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If you’re considering a career as an animal osteopath or animal therapist, you probably have lots of questions about the animal osteopathy job description, what to expect from the career, and how to reach your goals. Keep reading to answer all your burning questions about what an animal therapy job description looks like and learn more about animal therapy.
The day-to-day lives of animal osteopaths can be very different, depending on their role. In fact, as an animal osteopath, every day is different!
There are so many reasons to consider a career as an animal osteopath, because there is so much variety in the job description. If being outdoors is important to you, there are options to suit. Or if you’re passionate about cats, dogs, horses, or even exotic animals, you can focus and adjust your workload to move towards your dream job. What’s common to all roles as an animal osteopath or therapist, is an attractive salary, flexible hours, and the option to work for yourself.
One of the most appealing parts of an animal osteopath job description is the option to choose your own working hours. Many animal osteopaths are self-employed, giving them full control over their work pattern and the flexibility to accommodate family and other commitments and maintain a good work-life balance.
The salary of an animal osteopath is affected by experience, reputation, location, species treated and employment status. Of course, it is also affected by working hours and how many consultation slots you decide to offer per day. You could expect a salary of between £20-25K (or equivalent in other currencies) initially, but this is likely to build over time. Find out more about animal osteopath salary.
Animal osteopathy is a diverse career with plenty of options. You could work at your own practice, hire a space in a clinic, or live life on the road visiting patients. You could treat farm, equine, domestic or exotic animals, or a variety! You can be your own boss or work as an employee, depending on what suits you. In addition to the hands-on practical work, if you want to be part of educating the next generation of animal osteopaths, you could become a lecturer. Here’s more information about animal osteopath career options.
Depending on where you practice, you might be known as an animal osteopath or an animal therapist. You might also choose to register with a regulatory body, like the Association of Animal Osteopaths, to improve your credibility and earning potential.
Animal handling and communication skills as well as confidence around animals are important for this career. After all, you won’t just be communicating with clients, but also colleagues and other veterinary professionals. For many roles a driving license is also an asset. If you’re not sure whether you have the right skillset, you can enquire with one of our schools.
At ESAO, there are different courses available to suit you and your starting point in terms of knowledge, skills, and qualifications. Whether you’re a student looking afresh at your options, or you’re planning a career change there’s an option for you. Experience of working in a relevant profession could mean a shorter Continued Professional Development course is appropriate, while a longer course is needed for students and professionals from an unrelated profession. Take a look at our course options and discover how to become an animal osteopath.