From 2021, most Equinology EEBWII certified graduates have been able to join AOI through a new and exciting pathway of study. This means that Equinology graduates who hold the right qualifications, will be able to apply for AOI’s educational programmes, via a bespoke conversion course (the EFOCC) that allows Equinology graduates to bypass some (previously studied elements) of AOI’s Diploma Programme. This is because, Equinology’s EEBWII pathway has been stringently evaluated by AOI, and shown to provide the highest quality of bodywork training available. Consequently, EEBWII graduates who have already undertaken hundreds of hours of high quality anatomical training and hands-on practice, that far exceeds some of the human practitioners who typically join AOI courses, are welcome on our Diploma Programme. 

Although the AOI Team, has accepted qualified animal professionals to join their animal training pathways since 2016, it has always been a challenge, due to the variation in qualifications around the world.. However, after a robust process of evaluation,  AOI confirmed that the standard of EEBWII graduates (post 2015) who have come from a degree background or have taken additional course in research and clinical methodology with Equinology, demonstrate exceptional capabilities as equine bodyworkers. That is why working with Equinology has been so exciting. It means that AOI can safely and confidently allow EEBW graduates onto the Diploma from day one, or EEBWII (post-2015) graduates to join via this conversion course. Both are warmly welcomed.

The conversion course (which is an amended version of year one of our Diploma programme), commences with an online programme of study (presentations, case study practice, videos and live webinars), followed by a high quality, small group intensive 5-day practicum plus an externship, written assignments and a clinical assessment with the main year one diploma students. As a result of the timing involved, EFOCC students are expected to join a UK, Danish or North American programme in alignment with the standard entry AOI year one diploma students, but in the knowledge that they will not have as much work to cover within the 7-month period. This also ensures that if the EFOCC student identifies areas of weakness during their studies, they can ask to purchase additional modules (additional fees apply).

Year Two – once students complete the year one process successfully,  they join year two of the diploma programme. Once again, the online component takes circa seven months, followed by a 12-day practical workshop and clinical review. 

This amazing opportunity gives Equinology bodywork practitioners a chance to join AOI’s professional Academic Pathway toward becoming a fully qualified Equine Functional [Osteopathic] Practitioner. The ideal career opportunity for those who wish to expand their clinical competence and scope of practice.