All osteopaths must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council to be able to practise in the UK.
Osteopaths are trained to degree level attaining either a Bachelor’s (BSc) or Masters of Science (MSc).
Courses typically last four to five years and are a combination of academic, research and over 1,000 hours of hands-on patient-facing clinical training. This intensive medical training equips osteopaths with an in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, psychology and pathology combined with robust clinical examination techniques.
In order to stay on the register of the General Osteopathic Council, you’ll have to maintain your skills and knowledge with continuous professional development (CPD). Requirements for osteopaths include at least 30 hours of CPD every year, of which 15 hours must involve learning with others. CPD can include lectures, seminars, courses, practical sessions, individual study. The Institute offers a range of CPD opportunities.
To practise as a physiotherapist, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). To register with the HCPC, you first need to successfully complete an approved degree level qualification in physiotherapy. This may be a full or part-time course or a degree apprenticeship in physiotherapy. Full time degrees take three years. Part time degrees vary from four to six years.
Courses differ but all involve a lot of practical work with patients.
To get onto a physiotherapy degree course you usually need two or three A levels, including a biological science and/or PE, along with five GCSEs (grades A-C), including English language, maths and at least one science.
A degree standard apprenticeship in physiotherapy has been approved for delivery. To get onto a degree apprenticeship, you will need to apply for an apprentice position with a health care provider. Once you’ve successfully completed a programme approved by the HCPC, you are then eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC. Once registered as a practitioner, you’ll be required to retain your name on the register by keeping your knowledge and skills up to date and paying an annual retention fee.
Both are listed as Allied Health Professions by the NHS. One requires formalised CPD to stay as a practitioner, the other "keeping your skills up to date and paying an annual fee"...
Both have their place
