Membership
OsEAN – the Osteopathic European Academic Network – is a professional platform for institutions and individuals committed to high-quality osteopathic education.
Our members benefit from shared knowledge, international collaboration, high-level events, access to innovative training, and a strong professional community. Whether you are an osteopathic school, postgraduate provider, or individual educator, we welcome you to explore our membership options.
Membership Types Benefits Application Process Fees
Membership Types
Core Membership
Core membership is open to European osteopathic education institutions that are certified under the European Norm 16686 – Osteopathic Healthcare Provision. Certification ensures that the institution meets quality standards in education, clinical training, and professional practice.
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Institutions already audited and certified by any recognised European certification body may apply.
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A separate OsEAN audit is not required if valid certification is presented.
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Core members hold full voting rights in the General Meeting and actively contribute to the strategic direction of OsEAN.
Who is eligible?
European osteopathic training institutions with valid EN 16686 certification (or equivalent).
Voting rights: ✔ Yes
Certification required: ✔ Yes
Participation in activities and projects: ✔ Full
Affiliated Membership
Affiliated membership is available to institutions that do not meet the core membership criteria but are actively involved in osteopathic education. This includes:
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European institutions not (yet) certified by EN 16686
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Institutions based outside of Europe
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Institutions offering postgraduate education for osteopaths
Affiliated members have access to OsEAN events and working groups but do not have voting rights in the General Meeting. Importantly, no audit is required for affiliated members.
Who is eligible?
Non-certified European schools, international schools, postgraduate course providers.
Voting rights: ✖ No
Audit required: ✖ No
Participation in activities and projects: ✔ Full
Individual Membership
Individual membership is designed for osteopaths actively engaged in teaching, either as lecturers, tutors, assistants, or instructors.
To be eligible, an individual must be involved in teaching at least one course per year. This membership connects osteopathic educators across institutions and borders, providing access to OsEAN’s training programs, working groups, and conferences.
Who is eligible?
Osteopaths involved in teaching at least one course annually.
Voting rights: ✖ No
Audit required: ✖ No
Participation in activities and projects: ✔ Full
Benefits of Being a Member
OsEAN membership provides access to a wide range of benefits designed to support institutions and individual educators.
Student Exchange Programme
OsEAN currently offers a Student Exchange Programme established in 2010. It allows students from member schools to visit another OsEAN institution for a short period (typically around one week) to attend courses or clinical classes.
This programme strengthens connections between students, future osteopaths, member schools and encourages an open, international perspective in osteopathic education.
Teacher Training – PGCert in Osteopathic Education
Most osteopathy teachers come from practice and start teaching without formal pedagogical training. OsEAN has developed a Postgraduate Certificate in Osteopathic Education (PGCert) specifically designed for osteopaths.
This programme supports educators in developing their teaching, assessment, and academic leadership skills — while remaining rooted in the osteopathic context.
Teachers’ Working Groups
These groups offer a structured platform for teachers to exchange experiences, compare approaches, and explore solutions to common challenges in osteopathic education.
Participants learn from colleagues across Europe, discussing both didactic methods and scientific developments. Each OsEAN school brings its own unique educational model, offering a rich learning experience for all.
Participation is free of charge for members.
🔗 Read more…
Virtual International Student Day (VISD)
An annual online event for osteopathic students from OsEAN schools. Born out of the need to stay connected during the pandemic, VISD brings together students from across Europe and beyond to attend lectures and exchange with international peers.
Participation is free for students from member institutions.
🔗 Read more…
Open Forum – Educational Conference
Held every two years, the Open Forum is an international conference fully dedicated to osteopathic education. Educators, researchers, and experts present and discuss topics such as palpation, soft skills, clinical competence, research, and educational philosophy.
The conference is open to all, but OsEAN members receive a discounted rate.
🔗 Learn more…
Member Meetings
OsEAN holds two types of meetings for members:
Online meetings: Held together with 1 hour educational webinars to offer its members the possibility to grow.
In-person meetings: Held once a year, hosted by one of the member institutions. These gatherings focus on collaboration, discussion of current educational topics, and development of shared projects.
A Strong International Network
OsEAN is a recognised academic network and a trusted brand in osteopathic education. While the network is primarily European, we also welcome extraordinary members from non European countries, such as our members from Argentina, Brazil, and Russia.
OsEAN is a proud partner of the Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA), reinforcing its global outlook and standards-based approach.
Application Process
OsEAN welcomes applications from institutions and individuals involved in osteopathic education and training. If you are interested in becoming a member, please download the application documents or contact the OsEAN Office for assistance.
Please note that OsEAN’s working language is English, and all application documents should be submitted in English.
Core & Affiliated Membership
Step 1 – Submit Your Application
Organisations interested in joining OsEAN are invited to send their full application directly via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you have any questions about the process or the documents required, feel free to contact us — we’re happy to help.
The application for membership should include the following:
- Form I – “OsEAN member profile for Full Time School” completed, or
Form II – “OsEAN member profile for Part Time School” completed; - Form III – “Form III - OsEAN member profile Curriculum” completed;
- Organigram of the school board
- Short CV of heads of department + list of lecturers and their educational background
- Plan of the school and its premises
- Proof of business status (e.g. company registration)
- Proof of quality certification (if available)
- Proof of accreditation (e.g. Ministry, University) if applicable
Once received, the OsEAN Office will check your application for completeness and forward it to the Membership Committee, who will review the materials before inviting you to proceed to Step 2.
Step 2 – Present Your School
Once your application has been reviewed, you’ll be invited to present your school at an OsEAN All Members Meeting. This is a chance to introduce your institution, share your approach to osteopathic education, and answer any questions from current members.
Step 3 – Membership Decision
After your presentation, OsEAN’s core members will vote on your application during the General Meeting. Membership is granted with a simple majority vote of the core member representatives, in accordance with Article 5 of the OsEAN Bylaws.
Please note that applications may be declined without a specific reason being given.
Individual Membership
Individual membership is open to professionals involved in teaching at an osteopathic institution. Applicants do not need to be osteopaths but must be actively engaged in delivering educational content relevant to osteopathic training.
Applicants must provide:
- Proof of teaching activity at an osteopathic institution:
- Freelancers: at least one course per year
- Employed staff: confirmation of employment
- A relevant diploma (not limited to osteopathy)
All individual membership applications are reviewed and subject to approval by vote of the OsEAN board.
To apply, please send the required documents mentioned above to the OsEAN Office.
Join OsEAN and be part of a growing international community of committed educators and institutions that value collaboration, quality, and innovation and are working together to advance osteopathic education across Europe and beyond.
Membership Fees
Membership fees help support the running of OsEAN and ensure the continuation of events, training programmes, and collaborative projects.
Core Membership: €1,538.00 / year
Affiliated Membership: €1,538.00 / year
Individual Membership: €153.80 / year (10% of institutional fee)
Please note: These fees are set for 2025 and may be adjusted annually in line with inflation.
Invoices are issued at the beginning of the calendar year and must be paid within the given deadline. Late payments may incur a surcharge.
Additional Information
The complete version of OsEAN's bylaws is available here.