OCI Membership Criteria
OCI has adopted the suite of European Frameworks for Osteopaths - as developed under the Forum for Osteopathic Regulation in Europe (FORE) – as the academic and professional basis for its terms & conditions of membership. These can be viewed in full European version at www.forewards.eu (select “current projects”, double click on” European frameworks”). OCI are currently refining the suite to fully comply with Irish Legal / Academic standard where necessary, and a draft version as presented to all existing members in 2008 is available by request at the above contact details, and will shortly be added to the website. OCI requests its members to hold the same standards of any locum practitioners they may engage. In brief to qualify for membership, you must have completed the following or equivalent of:
- An honours degree in Osteopathy (minimum 4 years full time, or 5-6 years part-time)
(Please note that those osteopaths who completed a shorter programme of training, and are currently members of another competent authority register, may still qualify for full membership without any further conditions. Please be encouraged to complete the form). - 1000 hours supervised clinical tuition
- Have full professional indemnity/malpractice cover equivalent to at least STG £2.5 million
- Have no previous criminal convictions history
OCI reserves the right to request all members to complete an assessment procedure to ensure and maintain the highest standard of practice. OCI is in the process of applying for full Irish State regulation under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act (2005), and will ensure that where at all possible the OCI assessment procedure will be adequate to access this Act.
Training to become an Osteopath
Undergraduate training is available at The Irish College of Osteopathic Medicine at the National Training Centre in Dublin. For further information regarding the course please follow the link provided:
http://www.osted.ie/
Training is also available in the United Kingdom. For a list of Osteopathy undergraduate programs available in the UK please click http://www.osteopathy.org.uk/practice/becoming-an-osteopath/training-courses/
General Osteopathic Council Registration (GOsC)
It was an IOA criteria that all members were GOsC registered for the duration of their IOA membership. OCI no longer demands this of its members from either IOA or AOI, however until such time as OCI has been given full regulatory status and mutual recognition of competent authorities, we strongly recommend that you maintain your GOsC registration.
For further information on becoming a member of the OCI please contact the Registrar - Tzaneen Laws, at the following email address:
Please post your application and accompanying documentation to:
The OCI Registrar
Tzaneen Laws
5 The Mall,
Main Street,
Leixlip Village,
Co. Kildare.
Application form available here.