Bulgarian School of Osteopathy
2-year DIPLOMA in OSTEOPATHY
Introduction to the Course
The Diploma in Osteopathy (D.O.) is a 2-year course reserved to Medical Doctor and Physiotherapists. The course is designed to enable the professionals to acquire a set of core competencies that guide them in the diagnosis, management and treatment of their patients and form the foundation for the osteopathic approach to healthcare. The course is validated by Bulgarian School of Osteopathy, the first international training school in Osteopathy founded and directed by Dr. Giovanni Bonfanti DO.F.
Teaching and learning strategies comprise classroom-based lectures and seminars; practical osteopathic skills sessions; Virtual Learning Experiences such as online lectures, practical demonstration of osteopathic technique and clinical examination; and Problem Based Learning group tutorials. Upon completion of the course, students will have the knowledge, skills and attitudes to integrate osteopathy, in a safe and informed way, in their existing clinical practice.
Osteopathy
Osteopathy was founded in 1874 by Andrew Taylor Still, an American physician; osteopathic medicine (or osteopathy) is a system of manual diagnosis and treatment for a range of musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal clinical conditions. It is distinguished from other health care professions by the fact that it is practised according to an articulated philosophy (Seffinger, 1997). Its claimed unique philosophy of health care is supported by current medical practice with an emphasis on the unity of the body, interrelationship between structure and function, and an appreciation of the body’s self-healing mechanisms (Seffinger, 1997; McPartland and Pruit, 1999).
One of its defining characteristics is the emphasis placed on the musculoskeletal system as an integral part of patient care (Rogers et al., 2002). Osteopaths utilize a wide range of therapeutic techniques to improve function and support homeostasis that has been altered by somatic dysfunction (WHO, 2010). Somatic dysfunction is described as the altered or impaired function of skeletal, arthrodial,
and myofascial components of the somatic (body) framework and their related vascular, lymphatic, and neural elements (DiGiovanna, 2005).
Since its inception, in 1874, osteopathic medicine has developed into two distinct forms of clinical practice. Whereas in the USA, osteopaths have full medical practice rights; in the UK, in Australia and some European coutries, osteopaths have a limited scope of practice with an emphasis on the provision of manual therapy (Hartup et al., 2010). In these coutries, osteopaths operate as primary contact practitioners and follow a four or five-year academic programme of study. At the point of graduation, students are required to possess a clinical competence profile which enables them to effectively operate as autonomous health care practitioners.
Although osteopathic curricula share commonalities with allopathic medical curricula, as a reflection of the osteopathic philosophy, osteopathic curricula emphasise the application of manual methods of patient examination and treatment. Notwithstanding this, students at the point of graduation are required to possess clinical reasoning capabilities similar to those of a graduating medical student. Clinical reasoning is widely recognised as the essential element for competent autonomous health care practice (e.g., Higgs and Jones, 2000; Jones and Rivett, 2004).
Aims
The course will enable health professionals to further develop their pre-existing capabilities to integrate osteopathy, in a safe and informed way, in their existing clinical practice. Students will be exposed to a student-centred learning environment to promote the critical acquisition, development and integration of clinical knowledge and osteopathic evaluative and treatment skills, within the context of their pre-existing professional knowledge, skills, values and norms. This is underpinned by a critical understanding of osteopathic concepts. Specifically, the aims of osteopathy programme are:
- To provide a teaching and learning environment that promotes a culture of critically, self managed and life-long learning which enables students to operate within the context of clinical uncertainty.
- To enable students to develop the professional capabilities required to integrate osteopathy with their existing professional clinical practice.
Scientific Board
Dr. Giovanni Bonfanti DO.F (Ost. FR)
Dr. Hristo Panov DPT
Dr. Luca Locati PSYCH
After an experience of 7 years in the Italian Military Special Forces, in 2000 he obtained the Diploma (Bac + 3) in Osteopathy at THE RORI – Richard Osteopathic Research Institute Lyon (FR) | Milan (IT) led by Raimond Richard and in 2003 the Certified Graduate in Business Process Management at ALTIS – UNI Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Subsequently, he obtained the Diploma of Higher Education in Osteopathy (Back+ 5) and the Certificats d’Étues Spécialisées en Ostéopathie Pédiatrique at EFSO – Ecole Française Supérieure d’Ostéopathie – Paris (FR). He worked for many years in Italy in Milan as an osteopath and lecturer in post- graduate courses reserved for doctors and physiotherapists, as coordinator at EFSO – Ecole Française Supérieure d’Ostéopathie – Paris (FR) and lecturer at ICOM College Italia.
