If you already have the knowledge, skills and experience required to work independently with infants and young children, the DPO is designed for you. If you are new to paediatrics or need to consolidate the foundations before embarking on the DPO, our Certificate in Paediatric Osteopathy is the place to start.
The centre of excellence for paediatric care, education and research
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Diploma in Paediatric Osteopathy
Diploma in Paediatric Osteopathy
Elevate Your Osteopathic Practice
The Diploma in Paediatric Osteopathy (DPO) is our flagship course. Designed for osteopaths who already have a grounding in paediatrics, the DPO will deepen your insight, sharpen your reasoning and hone your clinical skills, so you can learn to manage complex cases with confidence.
Why train at the OCC?
- Accelerate Your Learning: Develop your clinical skills faster through immediate, hands-on feedback and expert mentoring from our team of experienced paediatric osteopaths.
- Put Theory into Practice: Work with your own patient list under faculty guidance, refining your palpation, diagnostic thinking, and application of osteopathic therapeutics in real paediatric cases.
- Make a Real Difference: As part of the OCC team, you will provide osteopathic care to children and families who may not otherwise have access to these services, witnessing first-hand the positive impact of your work.
Who is the DPO for?
Course Overview
The one-year Diploma in Paediatric Osteopathy offers an in-depth training in paediatric practice. In addition to 45 days of hands-on mentoring in the OCC clinic, you will have the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the key issues that inform safe, effective paediatric practice through weekly clinical tutorials and six in-depth weekend seminars. Topics covered include prematurity, child development, behavioural issues, the seriously sick child, enuresis, immunity & vaccination, orthodontics, scoliosis, the development of gait, hormonal & skeletal changes and how each of these impact the growing child and teen.
The course includes:
- Six weekend seminars to deepen your theoretical knowledge (11 days total)
- 45 days in clinic (weekly attendance) caring for a range of paediatric patients, managing a personal patient list, and working alongside skilled and experienced specialists.
- Weekly clinical tutorials, designed to enhance your practice-based learning through facilitated discussions and feedback focused on your clinical cases.
- Clinical supervision from our experienced faculty
- Continuous mentoring, including two dedicated one-to-one mentoring sessions to review your progress and learning priorities.
- One peer observation, where you will receive informal feedback from a colleague to support your reflective learning.
- A clinical skills log to monitor your progress throughout the year, tracking key competencies with the support of senior osteopaths.
- An anatomy review, a one-to-one discussion with a senior osteopath to assess your knowledge of applied anatomy and identify areas for further study.
- Reflective learning journal, where you are encouraged to keep a record of your palpatory experiences, new techniques learned, case reflections (anonymised), and overall progress.
Assessment
The DPO assessments are designed to enhance your learning and provide valuable feedback on your progress throughout the course. These include:
- Two case reports to help you develop your osteopathic thinking
- A written paper combining short answer and multiple-choice questions
- A paper patient to demonstrate your osteopathic thinking
- A clinic assessment to demonstrate your clinical skills
Entry Requirements
- Observation Requirement: Half-day observation at an OCC clinic (location subject to availability)
- Osteopathy Qualification: Undergraduate qualification in Osteopathy (UK or equivalent non-UK qualification)
- Basic competence in paediatric osteopathy: Successful completion of the OCC Certificate in Paediatric Osteopathy or evidence of relevant knowledge, skills and experience required to work independently in paediatric practice (details to be submitted via application form and interview)
Course Fees
- DPO 2025-26: £5950
- Application fee: £62.00
- Payment Plan: Instalment options available for those who prefer to pay in stages
How to Apply
For more details, contact us on 0208 875 5291 or email [email protected]
Application Deadline for 2025 Intake: 30th June 2025