fbpx Skip to content

Osteopathic Regulation in Canada

Student of the CAO practicing manual osteopathic care on a fellow student in the CAO student clinic
The CAO aims to meet and exceed international standards of osteopathy training and education

A Recognized Curriculum In Canada and Worldwide

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy (CAO) is officially certified by the Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada and approved to issue the T2202 tax form for tuition credit.

It’s important to do your research when selecting an osteopathy school, as osteopathy is unregulated in Canada. There is no government involvement at the provincial or national level with regard to education or professional registration, which is why the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy strives to meet and exceed international standards.

Students should be aware that the titles Osteopath, DO, and Doctor of Osteopathy (PDF) are protected by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario for exclusive use by American trained Osteopathic Medical School graduates. Canadian osteopathic schools are eligible to award the title Osteopathic Manual Practitioner to trained osteopathic graduates. At the CAO, we are proud to offer an osteopathy program that is recognized and monitored by OSTCAN, Osteopathy Canada, the Canadian Institute of Classical Osteopathy, and the International Institute of Classical Osteopathy.

At the CAO, we train highly skilled Osteopathic Manual Practitioners. You’ll feel great knowing that classes are taught by expert instructors and that you’re getting the hands-on experience this profession requires. You’ll be fully prepared to confidently enter your new profession in osteopathy.

International Standards of Education

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy’s curriculum aims to meet or exceed Type 1 standards as they are clearly defined, which enables our curriculum to be tangibly measured by independent third-party education audits–and pass with total transparency.

At the CAO, students receive four years of osteopathic manual education, including supervised clinical training and a comprehensive curriculum that is transparent, responsible, and ethical. This paves the path to safer practitioners and ultimately better outcomes for patients.

OSTCAN

There is no government entity overseeing osteopathic schools or osteopathic professional associations, so any entities who hold themselves out as doing so are misleading you. However, the profession is regulated, so to speak, by two entities – the World Health Organization and the private insurance industry.

The W.H.O. has set the standard for benchmarks in osteopathic education for decades. The private insurance industry has aligned with these WHO benchmarks and only recognizes osteopathic practitioners who have graduated from reputable schools that meet these standards.

All graduates of the CAO are eligible to become a member of OSTCAN. It is an association open to all practitioners with a world-class education of osteopathy.

All members of OSTCAN must:

  • Have a minimum of 4200 hours of osteopathic education including supervised clinical training
  • Pass OSTCAN entrance exam in safety, ethics, red flags, and health sciences
  • Hold valid liability and malpractice insurance policies
  • Provide a clean Vulnerable Sector screening police check

OSTCAN has comprehensive standards of practice that all members must adhere to. Members are required to complete continuing education units every year to maintain membership.

Is A Rewarding Career in Osteopathy Right For You? Get More Info…

If you’re interested in learning more about a career in Osteopathy and exploring whether the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy is right for you, fill out the form on this page to receive more information.

For immediate questions, please call 1-866-320-9898

The CAO provides graduates of its program with a post-graduate diploma. Completion of the program does not result in being conferred a degree designation. In Canada, there are no Canadian universities that offer degrees in osteopathy, rather osteopathic education is almost exclusively offered by private colleges.

Get Program Details!