Yes. Osteopathy is regulated by law in the UK. Under the Osteopaths Act 1993, nobody can call themselves an osteopath unless they are on the register kept by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), and you can check that register online in a minute or two before you book.
That matters because plenty of people who work on backs, necks and shoulders are not regulated in the same way. Below is what the register actually guarantees, how to check someone, and what happens if treatment goes wrong.
The short version
- Osteopath is a protected title under UK law.
- Only people on the GOsC register can call themselves osteopaths.
- Registered osteopaths must hold at least £5 million of indemnity insurance.
- Anyone can search the GOsC register online for free.
- The GOsC investigates concerns about conduct, competence and health.
What the law says
Section 32 of the Osteopaths Act makes it an offence for anyone to describe themselves as an osteopath, "whether expressly or by implication", unless they are a registered osteopath. The wording also catches variations such as "osteopathic practitioner" and "osteotherapist", so a clever job title does not get round it.
The GOsC enforces this. When it hears about someone using the title without being registered, it writes to them first and, if they carry on, it can and does prosecute. A conviction can bring a fine and court costs.
The regulator is checked too. The Professional Standards Authority oversees the GOsC alongside the statutory regulators for chiropractors, dentists, pharmacists and nurses, among others.
What being on the register means for you
To get on the register and stay on it, an osteopath has to meet several ongoing requirements:
- A qualification recognised by the GOsC. Training providers have to meet its education standards and graduate outcomes.
- Working to the Osteopathic Practice Standards, which cover communication and patient partnership, knowledge and skills, safety and quality, and professionalism.
- 90 hours of continuing professional development every three years, at least 45 of them learning with others. The GOsC randomly selects 5 to 10% of osteopaths each month to check their records.
- Professional indemnity insurance with at least £5 million of cover, held continuously. This is a legal requirement under section 37 of the Act, and it exists to protect patients if a claim is ever made.
As a registered osteopath myself, I declare that insurance every year when I renew. It is paperwork, but it is paperwork that sits there for the patient's benefit.
How to check an osteopath before you book
Use the GOsC register search. You can search by surname, registration number, or postcode or town. If the person treating you is not on it, they should not be calling themselves an osteopath.
The NHS gives the same advice: check that a chiropractor or osteopath is registered with the General Chiropractic Council or the GOsC, because both professions have to be registered by law. Most other complementary therapists do not, so the NHS suggests choosing one who is on a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Physiotherapists are regulated separately. The NHS advises checking that a private physiotherapist is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). If you are weighing up the professions, our piece on osteopaths and chiropractors covers the practical differences.
Every osteopath at our clinic in Stopsley is on the GOsC register, because the law requires it. You are welcome to look any of us up before you come in.
What happens if something goes wrong
If you are unhappy with your care, raising it with the clinic first is often the quickest route. If that does not resolve it, or the concern is serious, you can raise a concern with the GOsC by phone, by email or through its online form.
The GOsC says it receives around 75 concerns a year. Around 25 of those go to its Investigating Committee, and about half of those reach the Professional Conduct Committee. A screener reviews each concern within nine weeks of it arriving.
If an allegation is proved, the Act gives the committee four options: admonish the osteopath, impose conditions on their practice, suspend their registration, or remove them from the register. Hearings are usually open to the public and press.
There are limits. The GOsC does not deal with disputes about fees, contracts or employment, and its process exists to protect the public rather than to settle disagreements between a patient and a practitioner.
Where regulation stops
Registration tells you someone is qualified, insured, keeping their training up to date and answerable for how they practise. It cannot tell you whether a particular osteopath is the right fit for your problem. For that, ask how they will assess you, what the plan is, and how you will both know if it is working. Our post on how many sessions to expect covers what a sensible plan looks like.
Tell your osteopath about your health history, even if it seems unrelated. The NHS notes that osteopathy may not be safe for you if you take blood thinning medicines or are at increased risk of bleeding or stroke, have bones or joints that are very weak or seriously damaged, or have a condition affecting your nerves. A good osteopath will ask about all of this at your first appointment, and adjust or refer on where needed.
If this sounds like what you're dealing with, an assessment is the next step. Book online here.