The General Osteopathic Council (Application for Registration and Fees) Rules Order of Council 2000

PART II Application for Registration

Application for registration as a fully registered osteopath

4.—(1) An application for registration as a fully registered osteopath shall be—

(a) in writing;

(b) on the form approved by the General Council for the purpose which shall require the applicant to provide the following information—

(i) the applicant’s personal details, including his full name, title, sex, age, date of birth, practice or principal practice address or, if not practising, the address to be shown in the register, telephone and fax numbers, details of any criminal convictions and state of health;

(ii) the applicant’s professional details, including the name and address of the osteopathic institution he attended and the qualification gained, the outcome of any civil or negligence claims, membership of any other professional body and the outcome of any disciplinary proceedings; and

(iii) such other information as the General Council may reasonably require;

(c) completed and signed by the applicant; and

(d) given or sent to the Registrar.

(2) The applicant shall provide in connection with the application for registration—

(a) a character reference, that is a reference as to the good character of the applicant given on the form specified in Part I of the Schedule by a person who—

(i) is not a relative of the applicant;

(ii) is a person of standing in the community which includes a registered osteopath, solicitor, accountant, bank manager, Justice of the Peace, principal of the institution which granted the applicant a relevant qualification or a person authorised by the principal of that institution, Minister of the Church, Rabbi, Imam or other religious official acceptable to he Registrar; and

(iii) has known the applicant for a period of at least four years;

(b) subject to paragraph (3), a health reference, that is a reference as to the physical and mental health of the applicant given on the form specified in Part II of the Schedule by the applicant’s doctor provided—

(i) he is not a relative of the applicant, and

(ii) he has known the applicant for a period of at least four years;

(c) the document conferring or evidencing the possession by the applicant of a relevant qualification; and

(d) such other information and documents as the Registrar may reasonably require for the purpose of determining the application.

(3) Where the Registrar is satisfied that the applicant cannot provide a health reference in the terms provided by paragraph (2)(b) for whatever reason, the Registrar may satisfy himself as to the physical and mental health of the applicant in any of the following ways—

(a) by a reference given by a doctor who, in giving the reference, relies on the medical records of the applicant made by a doctor of whom the applicant was a patient for a period of at least four years or the records of a doctor who has practised in partnership with such a doctor;

(b) by an examination by a doctor nominated by the Registrar; or

(c) by such other manner as the Registrar considers appropriate in a particular case.

Other conditions of registration

5.—(1) For the purpose of satisfying himself as to the good character of the applicant, the Registrar shall have regard to—

(a) the character reference referred to in rule 4(2)(a);

(b) any criminal offence which the applicant has been convicted of;

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

and for this purpose the Registrar may seek information additional to that provided with the application for registration from both the applicant and from any other person or source.

(2) For the purpose of satisfying himself as to the physical and mental health of the applicant, the Registrar shall have regard to—

(a) the health reference referred to in rule 4(2)(b);

(b) such other matters as appear to him to be relevant;

and for this purpose the Registrar may seek information additional to that provided with the application for registration from both the applicant and from any other person or source and may require the applicant to be examined by a doctor nominated by the Registrar.