What is an Osteopath?

What is an Osteopath?

In Ontario, where I practice, the only people who are legally allowed to call themselves an "Osteopath" are members of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario as per the Medicine Act of 1991. To become a member of the College you must have completed a Doctor of Osteopathy or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. At present this degree is only available in USA and not Canada. Hence, only a handful of US educated practitioners who are members of the CPSO can legally call themselves an Osteopath or Osteopathic Physician.

The majority of practitioners practicing Osteopathy in Ontario are called Osteopathic Manual Practitioners and are members of the Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (OAO). The membership of the OAO is made up of Canadian and Foreign trained in Osteopathy. I am a United Kingdom trained and have a Degree in Osteopathic Medicine. Osteopathic Manual Practitioners that are trained in Ontario will have the designation DOMP or DOMTP after their name, which signifies that they have a Diploma of Osteopathy. In the UK, as in Ontario, the title Osteopath is a protected in law by the 1991 Osteopaths Act. The regulating body for Osteopaths in the UK is the General Osteopathic Council (GOC). Only registered members, of which I am, can use the title, Osteopath in the UK. As a member of both the OAO and GOC, it is mandatory that you complete a minimum amount of continuing education to maintain a strict code of practice. The OAO, unlike the GOC, is not a regulatory body but it's  membership are working towards this goal with the Government of Ontario and Canada.

When looking for a therapist practicing Osteopathy in Ontario it is important to check their qualifications and to what professional associations they belong.

If you have any questions regarding the above blog or general queries about osteopathy please leave them in the comments below.