Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

The Work

Osteopathy is a form of complementary medicine that uses a 'holistic' approach, looking at each person as a whole. The osteopath aims to assist the client's health by improving the function of the muscular-skeletal system, and its effect on the nervous system.  
 
Before making a diagnosis, the osteopath will take a history of the client's problem. This will include any previous problems, a full medical history and other aspects of life, including work, leisure habits, diet and exercise.  
 
Next, the osteopath examines the client by looking at their posture and gait. They may also conduct a medical examination i.e., check reflexes, blood pressure etc. They use their hands (rather than machinery) to feel the state of the muscles, ligaments and joints of the limbs and spine.  
 
Sometimes the osteopath will recommend that the client has an X-ray taken, but usually they can start treatment on a first visit.  
 
Osteopaths pay particular attention to the effects that muscles and ligaments have on joint movement. They use 'soft tissue' techniques (a form of deep massage) as well as direct manipulation of joints to help encourage full movement and restore a normal state of function to the client's internal systems.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Evaluate the functioning of the neuromuscularskeletal system and the spine using systems of chiropractic diagnosis.
• Diagnose health problems by reviewing patients' health and medical histories, questioning, observing, and examining patients and interpreting x-rays.
• Perform a series of manual adjustments to the spine or other articulations of the body to correct the musculoskeletal system.
• Obtain and record patients' medical histories.
• Maintain accurate case histories of patients.
• Advise patients about recommended courses of treatment.
• Analyse x-rays to locate the sources of patients' difficulties and to rule out fractures or diseases as sources of problems.
• Counsel patients about nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, or other matters.
• Consult with or refer patients to appropriate health practitioners when necessary.
• Recommend and arrange for diagnostic procedures, such as blood chemistry tests, saliva tests, x-rays, or other imaging procedures.

Further Information

• Osteopath - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Osteopath - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

In Ireland osteopathy is an officially registered medical practice and it is illegal to practice without being registered with the OCI Osteopathic Council of Ireland.  
 
To register as an osteopath you must complete one of the courses recognised by the General Osteopathic Council. All members registered with the General Osteopathic Council have undertaken approved courses in the UK, including accredited osteopaths who are now practicing in the Republic of Ireland see here.

FET PLC Courses: Personal Trainer with Sports Massage, Sports Injury & Massage Therapy, Sports Injury & Soft Tissue Massage Therapy, Sports Injury Prevention and Massage Therapy, Sports Massage Therapies, Sports Studies, Physiology and Massage at NFQ Levels 5 Search FET PLC Courses

Higher Education CAO Entry: Health and Leisure with Massage NFQ Levels 7-8 Search CAO courses

Postgraduate Study Options Nursing - Orthopaedic Nursing, Sports & Orthopaedic Massage, Primary Care - Orthopaedics & Musculo skeletal Medicine, Primary Care - Orthopaedics & Musculoskeletal Medicine, Specialist Practice - Orthopaedics  NFQ level 9

Professional Development 

All osteopaths who are members of the OCI have completed or met the following criteria:

• An honours degree in Osteopathy (minimum 4 years full time, or 5-6 years part-time)
• 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
• They have received training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, general medical diagnosis and techniques

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €40k - €68k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
HSE/ Indeed

Last Updated: August, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The annual average employment growth for medical practitioners was slightly above average over the five-year period, with strong growth between 2021 and 2022. Almost 30% of those employed in this occupation were non-Irish citizens, with employment permits still acting as a source of supply of skills; over 2,100 new permits were issued in 2022 across a range of specialities. Supply from the third level education system is set to expand by 200 additional places by 2026 (beginning with an increase of 60 places each in 2022 and 2023). Given the duration of medical training, however, this increased supply is not expected to have an impact on the labour market in the short-to-medium term.

Issues in relation to GPs are being addressed with an announcement that the number of GP training places will be increased to 350 in 2024 from 258 in 2022 and an expansion of the non-EU GP Training Scheme from 50 to 250 by the end of 2024.43 However, the increasing demand for medical practitioners as a result of factors such as the rollout of the Sláintecare Action Plan, the ageing population and the tackling of the lengthy waiting lists (exacerbated as a result of COVID-19) will result in continued shortages for this occupation.

• UCAS

  • Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3LZ
  • +44 330 3330 230
  • Click Here

• General Osteopathic Council

  • Osteopathy House, 176 Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 3LU
  • +44 (0)207 357 6655
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• The College of Osteopaths

  • 13 Furzehill Road, Borehamwood, WD6 2DG
  • +44 (0)020 8905 1937
  • Click Here

• Osteopathic Council of Ireland

  • 7 Mount St. Cresent, Dublin 2
  • (01) 676 8819
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• London School of Osteopathy

  • 11 Selsdon Way, Docklands, London E14 9GL
  • +44 (0)20 7237 1422
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Osteopathic Association

  • Regional Careers Officer, 10 Winton Avenue, Rathgar, Dublin 6
  • (01) 676 8819
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• European School of Osteopathy

  • Boxley House, The Street, Boxley, Maidstone ME14 3GZ
  • +44 (0)1622 671558
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here