Starting your own private practice is a great goal to have in mind for your career as an osteopathic manual practitioner. It affords you the freedom to develop your own schedule, build a better rapport with patients, choose your coworkers, and make more decisions about how the workplace is run. 

Many of our graduates at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy go on to make that dream a reality. Along with extensive, principles-based osteopathy training, we encourage those students with lifelong career support after graduation. Students that choose CAO are driven to receive the highest standards of osteopathy education in Canada and, upon graduation, are confident and fully prepared to enter the field in their preferred osteopathic care environment. 

If you’re committed to building your own private practice, it’s never too early to prepare. Here are some tips to get you started! 

1. Get Inspiration From Others at Our Osteopathy School

CAO offers much more than osteopathic education. Our osteopathy school is an endless resource that can guide and support you throughout your training and well into your career. This starts in the classroom with our experienced instructors. Through small class sizes that allow for more personalized attention, you’ll learn from professionals who are actively working as osteopathic manual practitioners–many of whom have started and continue to run their own private practices. Those experts can serve as a great resource to inspire your own career path, offering tips and advice from their own experiences in the field.

Students also have access to shadowing opportunities, where you can see different graduates in private practices to get an idea of how you might like to set up your own after graduation. This is on top of the clinical training you’ll receive, where you’ll work under the guidance of upper-year students and develop the confidence necessary to be a professional in the clinical environment. Each of these experiences offers valuable, first-hand insights that you can translate to your own private practice.

2. Network With Professionals in Your Industry

Networking is a good practice for aspiring professionals in any industry. If you’re looking to become an osteopathic manual practitioner with your own private practice, take the time to connect with other professionals who have followed the same path. CAO has dedicated time and resources to creating and building connections with leaders of the highest standards in osteopathy to make our profession stronger, more respected, and increasingly effective. 

CAO graduates are eligible to apply for entry into OSTCAN, which has provincial affiliates across Canada. This can be a great resource for connecting with professionals in the osteopathy industry across Canada.

Beyond this, take advantage of CAO’s close-knit campus community and make the effort to connect with your fellow students, alumni, and instructors. You never know what kind of advice or support they can offer down the line when it’s time to start your own private practice. 

3. Build a Positive Rapport With New Patients

The success of any healthcare practice depends on the satisfaction and loyalty of its patients. 

When starting your own private practice, you should focus on developing good working relationships with your patients so they are more likely to return for treatments and recommend your services to their friends. But you can begin implementing this practice from the very start of your osteopathy career–and even during your training at CAO. 

During our clinical experience, you’ll get firsthand experience treating real-life patients in our free public clinic. Patients in the community come to the clinic for assessments or ongoing care, giving students the opportunity to develop clinical skills and client relationships in an environment that benefits all. Here you’ll take the lead on real osteopathy treatments, delivering real results to real patients and fostering relationships in the process. With extensive practice in building a positive rapport with patients, you’ll be ready to create a private practice that clients trust and value.  

Are you interested in learning more about our osteopathy academy?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to start your career!

The post 3 Tips for Starting Your Own Practice After Osteopathy School appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Have you made the decision to attend osteopathy school? Are you thinking ahead to your first year in training? Students at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy will find a dynamic and challenging program that prepares them to step into rewarding careers as osteopathic manual practitioners. Over the course of four years, our students develop their knowledge through a combination of principles-based theoretical learning and hands-on clinical training. But perhaps you’re wondering how you can prepare to make the transition to your studies. From organizing your schedule to reading up on the first-year curriculum, here are a few ways you can prepare to jump right into your training.

Review Your Knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology 

Here at CAO, we place a unique emphasis on the principles and theory of osteopathy. The program is rooted in an understanding of osteopathic thinking and assessment, in which the body is examined as a whole dynamic unit of function. This kind of training gives students an in-depth understanding of anatomy and physiology, so they can treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized level. That means a solid foundation in anatomy is needed to succeed in the program. 

However, many students come to CAO with limited experience in healthcare. In that case, our Prep course is here to help you learn or review essential anatomy and physiology content before beginning Year 1 of the program. As you prepare to begin osteopathy college, consider your current level of experience and whether you need to enrol in our Prep course.

Create a Schedule for Your Studies

Starting school brings new commitments to juggle. Incorporating your studies into your daily routine requires some planning, especially when you have a family or job to attend to. As you prepare to start your osteopathy training, think about creating a schedule for your studies and setting aside time to review in-class material. With a plan in place and some good time management, you’ll be better positioned to keep up with the demands of the program. 

At CAO, we aim to assist students by offering a simple, flexible schedule format. Students attend in person once a month for intensive hands-on training, and online lecture days are condensed together for easy scheduling. The school makes special accommodations for those coming in from out of province, allowing students to combine clinical shifts to limit transportation costs and time.

Establish a Support System for Osteopathy College

Training for an osteopathy specialization is demanding work. In particular, our program covers a comprehensive four-year curriculum that is designed to challenge students on their way to becoming highly experienced osteopathic manual practitioners. For incoming students, having a solid support system in place is the best way to make the most of this experience. 

Along with your family and friends, your fellow students at CAO can become a great resource to motivate and encourage you throughout your training. Think about ways you’ll take advantage of our community-centred school environment with athletics, annual events, and more. By knowing what to expect from your osteopathy program and what’s on offer at your school, you can set off on the right path to a successful career.

Are you ready to start your training at an osteopathy academy?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today.

The post 3 Tips for Preparing to Attend Osteopathy College appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The faculty at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy is passionate about inspiring the next generation of osteopathic manual practitioners. At CAO, we promise you a challenging, engaging, and rewarding learning experience that exceeds your expectations–and this is all thanks to the commitment of our instructors.

