To qualify, an osteopath must study for four to five years for an undergraduate degree. This is similar to a medical degree, with more emphasis on anatomy and musculoskeletal medicine and includes more than 10000 hours of training in osteopathic techniques. By law, osteopaths must register with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). It is an offence for anyone to call themselves an osteopath if they are not registered. The British Medical Association's guidance for general practitioners states that doctors can safely refer patients to osteopaths. By law Osteopaths must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council, a statutory body designed to carry out rigorous checks to ensure patients have the same safeguards as when they consult a Doctor or Dentist.
