As a newly graduated Osteopath or Naturopath you will have a number of possible areas of practice to consider: to set up on your own; to join an established practice; to work within the NHS; or to join a multidisciplinary practice. As with all professions and, indeed, most new companies, you should reckon on it taking two to three years to become established and develop a full practice with the financial return that goes with it. Whilst London may appear to offer the greatest opportunity, it also has the largest number of practitioners and the most expensive premises. Setting up your practice further afield where your premises will cost less and your services may be in greater demand makes a lot of sense.

There are also opportunities abroad, but a thorough examination of the particular country's laws relating to immigration and practice should be made at the respective consulate before considering such a course of action. A perusal of the GOsC and GCRN Registers will reveal where members are currently practicing in Britain and overseas.

Former College Student Profiles

Here we profile four former College students who have taken very different career paths.

Jonathan McSwiney - a corporate career

Jonathan graduated from the college in 1996. He now spends most of his week working for Osteopaths for Industry, a consultancy company which aims to reduce injuries in the workplace by training staff and managers within private and public sector organisations. This ranges from advice and training on manual handling in the workplace, people handling for staff in hospital and care environments to displacing equipment and correct and efficient office environments.

Two days a week, Jonathan practises at his own clinic in West London, alongside two other partners. Jonathan likes the variety of his two roles. As well as treating his own patients, he has trained people in organisations from British Airways to British Telecom. Consultancies range from training BBC cameramen to handle their equipment more safely or doing assessments for the Health and Safety Executive in corporate organisations throughout the country, to advising staff on how to move King Henry VIII's solid oak dining table at Hampton Court Palace.

Michael Van Straten - a media career

Michael graduated from the College in 1964 and is now one of the country's most well-known osteopaths. He has been presenting on LBC for 25 years and is a regular on national and regional TV and radio, including Carlton Food Network and Granada and has contributed articles to most national newspapers and consumer magazines.

Michael's first career after graduating was in retail. It was whilst running a successful health food business that he became friendly with the novelist Dame Barbara Cartland and became involved in a number of radio interviews with her on the subject of nutrition, vitamins and supplements. Such was the interest in the whole complementary health issue, he received invitations to appear on more radio shows and was eventually invited to present his own slot on breakfast TV.

As well as being a presenter, Michael writes extensively and still has his own patients. He has written 15 books, and has many more in the pipeline, and sees patients two days a week in London. His media and speaking work has taken him all over the world and enabled him to meet people from all walks of life. These include the Dalai Lama, a rainforest Indian, a Kalahari bushman, Goldie Hawn and Charlton Heston.

Michael loves the variety of his work and the fact that, through the media, millions of people can benefit from his advice.

Pamela Vaill-Carter - a teaching career

Pamela graduated from the college in 1997 and has gone on to develop a career combining practising osteopathy and teaching. Pamela teaches two days a week at BCOM, taking both lectures and practical classes in clinics, specialising in soft tissue techniques, visceral osteopathy and rehabilitative exercise. Pamela also runs her own practice in London, combining rehabilitative exercise with structural and cranial osteopathy, as well as working with children at a practice in Buckinghamshire.

Before studying at the college, Pamela taught fitness classes and was involved in rehabilitative exercise. Pamela enjoys the flexibility of being able to work in a variety of ways and using the range of her skills on a regular basis. She particularly enjoys being able to teach because it is good for sharpening her own diagnostic skills and keeping her own knowledge up to date. It also provides the opportunity to interact with peers and be able to discuss cases and trends in the profession. An aspect of the job which she finds particularly rewarding is seeing her students develop over the course of the degree and improve their skills and confidence. Pamela teaches for about 15-20 hours a week and sees 40-50 patients a week.

Annabel Jenks - a career with animals

After graduating from BCOM in 1984, Annabel set up her own practice in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire. As a lifelong horsewoman and lover of animals, she started to develop her osteopathic skills and knowledge in treating horses by combining the two.

Annabel's skill came to the attention of riders on the international show jumping circuit and as a result she started to treat many horses and riders at home and abroad, including Olympic and European equestrian medalists.

Her time is now divided between treating 'human' patients at her practice in Old Harlow, Essex, and upon referral from a veterinary surgeon, makes visits to equestrian patients all over the South East of England. The nature of Annabel's role means that her schedule varies on a daily basis, dictated by the appointments her clients make. First thing she could see a patient at her practice, then out to treat a riding-school pony, followed by an appointment with a Labrador dog in the afternoon.

In combining her osteopathic skills and knowledge with her passion for horses and animals, Annabel has created a way of life that goes beyond simply having a career. It is a vocation!