Professionalism and Professional Standards for Osteopaths

About this course

This course is structured CPD aligned with CPD UK guidelines. It is written for osteopaths registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) who want to strengthen their professional conduct and regulatory compliance. Where the companion ethics course concentrates on moral reasoning in individual clinical decisions, this course looks at professionalism as a pattern of behaviour across a whole career: how an osteopath keeps their registration, insurance and competence in order, runs or works within a safe clinic, works with other professionals, holds boundaries, handles commercial pressure, and responds when a concern is raised.

It is particularly relevant for osteopaths completing CPD, those responding to complaints, and those facing a fitness to practise investigation. Through practice-based cases and structured reflection, you will develop insight, plan meaningful remediation and show ongoing professional growth.

CPD Value and How to Record It:

This course is designed to provide approximately 2 hours of learning, including reading, the reflection points, the reflective account and the assessment. In the UK, CPD is generally recorded as the time actually spent learning, so you should record the time you genuinely spend, which may be more or less than the estimate.

How the course fits your revalidation or CPD requirements depends on your regulator. For example, the NMC asks nurses, midwives and nursing associates to record 35 hours of CPD over three years, of which at least 20 must be participatory; self-directed online learning such as this course usually counts as individual learning unless you complete it with others. The GMC expects doctors to reflect on CPD for appraisal and revalidation rather than setting a fixed number of hours. The HCPC, GDC, GPhC, GOC, GOsC and GCC each set their own CPD requirements, so check the current rules that apply to you. Always keep your certificate together with your written reflection.

What you will learn

• Define professionalism within osteopathic practice and explain its role in public protection.
• Apply the core principles of professionalism, including patient-centred care, integrity, accountability and teamwork.
• Follow the Osteopathic Practice Standards set by the General Osteopathic Council.
• Recognise breaches of professional standards and understand regulatory consequences.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries in hands-on practice.
• Manage commercial pressures ethically within private practice settings.
• Maintain accurate, lawful and defensible clinical records.
• Apply the duty of candour when concerns arise.
• Engage in reflective practice and CPD to strengthen competence.
• Demonstrate insight and remediation strategies to support fitness to practise.

Who this course is for

Osteopaths registered with the General Osteopathic Council, whether principals, associates, sole practitioners or those working in multidisciplinary and NHS settings.

Course content

9 sections · 2 CPD hours · 15 MCQs

Course facts

CPD value

Approximately 2 CPD hours (estimated learning time, including reflection and assessment); can contribute to the communication and consent element of your GOsC CPD cycle

Format

Self-paced reading with practice-based cases, reflection points and a written reflective account

Standards covered

GOsC Osteopathic Practice Standards (2019) and guidance; registration, indemnity and CPD requirements; clinic governance; the GOsC fitness to practise process

Assessment

15 scenario-based multiple-choice questions; pass mark 12 out of 15 (80%)

Questions about this course