Osteopathy is today one of the world's largest forms of manual therapy and a recognised healthcare profession in a long list of countries. In Europe, there are over 45,000 osteopaths, and the profession is regulated in every Nordic country except Sweden: in Denmark, Iceland and Norway, osteopaths are licensed, and in Finland, osteopath is a protected professional title. The profession is also regulated in several other European countries. In Sweden, osteopathy is not currently a licensed profession, but the issue is on the agenda. The government inquiry "Strengthened patient safety through the right competence" (SOU 2025:63) finds that osteopaths meet several of the criteria for licensure, but that Sweden lacks a university-level programme with a scientific foundation. NIMM's Programme in Osteopathy has been developed to meet precisely that need.
Osteopaths encounter patients daily with complex and long-term conditions where person-centred and multimodal care makes a difference. This is an approach that is increasingly in demand in primary care, at specialist clinics and in private practice.
Many osteopaths choose to establish their own clinic, either independently or together with colleagues, while it is becoming increasingly common to start a career as an employee in multi-professional healthcare environments where the broad, person-centred osteopathic perspective is a strength.
A degree from NIMM is a route into a Nordic and European labour market where osteopathy is an established and regulated profession. In Denmark, Iceland and Norway, osteopaths are licensed healthcare providers with the same status as other licensed healthcare professions, and in Finland, osteopath is a protected professional title. To work as an osteopath in any of these countries, you apply for a licence – or, in Finland, for the right to use the professional title – to the country's competent authority, which assesses whether your education meets the requirements. In Norway, your application is assessed by the Norwegian Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet). Since osteopath is not a licensed profession in Sweden, you also need to have worked as an osteopath full-time for at least one year within the last ten years, in addition to holding your degree. If you have not, Helsedirektoratet will assess your education and experience individually. In this way, the Nordic labour market can become a natural extension of a career started in Sweden. The WHO recognises osteopathy within its international guidelines, and the European standardisation organisation CEN has adopted a common European standard for osteopathic healthcare (EN 16686), which further strengthens the profession's international standing and mobility.
For those who wish to pursue academic specialisation, NIMM works actively to create conditions for further studies and research in osteopathy. Swedish osteopaths are increasingly publishing in international scientific journals, and the need for clinically grounded research in person-centred and multimodal care continues to grow, both in Sweden and internationally.
NIMM on Instagram is for all former, current and prospective students, with regular updates, photos and news from NIMM.
NIMM on Facebook has regular updates and news from NIMM.
For current and prospective students, there is also the Facebook group NIMM Student.
Here you can talk with NIMM's current and former students, get news and tips, find old classmates and make valuable professional contacts.
The School of Osteopathy also has its own page on LinkedIn for current and former students on the Programme in Osteopathy.
Follow NIMM on X, @nimm_stockholm, for short news updates and links to articles and research.
