Osteopathic Degree Course
ICOM (Irish College of Osteopathic Medicine) embraces the Philosophy that the body has an innate natural ability to self regulate and heal itself. Osteopathy is a “whole persons” approach to medicine Osteopaths provide complete care to their patients, not just their symptoms. They do by careful consideration to the global health of each patient, creating a treatment approach appropriate for each patient’s individual needs.
ICOM has a long history of teaching manual therapy since 1994 and is proud to be the first osteopathic education provider in Ireland to offer a 5 year part time course to all students with the opportunity to achieve an academic BSc in Osteopathy after the 5 years have been completed.
This will acknowledge the academic work involved in the diploma and will allow students to qualify as Osteopaths once all modules of the course is completed, together with completing the required 1000 clinical hours will lead to a qualification in Osteopathy.
The following are general guidelines for all those wishing to apply for the ICOM Osteopathic Degree Course.
- Your application will be assessed before interview will take place.
- Your past and present qualifications and clinical experience will be taken into account on application.
- We will endevour to place applicants at the appropriate level of this degree course depending of level of qualifications already obtained.
- The Osteopathic Degree Course is open to all applicants from basic entry level right up to those with Physio Therapy, Physical Therapy and Neuromuscular Therapy and Spinal Manipulative Therapy.
- We are working in conjunction with Nescot (North East Surrey College of Technology) in the UK towards an Academic Osteopathy Qualification
- Students will study at part time over 5 years
Irish NQA Equivalent
Year 1: Level 5 – leading to Orthopaedic Sports Massage
Year 2: Level 6 – leading to Orthopaedic Manipulative
Year 3: Level 6 leading to spinal Manipulative Therapy
Year 4: Level 7 – Osteopathic Diploma
Year 5: Level 7 – (Level 6 FHEQ) BSc (Hons) Osteopathy delivered by NESCOT - First time beginners will begin this degree course at level 1 Orthopaedic Sports Massage and then advanced onto level 2 Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy, level 3 Spinal Manipulative, level 4 Osteopathic Pathway Diploma and then Level 5 Osteopathic BSc Degree.
The Nescot pathway is open to candidates that have successfully passed all modules. The Osteopathic programme offers a wide ranging flexible program. Teaching is delivered by qualified specialists, from Osteopathy, Physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation back grounds, 2 medical doctors, midwives and a radiographer enhance the teaching team range of expertise.
Emphasis is placed on practical application within a busy clinical environment. The sports specialism background of our clinics is used to benefit the student’s knowledge and treatment of sport injuries.
Proposal Cork Osteopathic Medicine College of Ireland (OMCI)
Contents
Year 5 NESCOT BSc (Hons) Osteopathy (level 6 progression). 5
Introduction
Due to changes in the legislation in Ireland the ICOM Cork have decided to start a part time Osteopathy course. From January 2018, the title of “Physiotherapy” along with “Physical Therapy will become protected by law. This change has led to the decision by ICOM course to offer a four year BSc course in Osteopathy with the collaboration of ICOM at NESCOT a validated Osteopathic Education Provider in the UK.
Mr. Kieran Corcoran D.O. the director is a qualified osteopath and registered with the Osteopathic Council of Ireland (ICOM) . He has successfully run a number of courses at his college in Cork. The College was started in 1995 as a platform for mature students to obtain diploma courses in Remedial Massage, Sports Therapy, Physical Therapy, Manipulative Therapy, Electrotherapy and Cranial Therapy. He also delivers CPD courses for Physiotherapist, Osteopath, and other healthcare professionals.
At present ICOM run a 2-year pathway leading to a Physical Therapy Diploma and further 1-year course in manipulative therapy. The proposal is to change this to a 4-year diploma course in Osteopathy leading to an Irish Osteopathy Diploma and a UK validated academic BSc in Osteopathic Medicine (B.Sc. Ost) with honours. This would become Irelands first Osteopathy School. It is hoped that the ICOM will recognise the course, and the college is at present in ongoing discussion with them.
Course Structure
The new course will be based on the European Framework for Standards Osteopathic Education and Training (EFSOET)[1] as Ireland does not have its own standards for Osteopathic Education.
The EFSOET approximate guide for the notional number of contact hours of study would be in the region of 4,000 – 4,800 of this total, osteopathic clinical training should account for no less than 1,000 hours.
Courses should comprise the following Scientific and professional underpinning studies:
- Anatomy (gross, functional, integrated, applied, neurological, embryological, histological)
- physiology
- pathology
- neurology/neuroscience
- nutrition
- biochemistry
- peripheral and spinal biomechanics
- principles and philosophy of osteopathy
- palpatory skills and diagnosis
- osteopathic procedures (full range including structural, myofascial and functional)
- interpretation of clinical laboratory techniques
- exercise physiology
- pharmacology
- psychology/psychosomatics
- sOMCIology
- clinic observation
- information and communications technology (ICT) skills
- emergency support skills/first aid
- health studies and other healthcare systems.
