Osteopathy in Italy: A Seven-Year Reform Culminates in New professional Standards
After a seven-year journey initiated by Law 3/2018, teh regulation of osteopathy in Italy is nearing completion with the recent publication of a decree outlining the criteria for recognizing prior qualifications and establishing a standardized pathway to professional practice. This reform, designed to bring clarity and structure to a previously unregulated field, will fundamentally change how osteopaths are trained and recognized within the Italian healthcare system.
the pivotal moment arrived on February 16, 2024, with the official publication in the Gazzetta Ufficiale (Official Gazette) of the decree establishing the three-year undergraduate degree course in osteopathy. This degree now provides a direct route to practicing the profession.
A Shift to University-based Education
A key component of the reform is the phasing out of private osteopathy schools. As mandated by the legislation, all private institutions offering osteopathy training will be required to cease operations starting September 2025.Going forward, the ability to obtain the necessary university title – and thus legally practice – will be exclusively through degree programs accredited by the Ministero dell’Università e della ricerca (MUR – Ministry of University and Research).
For the 2025-2026 academic year, a total of 425 places will be available in osteopathy programs. These are distributed as follows: 155 in public universities (65 at the University of Chieti, 40 at the university of Verona, 30 at the University of Florence, and 20 at the University of Padua) and 270 in affiliated private institutions (210 at Rome Link University, 30 at Milan Humanitas, and 30 at Milan San Raffaele).
Recognizing Existing Qualifications: The Equivalency Pathway
The decree also addresses those who have already completed osteopathy training. Special registers will be established within the orders of medical radiology health technicians and technical health professions, rehabilitation and prevention. individuals who meet specific criteria as of August 31, 2025, will be eligible for inclusion on these lists. These criteria include:
* Possession of an upper secondary school diploma or equivalent.
* Holding a title of osteopath earned through a training course lasting at least three years.
The training course itself must meet defined standards:
* A minimum of 2,400 hours of theoretical instruction, equivalent to 96 university credits, covering a prescribed curriculum of compulsory subjects.
* A practical internship of at least 1,500 hours (equivalent to 60 credits).
* Instruction delivered by teachers holding relevant university degrees.
Individuals possessing equivalent qualifications – guaranteeing at least 1500 hours of training and 1000 of internship – can also apply for enrollment. Removal from the special registers will occur upon achieving the qualifying degree, voluntary renunciation, non-payment of annual fees, or disciplinary action.
This extensive reform, seven years in the making, marks a significant step forward in establishing osteopathy as a recognized and regulated healthcare profession within Italy.
