Home of the Ontario Osteopathic Association
www.ontarioosteaopaths.com

About OOA

Is the OOA a not-for-profit organisation?
Yes, the OOA is registered as a not-for-profit association dedicated to the future growth and development of Osteopathy in Ontario. The OOA membership dues help to pay the operating costs of the association. The OOA operates entirely with the help of dedicated volunteers.

Is the existence of the OOA needed?
Yes, the OOA is needed in the province of Ontario. The OOA's objective is to provide an open and democratic professional association that will allow membership to any Osteopathic practitioner who meets its standards of entry. The OOA membership criteria are available for review by the public. The professional standard of the membership meets or exceeds the Osteopathic educational, clinical, and ethical requirements of countries where Osteopathy is a regulated health profession.

What are the OOA Professional Standards?
The OOA has professional Practice Standard Guidelines that every member must abide by to be a member. All members are also required to participate in Continuing Osteopathic Education (COE) courses yearly. This further reinforces the membership's commitment to excellence and professional standards.

Once a practitioner is a member within the Registry of Manual Osteopathic Manual Practitioners, he or she is responsible for maintaining the standards that are in keeping with the professional standards policy of the OOA. The policy aims to help maintain the professional criteria set forth by the OOA.

How are schools evaluated?
Any academic institution providing Osteopathic education may apply to be listed. The Listed Osteopathic Education Provider (LOEP) will need to complete an evaluation procedure, permit a site inspection, and undergo an education protocol review every two years to maintain standing.

Why is this important?

1. To establish a core of educational standards that all LOEP's agree upon and maintain.
2. To prepare the profession for possible future regulation by establishing a relationship of cooperation between the participating schools.
3. To provide the public a professional resource of trained Osteopaths.
4. To provide the potential student of Osteopathy a list of recognized education providers which are in keeping with a recognised and established professional standard.

How are osteopaths educated?
Osteopaths have extensive education in all divisions of the human health sciences, Osteopathic philosophy, diagnosis, and manual treatment. The academic rigor is similar to those who hold medical degrees; however, the subjects are in keeping with the philosophy, science, and applications of Osteopathy. The format in which this occurs may vary, but the core content and competencies as required by the OOA are as follows:

Core topics for inclusion in training programs for safe and competent drugless manual Osteopaths

Specific curricular topics and the method of delivery may vary depending upon the program; however, minimum competencies must be met.

The Osteopath must possess strong knowledge in basic and clinical sciences, clinical diagnosis and Osteopathic diagnosis and treatment. While training of the Osteopath focuses on those subjects and skills that form the basis for the Osteopathic approach, some knowledge and understanding of the current standard medical and surgical treatments available to the patient is necessary for competent practice as a potential primary contact health care provider.

Furthermore, an understanding of the rationale behind current medical and surgical treatment protocols, and how those protocols may influence the selection and implementation of the Osteopathic treatment plan is important. Part-time or mixed-mode programmes for practicing health care professionals would assume some prior training in basic and neuromusculoskeletal clinical sciences. Non-Osteopathic curriculum content may be adjusted depending upon prerequisites for admission. The Osteopathic components are essential to training and substitution of other courses or experience is not permissible.

The following core components of the curriculum represent the minimum acceptable standard.

1.1  Basic human science

Anatomy (gross and functional) including embryology, neuroanatomy and visceral anatomy; biochemistry, biomechanics, kinetics, pathology, physiology, pathophysiology; emphasis on the arterial, venous, and lymphatic systems, the autonomic nervous system, and the musculoskeletal and neuroendocrine immune network.


1.2  Clinical science

History and basic philosophy of science, models of health and disease, safety and ethics, nutrition, and basic emergency care. Basic understanding of normal and abnormal functions of the body from a content perspective as would be covered in the following discipline topics: arthrology, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynecology, hematology, hepatology, immunology, myology, nephrology, neurology, ophthalmology, osteology, otolaryngology, psychology, pulmonology, radiology, rheumatology, and urology.


1.3  Osteopathic science

Osteopathic history, philosophy, principles and practices; Osteopathic biomechanics, joint physiology and kinetics; and mechanisms of action for manual techniques.


1.4  Osteopathic clinical skills

Obtaining and integrating age appropriate history, communication and interviewing skills, clinical problem solving and reasoning, basic understanding of normal and abnormal laboratory and imaging data, evidence based practice, clinical documentation; and performing Osteopathic evaluation as would be covered in the following discipline topics: arthrology, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynecology, hematology, hepatology, immunology, myology, nephrology, neurology, ophthalmology, osteology, otolaryngology, psychology, pulmonology, radiology, rheumatology, and urology.


1.5  Osteopathic manual treatment skills

Osteopathic diagnosis and technique applications including general osteopathic technique, direct techniques (articulatory and muscle energy); indirect techniques (balanced ligamentous tension, counterstrain, functional, and ligamentous articular strain); combined techniques (cranial, involuntary mechanism, myofascial release, and visceral); reflex based techniques (Chapman's reflexes, neuromuscular techniques, trigger points); and fluid based techniques (lymphatic pump).


1.6  Practical supervised clinical experience

Supervised clinical practice is an essential component of the training of Osteopaths. Practical supervised clinical experience should occur in an appropriate Osteopathic educational environment so that high quality support and teaching is provided.

How can I become a member?

1. You must be a graduate from a Listed Osteopathic Education Provider
2. You must have a valid Diploma or equivalent from the institution you graduated from
3. You must pass a peer-based examination for membership
4. You must have liability insurance