- Research studies:
- Critical analysis
- evidence in practice
- research methodology (quantitative and qualitative)
- research ethics
- dissertation/research paper.
- Clinical/professional studies:
- Differential and clinical diagnosis and clinical problem solving
- clinical methods and procedures
- case history-taking
- communication skills
- professional ethics
- clinical dietetics
- ergonomics
- gynaecology and obstetrics
- paediatrics and osteopathic care of children
- rheumatology
- orthopaedics and trauma
- osteopathic care of the elderly
- radiological diagnosis and clinical imaging
- dermatology
- osteopathic sports care
- applied clinical osteopathy (full range of osteopathic procedures, including structural,
myofascial and functional)
- osteopathic evaluation and patient management (including reflective practice)
- professional practice management (including medico-legal issues and business issues)
- case analysis studies.
- Osteopathic clinical practice:
- Closely supervised clinical practice in suitable clinical environment(s) where effective
tutoring, monitoring and student assessment can take place.
All the above subjects other than the research project will be covered within the ICOM course. NESCOT will deliver and oversee all the research project aspect in Y5.
The course is developed as a part time delivery throughout the year. The academic content been delivered during the weekend, and the clinical content delivered weekdays and evenings.
Module Structure
Foundation in Professional Practice
Year 5 NESCOT BSc (Hons) Osteopathy (level 6 progression)
| Subject | Code | Level | Hours | ECTS |
| Research | OS6708 | 6 | 10/600 | 30 |
| Research Fundamentals | OS6709 | 6 | 35/300 | 15 |
| Personal & Professional Development | OS6710 | 6 | 35/300 | 15 |
| total hours & credits | 80/1200 | 60 |
Clinic Teaching Structure
| Year | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 |
| Clinical hours | 175 | 175 | 350 | 350 |
Clinical hours are an essential part of the European and UK Osteopathic Standards in teaching requirement. The consensus is that student require 1000 hours of clinical training. During that time students will peer observe and once competent start treating patients under the guidance of trained clinic tutors, as students become more confident and capable their level of autonomy is increased. Clinical hours are achieved by all students attending supervised clinic one 3.5 hour per week slot in years 1 and 2 and two 3.5 hour slots per week in years 3 and 4. The clinic is open all year round this allows for 50 week attendance. Clinical training is documented in the form of a clinical log which is signed by the tutor at the end of each session. Students will be expected to make up any missing hours before achieving a Diploma.
NESCOT Progression
Agreement has been reached with The North East Surrey College of Technology (NESCOT) in the UK to deliver a 1 year B.Sc Ost top up to students who successfully graduate from the OMCI on the above described Diploma course. Past graduates of IIPT cork who which to be eligible will have to successfully complete a conversion course of 12 months equivalent to the current Y4 course modules. These students will have to demonstrate 450 clinical supervised hours.
NESCOT is recognised Osteopathic Education Institution (OEI) known as ICOM (International College of Osteopathic Medicine) at NESCOT (formally known as Surrey Institute for Osteopathic Medicine). ICOM@NESCOT has been an OEI since 1999 it was the first publicly funded OEI and is one of nine recognised providers in the UK.
Students would be enrolled on successful completion of the ICOM Diploma course and documented clinical log book. The course takes a year to complete. Students are expected to prepare a research proposal, to ensure they use evidence based practice, A clinical portfolio demonstrates their professional abilities and records the variety of patients seen, it also allows students to justify their treatment (or non-treatment) approaches to patients. Communication skills are demonstrated in Viva type assessments. Criticality is demonstrated in the case study and the presentation.
[1] http://www.forewards.eu/projects/osteopathic-standards
Osteopathic Degree Course
I have been teaching Physical Therapy, Manipulative Therapy, Cranial Therapy and Sports Injuries here in Ireland since 1995. In that time i have seen people embark on life changing courses that allowed them to become their own boss and dictate how much income they earn!
I have seen people grow in confidence and gain tools and techniques to change their patients life and by doing so grow themselves as therapists.
My dream has always been to have a school of excellence and be a leader in health education in Ireland and in the 24 years that the college has been graduation students we have achieved this and more. I am humbled and honoured to now be able to offer not only our part time diploma courses in everything from sports injuries to manipulative therapy but from September 2018 to be able to offer graduates a pathway to obtain a degree in osteopath medicine.
We have now signed a partnership deal with Nescot (North East Surrey College of Technology)in UK. This partnership will allow us to deliver a diploma on osteopathy with an academic degree in osteopathic medicine i.e. BSc from Kingston University.
The dedicated staff at ICOM along with lecturers from Nescot will insure the highest quality of course content and expertise to ensure all students are in a caring nurturing learning environment. Students will have class attendance at ICOM in Cork with access to Nescot medical library and Nescot tutors (web learn) as they progress in their studies. I am very excited to be the principal of this college and i acknowledge all my colleagues both here in Ireland and Nescot who helped make this happen.
Kieran Corcoran
ICOM Principal