Canadian Federation of Osteopaths

Who is an Osteopath in Canada

The Canadian Federation of Osteopaths represents Osteopath’s who are trained in the manual practice of osteopathy and who are members of the provincial associations across Canada who are in process of establishing the manual practice of osteopathy as a regulated profession.

The title of Osteopath is protected in some provinces by their respective medical associations for American trained osteopathic physicians. Osteopathic physicians belong to a separate association from the Canadian Federation of Osteopaths.

In Canada, the non-physician manual practice of osteopathy is practiced in all provinces. The current title of osteopaths has been determined by the provincial board of the associations, which are eligible for membership to the Canadian Federation of Osteopaths. Membership can be verified by checking the provincial association’s website.

 

ALBERTA

In Alberta the titles "Osteopath" and "osteopathic practitioner" are protected by the Health Professions Act. This means that only licensed, medically trained, Osteopathic Physicians graduating from American universities can use them. For this reason non-physician Osteopaths graduating from Colleges outside America use the title "osteopathic manual therapist" if they want to work in Alberta. 

The AAOMT is a first step in the organization and regulation of manual practice osteopathic therapists in Alberta. It agrees with and meets the Osteopathic International Alliance and World Osteopathic Health Organization in both the definitions of an Osteopath and an Osteopathic Physician and the minimum educational requirements for both. In order to support both these organizations and further Osteopathy in Canada the AAOMT will be taking all the steps necessary to get manual osteopathic therapists recognized and protected both nationally and provincially. 

BRITISH COLUMBIA

The BC Society for the Promotion of Manual Practice Osteopathy (SPMPO) was incorporated under the Society Act of the Province of British Columbia in 2005 and has been a member of the Osteopathic International Alliance since 2008. It is an association of professional Osteopathic Practitioners committed to fostering education of the public about osteopathy, demonstrating accountability and ethical practice, and providing a list of practitioners whose training and qualifications are of a high standard. There are currently 17 members and membership comprises the majority of fully qualified osteopathic practitioners in BC, including members trained in Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
In BC, non physician osteopaths, known throughout the rest of the world as simply ‘osteopaths’ use the title “Osteopathic Practitioner” to differentiate themselves from American trained osteopathic physicians who were legally granted exclusive use of the title ‘osteopath” in June 2009. Both streams of osteopathy are currently practiced in BC. For more information about the SPMPO see our website: www.osteopathybc.ca

ONTARIO

The Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (OAO) is a voluntary, not for profit, professional association which promotes the
practice of osteopathic health care, establishes and maintains standards for safe and effective treatment, and, organizes continuing educational
programs to advance the knowledge of osteopathy in the province of Ontario.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario regulates and controls the use of the title “osteopath”. The OAO is working to secure the
enactment of legislation to regulate Osteopathic Manual Practitioners, under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, or other legislation.

The OAO Board of Directors has developed a strategic platform that consists of a vision, guiding principles, success measures, business model
(current and desired state), strategies (articulated goals) and action plans. There are six standing committees of the Board – Executive,
Governance, Registration, Education, Standards, and Professional Practice. The OAO is taking a leadership role in reviewing, finalizing and
implementing revised standards of practice and code of ethics documents. 

The next Annual General Meeting takes place in Toronto, Ontario on February 2, 2012.
For more information visit www.osteopathyontario.org

QUEBEC

The profession of osteopathy is not officially recognized in the province of Québec. The practicing osteopaths are well perceived by the general population and appreciated by their patients and the medical doctors who often refer patients.

Most D.O.’s graduated from two original osteopathic schools in Montreal. The Collège d’Études Ostéopathiques (C.E.O.) was founded in 1981. The Centre Ostéopathique du Québec opened in 1985. These two schools have granted D.O.diplomas to nearly one thousand graduates.

There are 3 other schools in Montreal, more recently founded. They have graduated some 25 to 30 D.O.’s each in their first ten years.

Two associations have been gathering osteopaths from the first two schools. The primary goal of the “Régistre des Ostéopathes du Québec (R.O.Q.)”, founded in 1984, was to prepare the D.O.’s to practice under self regulation, guided by a code of ethics to guarantee quality service to the public. It was intended as a temporary measure to prepare for recognition of the osteopathic profession in the province of Québec. The founding president, a M.D. and the vice president, a physiotherapist structured the register on the model of their original professions

It was in 1992 that the same people founded a second association, the “Association des Ostéopathes du Québec”(A.D.O.Q.)”. The goal of this association was in the interest of the practicing Osteopaths.  Benefits to the Osteopaths included alpractice insurance, and reimbursement of their treatments by private health insurance providers.

Competence and integrity of the members are dictated by similar code of ethics and regulations in both associations. Practicing D.O.’s arre invited to be members of both associations,  which are complementary to each other.

For the last two years, the Québec government through the Office des Professions du Québec(O.P.Q.) has been studying the possibility of recognizing osteopathy as a new profession. The number of people treated in osteopathy has come to the attention of the public authorities and there is a growing interest for a new profession complementary to medici and other existing health professions.