The OCI’s role is to impart key messages to the Public

and the Members to both guide and safegaurd.

The Public

osteopathy

  • Role and Responsibility of OCI:

    The OCI is the competent authority for governing and regulating Osteopathy in the Republic of Ireland since 2009.

  • Protection of the Public:

    The primary role of OCI is to protect the public by ensuring that registered osteopathic practitioners adhere to a specific set of standards and a proper code of ethics and practice.

  • Standards for Osteopaths:

    All osteopaths on the OCI register must meet certain standards:

    • Minimum BSc degree level 8 qualification in osteopathy.
    • Professional indemnity insurance for private practice.
    • Annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of at least 30 hours.
    • First aid certification to be renewed every two years.
    • Certification in Child Protection from a recognised organisation e.g. Introduction to Child First E-Learning Programme with TUSLA or equivalent – renewable every three years.
    • Abide by a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice (aligned with other European regulatory bodies).

  • Ongoing Review:

    The OCI is committed to reviewing these standards continuously to ensure they are relevant and comprehensive.

The Members

osteopathy

  • Registration Requirements:

    To be accepted on the OCI register, osteopaths must adhere to the specified standards, including educational qualifications, insurance, CPD, first aid, child protection certification, and adherence to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

  • Commitment to Code of Ethics:

    Members are required to adopt the Code of Ethics as a key part of protecting the public and maintaining professional standards.

  • Ongoing Professional Development:

    Members are expected to maintain their professional knowledge and skills through annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of a minimum of 30 hours per year.

  • Certification and Renewal:

    Members must hold valid certifications in first aid and child protection, which need to be renewed on their expiration (currently every two and three years respectively)

  • Compliance and Accountability:

    Members are accountable to the OCI for their professional conduct and must adhere to the agreed-upon standards of competency, conduct, and safety.

  • Participation in Regulatory Processes:

    Members are encouraged to participate in the ongoing regulatory processes and communications with the Department of Health to achieve statutory regulation under CORU.

osteopathy

Regulation of Osteopathy

The OCI is a self-regulatory organisation which set out strict rules, regulations, and ethical standards for its membership. Statutory regulation under the state body CORU is a work in progress. The OCI is working tirelessly with governmental departments, agencies, and other key stakeholders to deliver formal CORU membership.

In regulating Osteopathy in Ireland, the wider public can be assured of a standard of care. Further, regulation brings protection of title, currently, the title of Osteopath can be used by unqualified persons. The current purpose of the OCI is in assuring the public that members listed and registered with the Council are regulated and standardised.

Globally Osteopathy is regulated and protected in states such as the United Kingdom, much of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Ireland is currently an outlier in this regard and the OCI is striving to deliver on this important regulatory element.

Osteopathic Assessment and Treatment

Osteopaths take a holistic approach to diagnosing the root cause of your pain. They consider your entire body, how it moves, the pain or discomfort you experience, any  past injuries, along with your overall health and lifestyle. This comprehensive evaluation helps your osteopath understand the impact of your pain. Osteopaths prioritize listening to your concerns and understanding your needs.

Osteopathic treatment is highly individualized and can vary treatment to treatment. Osteopaths use a range of techniques, including manual therapy, massage, stretching, mobilization, manipulation, dry needling, cranial osteopathy, visceral osteopathy and exercise prescription. Osteopathy is a hands-on profession.

By focusing on the whole person, an osteopath treats multiple areas of the body, not just the area which is in pain. For instance, if you visit an osteopath with a back pain, they may also treat your neck, shoulders, and legs as these areas are interconnected and can influence your back pain.

Osteopaths will also discuss activities, emotional well-being or lifestyle habits that may exacerbate your pain or how you generally feel. They consider all these factors to develop a personalized treatment plan and help you understand your role in the recovery process.

Word from our President

As President of the Osteopathic Council of Ireland (OCI), I’d like to extend a warm welcome to everyone visiting our website—whether you’re a member of the public, a prospective patient, or a healthcare professional interested in learning more about osteopathy in Ireland.

Osteopathy has a proud and enduring history in Ireland. For decades, osteopaths have been delivering safe, effective, and patient-centred care for a wide range of musculoskeletal and related conditions. Our approach is holistic: we consider the interrelationship between the body’s structure and function and support its innate capacity to heal when given the right environment.

The profession of osteopathy is growing year on year, reflecting increasing demand and recognition. We now have almost 200 qualified osteopaths on the OCI register—each meeting rigorous standards of education, ethics, and ongoing professional development.

The benefits of osteopathic care are clear. In a recent survey of patients in Ireland who received osteopathic treatment:

· 66.7% reported full recovery within six weeks
· 92.6% rated their overall experience as very good
· 88.9% said they would recommend osteopathy to friends and family

These results highlight the high standard of care being provided nationwide, and the strong trust patients place in our profession.

Globally, osteopathy is increasingly recognised as an integral part of healthcare systems. Statutory regulation is already in place in several European countries including the UK, France, Switzerland, and Finland. Beyond Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and most recently New Brunswick in Canada have also adopted formal regulatory frameworks. These systems uphold rigorous standards in education, ethics, and clinical practice—values that are central to the OCI’s work.

Here in Ireland, the OCI continues to collaborate with the Department of Health to pursue statutory regulation under CORU, the national regulator for health and social care professionals. We see this as a crucial step forward—providing clearer protections for the public, and a more structured and recognised framework for osteopaths. Our proactive, conscientious, and hard-working Board of Directors is dedicated to preparing the OCI for effective collaboration with the Department of Health. Their commitment ensures we are well-positioned to support statutory regulation and the future growth of the profession.

Currently, the OCI functions as the self-regulatory body for the profession in Ireland. We maintain high professional standards by registering qualified osteopaths, enforcing ethical conduct, and supporting continuing professional development. However, we believe statutory regulation is essential. It will protect the title “osteopath,” improve integration into the wider healthcare system, and offer greater consistency and confidence for both patients and practitioners.

We are committed to this goal—driven by principles of transparency, collaboration, and the pursuit of excellence in patient care. Whether you are seeking treatment, reliable information, or a deeper understanding of osteopathy, we are here to support you.

Thank you for your interest in osteopathy and in the work of the Osteopathic Council of Ireland.

Warm regards,

Dr Julie Ellwood President Osteopathic Council of Ireland

What to Expect from Your Osteopathic Treatment

osteopathy

Osteopaths are regarded as primary healthcare practitioners with extensive knowledge in Anatomy, Physiology, Neurology, Pathology and Orthopaedics etc. In this regard Osteopaths are trained to recognise if and when a patient requires medical referral.

Osteopathic treatment has many approaches. Some Osteopaths may use one model or a blend of models. These models are often referred to as the following:

  • Structural: This uses a hands-on approach working directly into the soft tissues (Muscles, Tendons, Ligaments) and/or mobilisation or articulations of joints.
  • Cranial: Cranial Osteopathy is a very gentle approach where light touch is used on the head, spine and/or pelvis.
  • Visceral Osteopathy: Visceral osteopathy is a branch of osteopathy that aims to address these organs’ mobility within their natural body position to allow a better function of the whole system

Whilst the models as above are within the scope of Osteopathy, on occasion, practitioners will have studied other modalities and they may apply these in practice. Therefore, it is important that the Osteopath discusses their treatment approach with each patient and educates them on the reasoning behind it.

Who and what do osteopaths treat?

Osteopaths believe everyone can benefit from a tailored, whole-person approach to health. There is no age restriction in the patients treated by Osteopaths. However, different Osteopaths may practice in different ways and it is important for patients to discuss any age-related queries or concerns with their Osteopath in advance of an appointment.