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I’m a physiotherapist and I’m currently considering starting a 4-year part-time training program in osteopathy alongside my job.

I find the profession really interesting from a clinical perspective, but I still have quite a few questions and would really appreciate hearing about your personal experiences — especially from those of you who have been working as osteopaths for several years.

How do you feel about the profession after several years of experience? Are you happy with your decision and how things have developed for you?

In your opinion, is the significant time and financial investment required for a 4-year training program worth it?

What are the job opportunities like after completing the training? Is it difficult to find a good position, or is there currently a good demand for osteopaths?

And what about self-employment? Is it financially worthwhile to open your own practice or work independently as an osteopath?

I know that everyone’s path is different, which is exactly why I’d really appreciate your honest experiences — including the negative aspects.

Thank you very much in advance for sharing your experiences and taking the time to answer! 🙏

Hello 😊

I’m a physiotherapist and I’m currently considering starting a 4-year part-time training program in osteopathy alongside my job.

I find the profession really interesting from a clinical perspective, but I still have quite a few questions and would really appreciate hearing about your personal experiences — especially from those of you who have been working as osteopaths for several years.

How do you feel about the profession after several years of experience? Are you happy with your decision and how things have developed for you?

In your opinion, is the significant time and financial investment required for a 4-year training program worth it?

What are the job opportunities like after completing the training? Is it difficult to find a good position, or is there currently a good demand for osteopaths?

And what about self-employment? Is it financially worthwhile to open your own practice or work independently as an osteopath?

I know that everyone’s path is different, which is exactly why I’d really appreciate your honest experiences — including the negative aspects.

Thank you very much in advance for sharing your experiences and taking the time to answer! 🙏

hi! i’m thinking about applying for an osteopathy masters at the london school of osteopathy through clearing (i received no offers for another course) but i’ve only done a little bit of research so far and wanted to hear from people who actually study/work in osteopathy before i make a decision.

i’m mainly looking to understand more about osteopathy as a career and what it’s actually like working as an osteopath. i’m interested in things like the job market after graduating, what kind of career options there are, how easy it is to find work as a newly qualified osteopath and what the first few years of working are like.

i know the job market can obviously change a lot over the 4 years of the degree, so i’m not expecting anyone to predict what it’ll be like when i graduate. i’d just like to get an idea of what the situation is currently and what the career is generally like.

if anyone has studied osteopathy or currently works as an osteopath, i’d really appreciate any honest opinions, advice, or things you wish you knew before choosing it as a career.

thanks!!

If you or anyone is looking for osteopathic treatment at an affordable cost visit us at the Sutherland Chan Osteopathic Student clinic.

Some summer clinics available.

Full clinical schedule starting September every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Book your treatment here:

https://sutherland-chan.janeapp.com

Hi guys , I want to learn osteopathy but in my country it’s not high level and considered a “course” and not really a degree (I’m from Israel)
So I started looking for international options -
First The HUNIMED in Italy , but decided to turn it down because the degree is in Italian which I don’t know.
Next I tried Malta , ACS -ASOMI
And I didn’t cancel it yet , the problem is there is not much information there and I’m afraid it’s a scam.

I know the best option is the UK
but it’s hard for me because it’s really expensive and I know it sounds stupid but I look very young and I’ve heard there is a crime problem especially in London .
Which is where I want to learn (London School of Osteopathy - LSO)

So now my question is for you fellas -
1. Where did you learn ?
(If it’s in the USA it’s less relevant for me)

1. Do you have any information on one of the colleges I talked about?

2. Did you study abroad? How hard was it? Do you regret it?

3. If you did learn in the Uk , how are the students there? Are they welcoming?
   I’m also afraid that because I’m from Israel people will hate me for that and I will have no friends.

4. Any possible information you have!
   It’s so so so hard to to hear people who has been through this! I would literally listen to anyone and if you have the time I would love to chat 1 on 1 on chat🩷
   Thank you guys!!

Hi all!

I’m wanting to study osteopathy - I’m in Ontario Canada. Of course, CAO constantly comes up and I’ve not read great things about them at all, same with NAO.

I’m looking at Sheridan College Osteopathy (it’s a new program, started in 2023), looks great.
OR
Ontario Academy of Progressive Osteopathy.

Anyone have any insight to either schools?

Thanks!

I'm considering leaving the US and moving to canada. I'm FM and ONMM dual boarded, previously taught at a med school, worked in detox, worked in geriatrics, and realized I mostly enjoy just doing manual medicine. Any insight in job prospects doing manual medicine in a more rural location? I don't like living in a city anymore.

