Chiropractic or osteopathy?
Both are manual therapies, and both can be consulted without a referral. The difference is their legal status: chiropractic is a university medical profession under the Medical Professions Act and is covered by basic insurance, while osteopathy is a health profession under the Health Professions Act and is reimbursed through supplementary insurance.
What they have in common
Both professions treat musculoskeletal pain by hand. Both are regulated in Switzerland, both hold a protected title, and both require a master’s degree to practise.
Neither requires a referral. Osteopathy, like chiropractic, is a first-contact health profession with direct access. You will often read the opposite; it is not true, and it should not enter your decision.
What separates them
| Chiropractic | Osteopathy | |
|---|---|---|
| Training | Six years at the University of Zurich, a federal examination, then at least two years of supervised assistantship and a postgraduate examination. | Bachelor then Master of Science at a university of applied sciences. Until 2023, also the intercantonal diploma, recognised as equivalent to the master’s. |
| Legal framework | Medical Professions Act (LPMéd) — one of five university medical professions. | Health Professions Act (LPSan). Title protected since 2013. |
| Basic insurance (LAMal) | Covered. | Not covered. |
| Supplementary insurance | Not relevant: basic insurance already covers it. | This is how reimbursement works, depending on your contract. |
| Referral | Not required. | Not required. |
Details of cover: Reimbursement and insurance.
What a chiropractic consultation includes
Because chiropractic falls under the Medical Professions Act, a chiropractor makes a medical diagnosis and practises under her own responsibility. Her training covers anatomy, neurology and radiology, and she can request imaging when the examination warrants it.