about their health and medical history
  • look at their posture and how they walk, paying attention to their muscles, bones and joints
  • use X-rays to help with your diagnosis and plan a course of treatment
  • use gentle techniques like stretching, movement and massage
  • give clients advice on exercises to do at home, lifestyle and diet

Working environment

You could work in an NHS or private hospital, in a therapy clinic, at a client's home or from home.

You can get into this job through a university course or professional development training.

University

To become an osteopath, you'll need to complete a degree or postgraduate master's degree approved by the General Osteopathic Council.

Courses usually take 4 years full time, or you might be able to study part time over 5 years.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including a science, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Volunteering and work experience

You'll find it helpful to get some work experience in healthcare with an osteopath before you apply for a course.

Other routes

If you're already medically qualified, for example as a doctor or physiotherapist, you might be able to do a shorter postgraduate training programme.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

  • Before you can register with the General Osteopathic Council, you'll need to give health and personal character references.
  • have insurance
  • pass enhanced background checks

More information

Career tips

When applying for courses and jobs, you'll be expected to have an understanding of how the NHS values apply in your work.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming an osteopath from the General Osteopathic Council and Health Careers.

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With experience you could:set up your your own osteopathy practice; do further training and move into teaching osteopathy students; move into osteopathic research

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • knowledge of medicine and dentistry
  • physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • to enjoy working with other people
  • customer service skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • analytical thinking skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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