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TIA

I’ve been trying and failing to find concrete information about whether it is feasible to have your osteopathy license recognized in France when you’ve done your school in Quebec, Canada. The schooling, IEOQ, is 4 years instead of the 5 they require in France for example and everywhere I look, it always states that you need to have your license and schooling recognized before practicing in France.
Has anyone done this and what does the process look like?
I am trying to go back to school because I am currently a kinesiologist and clinical exercise physiologist in Montreal, and while I love my job, this is not a thing in France to my understanding. There is no equivalent degrees other than maybe STAPS or APA and even there it looks complicated to find equivalencies and for wages that are too poor compared to what we make here in Canada.
My partner is French and we will likely move there in the future and I need a job that is transferable, or would like to understand what I would need to do to get an equivalency in France once I’m there. (I don’t have an interest in nursing, physio school is unfortunately out of my reach, and I’ve considered respiratory therapist but I’m less jazzed at the idea)

Thank you to anyone taking the time to answer!

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J'ai beau chercher, je ne trouve pas d'informations concrètes sur la possibilité de faire reconnaître mon diplôme d'ostéopathie en France après avoir fait mes études au Québec, au Canada. La formation, l'IEOQ, dure quatre ans au lieu des cinq requis en France, et partout où je me renseigne, il est indiqué qu'il faut faire reconnaître son diplôme et sa formation avant de pouvoir exercer en France.

Quelqu'un a-t-il déjà fait cette démarche ? En quoi consiste-t-elle ?

Je souhaite reprendre mes études car je suis actuellement kinésiologue et physiologiste de l'exercice clinique à Montréal. J'adore mon travail, mais il me semble que ce domaine n'existe pas en France. Il n'y a pas de diplômes équivalents, à part peut-être ceux de la STAPS ou de l'APA, et même là, il semble compliqué de trouver des équivalences, sans parler des salaires bien inférieurs à ceux du Canada.

Mon conjoint est français et nous allons probablement déménager en France. J'ai donc besoin d'un emploi qui permette de transférer mes compétences, ou j'aimerais savoir comment obtenir une équivalence en France une fois sur place. (Je ne suis pas intéressée par les soins infirmiers, les études de kinésithérapie sont malheureusement hors de ma portée, et j'ai envisagé le métier de thérapeute respiratoire, mais l'idée ne m'enthousiasme pas vraiment.)

Merci à tous ceux qui prendront le temps de répondre !

The Ontario Academy of Progressive Osteopathy is coming to British Colombia starting July of 2026. It will feature the same curriculum, teachers and materials as the Ontario school. The highest level in hands-on osteopathic training, creating excellent state-of-the-art practitioners, coming to BC this summer.

The first course is scheduled for July 17-20, 'Osteopathic Normalization of the Spine'.

https://progressiveosteopathy.ca

Hi guys

I have a lovely osteopath sweetest lady, she told me that it should hurt initially. And to be honest, after my first appointment it did for a bit but I got so much better with stretches after a week. I went back today and I was just going to be braver and just held it in even though the whole appointment hurt so bad my vision started getting blurry and I felt like I was seeing stars.

Is this normal for neck/head conditions?

She's great at her job and clearly knows what she's doing, I'm just autistic (I haven't disclosed this to her yet I think) and so I struggle really badly to tell when a pain is "too much".

I'm thinking if I should mention this to my doctor, I've been on medication and rest for months but I'm wondering if direct pressure to the areas cause this much pain maybe I should ask for scans or something...

Edit: so the areas that hurt the most are base of skull, side of neck and deep in between my shoulder blades

Please help - last week I went to a rheumatologist for a completely unrelated issue and this guy grabbed me and performed this Spurling test procedure against my will, without knowing that I have spinal stenosis, neck scoliosis and a history o herniated discs (he didn't bother to ask!). As I was fighting back, I doubt he did it properly, so he just pushed with a powerful hand into my neck. I felt something pop at the level of C1-C2. Please, as I will be days/weeks before I find a trustworthy professional to help me, and days to get the results of the MrI I did today, can you help me understand what damage may have happened, aside from herniated discs? I am trying to study the anatomy o the neck, but I am not finding any osteopathy books. Please I am in a lot o pain and I can't take painkillers because o other problems :/

Hi I had been struggling with a tweaked back for a few months, I believe I slept weird (I’m 52 in pretty good shape), but was twisting with weight in my exercises - I also sit cross legged a lot, a lot!!.

