Skip to content Did you train in osteopathy abroad and want to practise in Italy? Before planning your professional activity, you need to understand how Italy assesses foreign qualifications.
A foreign osteopathy diploma does not automatically give you the right to practise in Italy. Italian law distinguishes between the healthcare profession, the transitional framework for Italian legacy qualifications and the recognition of foreign credentials.
This guide explains the framework for foreign osteopathy qualifications in Italy and the checks that can help you assess your position.
Osteopathy as a healthcare profession in Italy
Article 7 of Law No. 3 of 11 January 2018 identified osteopathy as a healthcare profession.
Presidential Decree No. 131 of 7 July 2021 subsequently adopted the agreement establishing the profession. The Ministerial Decree of 29 November 2023, which appeared in the Official Gazette on 16 February 2024, defined the curriculum for the Italian degree in Osteopathy.
These measures established the Italian professional and educational framework. However, they do not automatically recognise an individual qualification from another country.
What the DPCM of 25 March 2026 covers
The Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers of 25 March 2026 appears in Official Gazette No. 117 of 22 May 2026.
It adopts the agreement of 18 December 2025 on assessing professional experience and recognising legacy qualifications as equivalent to the qualifying degree in Osteopathy.
The decree addresses the transitional framework. It does not create a general procedure for converting foreign osteopathy diplomas into Italian qualifications.
FNO TSRM e PSTRP guidance addresses foreign qualifications separately. FAQ 5 directs holders of foreign qualifications that authorise osteopathic practice to request recognition from the Italian Ministry of Health.
The guidance distinguishes this route from registration on the special transitional list, known as the Elenco speciale ad esaurimento. Holders of foreign credentials should therefore check the professional recognition route rather than assume that the special list applies to them.
Professional recognition and academic recognition
First, identify your objective.
Professional recognition concerns the qualification you need to practise a regulated profession in Italy.
Academic recognition concerns your educational award and university purposes. The relevant academic institution assesses your foreign qualification under the appropriate procedure.
An academic comparability statement does not, by itself, authorise professional practice. If you want to work as an osteopath, you need to check the professional recognition requirements even if you already hold documents describing your diploma’s academic level.
Why country of training and citizenship matter
Citizenship alone does not determine the applicable route. Your qualification’s country of origin, its professional effect and your individual background also matter.
Qualifications from the EU EEA or Switzerland
The general framework for healthcare professionals distinguishes qualifications from the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
For osteopathy, you need to check which rules apply to your circumstances. Relevant factors include your citizenship, whether local law regulates the profession and whether your qualification authorises practice in the country of origin.
A qualification’s European origin does not, on its own, guarantee automatic recognition.
Qualifications from non EU countries
The Ministry’s general framework also provides for recognition of non EU healthcare qualifications held by European citizens.
Italian citizenship therefore does not turn a qualification from outside the EU into an Italian or EU award. You still need to establish which procedure applies to your osteopathy qualification and personal circumstances.
What a preliminary assessment considers
A preliminary assessment reviews your educational and professional background and identifies the checks you need before preparing an application.
The review considers:
- your exact qualification title and year of award;
- the country and institution that awarded it;
- the institution’s recognition or accreditation;
- the course duration and content;
- teaching hours or credits and practical placements;
- your entitlement to practise and any professional registration;
- your documented professional experience.
Experience helps establish your background. However, it does not guarantee recognition or automatically replace the required training.
Documents useful for the initial assessment
To help assess your profile, you can provide your diploma, academic transcript, course syllabus, details of hours or credits and placement records.
Evidence of professional authorisation or registration, certificates of good standing and records of previous professional experience may also help.
This list supports the preliminary assessment. It does not constitute an official checklist of mandatory application documents.
Before paying for translations, apostilles or legalisation, check which formalities the competent office requires for your procedure.
Checking the applicable procedure
Federation guidance identifies the Ministry of Health as the reference authority for foreign osteopathy qualifications. However, that guidance does not provide a complete application procedure for every overseas credential.
Before preparing an application, check the following points with the competent office:
- whether an available procedure covers your profile;
- which office handles the request;
- which submission channel and forms you should use;
- which supporting documents you need;
- which further conditions you must meet before practising.
Submitting an application does not itself authorise professional practice.
Timing and possible outcomes
Administrative processing times depend on the applicable procedure, your supporting documents and the authority’s assessment.
A preliminary review cannot guarantee recognition or establish a fixed deadline for obtaining it. The applicable procedure determines any further requirements.
The authority decides whether your foreign qualification meets the conditions for recognition.
A&P assistance for osteopaths trained abroad
A&P offers a preliminary assessment of your education, qualification, professional status and experience to identify the recognition route that may apply to you.
The initial service reviews your background and identifies the relevant requirements and further checks.
Once we confirm the applicable procedure and its availability, we can agree a subsequent engagement to help you prepare an application and communicate with the authority.
Contact A&P to request a preliminary assessment of your profile.