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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 regards to educational standards or professional standards.

This is why the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy looks to international education standards in osteopathy for guidance. International benchmarks for training in osteopathy; as set by the World Health Organization, and as set in countries where osteopathy has been regulated at the highest level; are comprehensive and provide a bar the CAO can measure its curriculum against.

At the CAO, we voluntarily align with the highest international benchmarks in osteopathic education. We do this to protect our students after graduation. In the event of future regulation, we want our graduates to be trained at the highest levels world wide. The CAO is also proud to acknowledge that our osteopathy program is recognized and monitored by Osteopathy Canada (OSTCAN).

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.

Osteopathy Canada (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.

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