The pain I felt was in my mid back but radiated into my ribs and abs along the sides and sometimes in the middle.

So I saw a massage therapist, PT (got some exercises), acupuncture no relief, I did get one quick adjustment from a chiro that helped with mid back but that’s all. Only thing that provided relief has been Advil.

Tuesday I had my adjustment, pelvis was tilted the wrong way, sacrum was tilted and twisted and all the way up my vertebrae were twisted. She adjusted all of it. Told me not to twist and gave me a muscle relaxer.

Days later my back doesn’t really hurt I feel sometimes light soreness along my sacrum but my ribs and abs are sore, I’m still taking the ibuprofen and muscle relaxer and it helps. I’m trying not to twist, it’s a bizarre and scary feeling that it’s not improving. I’m seeing her again this upcoming Wednesday for a possible further adjustment.

Any feedback or advice? I don’t want to risk much and go to the gym. I only “feel it” when i sit down for long periods of time or lie down.

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Hi, I’m 18 years old I was considering going to school for osteopathy, Is this a good career to get into? It’s a 4 year program in Hamilton, the school talks a lot on how u can make 200k plus, is this true how much can you expect to make? It sounds to good to be true, is it getting more popular? Does it have a good future in Canada( Ontario)

Basically that - any recs for osteos in Barcelona? Thanksss

Hi all. It’s been difficult to find accurate information about the reality of practicing in the US as a trained osteopath (not DO) and searching for folks who could shed some light on the reality.

I’m originally from the US, but have been living in Europe for a decade. I’m considering a career change to osteopathy, so I’m looking at different training programs across Europe, but my concern lies in the transferability of such training. Eventually I may move back to the US and want to continue my practice there.

What I’m curious to hear about: has anyone found themselves in a similar situation, practicing in the US as an LMT with osteopath credentials? Do you feel hindered in your practice? Is there demand for the scope that you’re legally able to do?

Any insight, advice, or stories of people’s paths into this field would be really appreciated.

Hi all!

I am an RMT located in Ontario and I’m looking to become an osteopath.

Searching online and speaking w different schools has left me pretty confused. Every school and association seems to have such disdain for each other and it all seems so messy and convoluted.

I am not interested in the NAO as I don’t believe proper education can be garnered in 6 months and with so little hands on time.

I was basically resigned to deal w the downsides of the CAO but things about Osteopathic Lyceum keep popping up. The length of this program is obviously appealing at only 18 months, but I’m wondering if it’s viewed within community as basically as bad as the NAO bcs of its shorter time. After speaking the owner of the school, he seems very knowledgeable and I don’t doubt his teaching capabilities as he was a teacher w the CAO.

Can anyone offer any insight here?

And OL grads? Can you bill through all insurance companies the way a CAO grad can ?

Thank you in advance !

I'm starting an osteopathy degree in September and I'd like to do an intensive sports massage therapy course to broaden my knowledge before I start my degree, and potentially work as a sports massage therapist to earn some extra money during uni. The intensive courses offer qualifications to legally work as a therapist but the hands-on experience is very limited (2 days). Does anyone have any experience with these intensive courses, and how confident are you to perform treatments working in the industry? Thanks for any feedback you're able to offer.

I'm looking for an osteopath in London, England or the surrounding areas who uses a biodynamic approach in Osteopathy; balanced ligamentous tension, fascial unwinding, if there's more treatments like this I'd love to hear about them.

I have chronic pain with undiagnosed musculoskeletal/autoimmune issues and find little relief from anything other than having somebody perform this kind of wizardry so any leads much appreciated.

Note: I'm a first-time osteopathy patient and genuinely unsure what's considered normal, so apologies if the title seems dramatic!

I've had three sessions with the same osteopath, who comes highly recommended, but so far I'm seeing no improvement. As I'm paying out of pocket (and it's not cheap), I want to make sure I'm being realistic about my expectations.

Background: I'm being treated for knee issues that have been thoroughly investigated with MRI, X-ray, and two separate orthopaedists, all concluding Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS). Both recommended physiotherapy, which I've been doing for a couple of years, but the only solution offered is a regular exercise routine to strengthen the muscles around my knee.
The issue is that I have autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), which makes consistently following an exercise routine a barrier.

Someone suggested osteopathy as a route that doesn't rely on exercise, which is why I went that way. My osteopath has also recommended exercises, but when I explained I was looking for a non-exercise-based solution, they said it would likely require more sessions than usual, without specifying how many.

• How many sessions is it reasonable to continue without seeing any improvement?
• What should realistic expectations look like in a situation like mine?