The General Osteopathic Council (Transitional Period) (Application for Registration and Fees) Rules Order of Council 1998

Lawful, safe and competent practice

4.—(1) The question whether an applicant has spent any part of his working time in the lawful, safe and competent practice of osteopathy shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions of this rule.

(2) An applicant shall be taken to have been practising osteopathy for the number of years that—

(a) he has been registered on a professional register; or

(b) he has maintained professional indemnity insurance in respect of his osteopathic practice; or

(c) it is stated in a professional status reference that he has been practising osteopathy;

whichever is the longest period.

(3) Where

(a) an applicant has practised osteopathy outside the United Kingdom; and

(b) where the practice of osteopathy in that place was prohibited unless legal requirements relating to the practice of osteopathy were complied with; and

(c) any part of the period during which he practised there is included in the period referred to in Rule 3(2)(d)

the Registrar shall not be satisfied that the applicant has spent working time in the lawful practice of osteopathy unless the applicant satisfies the Registrar that he has complied with those legal requirements.

(4) For the purpose of satisfying himself as to whether the applicant has practised osteopathy safely, the Registrar shall, without prejudice to any other matters which appear to him to be relevant in any particular case, have regard to any of the following of which he is aware—

(a) a complaint made to the professional regulatory body (if any) on whose register, roll or list the name of the applicant is or has been entered;

(b) a claim made under a contract of insurance providing professional indemnity to the applicant;

(c) proceedings brought against the applicant in connection with his practice of osteopathy.

(5) For the purpose of satisfying the Registrar that he has practised osteopathy competently, the applicant shall complete all sections of the questionnaire provided by the General Council in connection with applications made during the transitional period for registration as a registered osteopath or such parts of the questionnaire as the Registrar may direct.

(6) In determining whether an applicant has practised osteopathy competently, the Registrar shall have regard to—

(a) the completed questionnaire referred to in paragraph (5) or such part of the questionnaire that the Registrar has directed shall be completed;

(b) the required standard of proficiency; and

(c) such other matters as appear to him to be relevant

and for this purpose the Registrar may obtain information additional to that provided with the application for registration and in the questionnaire from both the applicant and from any other person or source as the Registrar considers appropriate and may require the applicant to be interviewed or to be visited at any place where he practises osteopathy by a person nominated by the Registrar.