In 2018 he founded the iTHRUST ACADEMY project based on post- graduate training courses for Doctors, Physiotherapists, Osteopaths and Chiropractors in HVLA manipulation techniques which leads him to be present today in 38 countries where he has trained over 3,000 professionals from more than 40 countries.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
• Critically appraise the osteopathic conceptual philosophy of clinical practice and its role in patient evaluation, treatment and management;
• Demonstrate an integrated knowledge of normal and altered human structure and function applied to the process of clinical decision making;
• Demonstrate an integrated knowledge concerning the impact of environmental, psychological and social conditions in the development of illness and disease;
• Demonstrate well developed clinical evaluative skills and decision-making processes required for complex and unpredictable clinical situations;
• Select, implement and monitor osteopathic intervention by means of highly developed clinical reasoning in a manner that is safe, efficient and effective;
• Demonstrate competence in the selection and application of a range of manual techniques ranging from soft-tissue techniques to high velocity low amplitude thrust techniques;
• Select and apply a limited range of cranial, visceral, and functional techniques;
• Communicate effectively and appropriately with patients, carers, colleagues and other members of the healthcare team;
Entry Requirements
To apply for our Diploma in Osteopathy Program, applicants must have a minimum of N or O Level qualifications. Relevant experience in the healthcare and wellness industries will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
If you are unsure whether you meet the entry criteria or believe your background may be relevant, we encourage you to reach out. Our admissions team will be happy to discuss your qualifications and explore available options with you.
Once we receive your application, it will be reviewed by our admissions team. Your personal statement, qualifications, and any relevant experience will be carefully assessed as part of the selection process.
Course Structure
Duration: 24 months
Timetable
Diploma in Osteopathy 2026-2027
Year 1
– week seminars dates
– week seminars dates
– week seminars dates
Year 2
– week seminars dates
– week seminars dates
– week seminars dates
– Anatomy and physiology examination (at end of Year 1)
– Final examination (discussion of the thesis and clinical case)
Graduation ceremony: graduation dates Online and face-to-face lectures, tutorials and meetings and group discussions
Structure of the Training Course
The 2-Years Diploma in Osteopathy complies with the provisions of the Benchmarks for Training in Osteopathy, World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 relating to training in Type II Osteopathy reserved for operators with previous health qualifications in Medicine and Physical Therapy.
The 2-Years Diploma in Osteopathy provides a total of 1,100 hours, totaling 710 hours of training and 390 hours of clinical thyrocinium.
• Frontal teaching 336 hours
• Specific texts and elaborates, study of clinical cases and reports 114 hours
• Study and preparation for the examination of anatomy and physiology 100 hours
• Personal commitment of the student and thesis 250 hours
• Exercise / practical activity on patient 300 hours (certified by the school).
Structure of the Training Course
3 days for each seminar (about 24 hours), 7 seminars for each year (about 168 hours), two years of course (about 336 hours).
Principal topics of the Training Course
Fascial osteopathy, structural osteopathy, cranial osteopathy, visceral osteopathy, stomatognathic approach, pediatric osteopathy, osteopathy in sports.
Curricular Content
During the 14 seminars in 2-years, 4 learning modules will be developed:
MODULE 1 - Osteopathic Concepts and Criticality
20 hours lectures; 20 hours seminars and practicals
Module Overviews
This module enables students to develop an in-depth and critical understanding of osteopathic concepts and models of evaluation and treatment and to relate those to existent healthcare models of health, illness and disease, as means of informing their clinical reasoning and decision-making processes. The module also provides the foundation for the development of students’ practical osteopathic evaluation and treatment skills, enabling them to apply and make sense of those skills; emphasis is placed on palpation and clinical observation skills. Whilst developing new knowledge and skills concerning the conceptual basis for osteopathic clinical practice, students will be encouraged to critically evaluate its underpinning rationale, plausibility, and evidence base.
MODULE 2 - Developing Knowledge for Osteopathic Practice
40 hours lectures; 40 hours seminars and practicals
Module Overviews
This module enables students to apply their existing knowledge and skills of human structure, function, dysfunction and disease, and to develop the knowledge and skill of osteopathic evaluation and patient management critically applying these in the context of patient care. This module enables
students to develop the competencies required to critically evaluate each patient with an osteopathic focus from the outset, and to develop a plan of care which is consistent with the conceptual basis of osteopathy, best practice and patient safety.
MODULE 3 - Clinical Skills for Osteopathic Practice 1
30 hours lectures; 78 hours seminars and practicals
Module Overviews
This is the first of two modules that provide students with opportunities to develop osteopathic specific clinical knowledge and skills which will enable them to effectively evaluate and manage their patients. In this module, students will develop practical clinical skills of osteopathic evaluation and technique. Initially, problem-based learning activities provide students with an opportunity to integrate newly acquired knowledge and skills in the context of patient evaluation and care.
MODULE 4 - Clinical Skills for Osteopathic Practice 2
30 hours lectures and seminars; 78 hours seminars and practicals;
Module Overviews
This is the second of two modules that provide students with opportunities to develop osteopathic specific clinical knowledge and skills which will enable them to effectively evaluate and manage their patients. To this end, students will consolidate practical clinical skills of osteopathic evaluation and soft tissue and muscle energy, mobilisation/articulation and HLVA technique; and will further develop their clinical skills in the areas of cranial, visceral and functional technique. Existing and newly acquired knowledge and skills are applied and integrated in their clinical practice through well
developed clinical reasoning capabilities. This is facilitated by means of classroom-based problem based learning activities and supervised clinical practice in the module Osteopathic Clinical Practice.