Throughout the four-year program, your classes will be led by experienced educators who are passionate about what they do and experts in their fields. Whether you’re learning about osteopathic theory and principles or getting hands-on training in our clinic, our instructors are there to support your understanding at every stage. Here’s a closer look at what distinguishes the faculty at CAO.

Working Professionals in the Osteopathy Field

A unique quality of the faculty at our osteopathy academy is that all of our instructors are industry-experienced professionals; they actively work (or have experience working) as osteopathic manual practitioners. Many even run their own private practices alongside their work at CAO. In a learning environment that is led by professionals with a foot in the industry and an understanding of current osteopathic practices, you can be sure that your training is tailored to the needs of clients today. 

Diverse Backgrounds and Experiences

Each instructor at CAO has taken a different path to become an osteopathy professional. Each one has now built a successful and rewarding career as an osteopathic manual practitioner and is able to guide students of all backgrounds and experience levels. 

Their various interests in the field of osteopathy allow them to offer more specialized training to our students. For example, CAO Professor Cole Ruston opened a clinic with an emphasis on educating patients on the value of general movement and other health practices.

Many of our instructors are even alumni of CAO. They know the curriculum inside out and are able to offer more focused support to help you navigate the program. Students can learn from the personal experiences of those who came before them and gain inspiration for their own professional pathways.

Ready to Offer Personalized Support at Our Osteopathy Academy

Our outstanding teacher-to-student ratio ensures you get the individual attention and academic support you deserve, allowing you to achieve the highest level of comprehension and achievement possible. Whether you’re working in the classroom or our free public clinic, the instructors are there to supervise and guide your training with hands-on support. 

You’ll gain expertise in a variety of areas, such as clinical anatomy & physiology, osteopathic history & theory, principles in practice, and more. In each area, our instructors will make sure you’re progressing through your education at the right pace and understanding how each topic feeds into the next. You’ll feel fully supported throughout your education, with access to lifelong career support after graduating. 

Ready to start your career as an osteopathic manual practitioner?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post What Makes the Faculty at Our Osteopathy Academy Special? appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy is a leading Osteopathy school, delivering a challenging and comprehensive program that prepares graduates for a successful career. Our students range from those working as healthcare professionals to those with a degree in Health Science to those with limited or no healthcare background at all. Whatever your motivations for attending osteopathy school, you likely have some questions about what to expect as an incoming student. 

At CAO, our team of experienced instructors and the community-centred environment are there to ease the transition to the program for every student. To get you started, here’s a closer look at what to expect in the first year of our osteopathy program. Feel confident and prepared as you begin your journey to a new career!

Preparing for the Curriculum at Our Osteopathy School

Students at CAO come from all different backgrounds and with various levels of experience in the health care field. We teach osteopathy as a practice in and of itself–not as an add-on to other modalities– and we want every student to start with the same level of knowledge. 

For those with limited experience in health care (personal trainers, pilates or yoga instructors, etc.) or no health care background at all, we have you covered! Our Year 1 Prep course is open for those students to learn and review essential anatomy and physiology content before beginning Year 1 of the program. Students with a degree in Health Science may be eligible to bypass this induction course. Regardless of your level of experience, you can expect to enter our osteopathy school with the foundation you need to excel.

A Strong Focus on Osteopathic Theory and Principles

The program is rooted in a classical and principles-based understanding of osteopathic thinking, assessment, and treatment. This approach to osteopathy training begins in Year 1. 

As a first-year student, you can expect to build an in-depth understanding of anatomy and physiology, preparing to treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized, individual level. Our curriculum covers three core areas: Principles and Practice, Osteopathic Theory and History, and Health Sciences. Instead of jumping right into skills training and memorizing osteopathic techniques, you’ll explore the “who, what, where, when, and why” behind osteopathic assessment and treatments. By adopting a fully integrated osteopathic model that views the body as a whole dynamic system, you’ll develop the foundation to diagnose and treat patients more effectively. 

Supervised Practice in Our Student Clinics

From Year 1, we want students at our osteopathy academy to develop their confidence in a clinical setting. After all, osteopathy is a hands-on, people-oriented practice, so it’s important to understand how its theories and principles apply to a real-world setting. While training in our practice clinic, you’ll learn to report patient history, understand how to catch symptoms of the body, practice assessing fellow students, and practice intake procedures. This will give you a strong foundation of skills and techniques to use in our charitable Public Clinic, where you’ll hone in on these important clinical skills. Under the supervision of our professional instructors, get ready to apply your knowledge in a practical and supportive space.

Are you interested in training to become an osteopathy professional?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to get started.

The post What to Expect as a First-Year Student in Osteopathy School appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy trains students to deliver safe, effective and ethical osteopathic treatments. To do so, our programs aim to meet (and exceed) international standards of education, with over 4200 hours of training that spans both clinical and classroom components. With a growing demand for osteopathic manual practitioners, your osteopathy school diploma will open the door to many work opportunities. 

Graduates enjoy the benefits of both business and job prospects across Canada, whether they intend to stay in Ontario or practice in another province. With CAO, you can rest assured that you’re receiving relevant, comprehensive, and practical osteopathy training to become an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner in Canada.

Below, learn more about how we work to deliver high-quality education in line with international standards. 

Learn from Experienced Professionals at Our Osteopathy College

The quality of our osteopathy program is upheld by experienced and dedicated teaching faculty. At CAO, your classes will be directed by educators who are passionate about what they do and, most importantly, experts in their fields. Our instructors are professionals actively working as osteopathic manual practitioners, many of whom have started and run their own private practice. At CAO, you’ll find a faculty with experience working or training across Canada, Europe, and other parts of the world. 

They are able to bring that breadth of knowledge to classes at our osteopathy academy, providing insights from real patient cases and sharing some of the current trends and practices in the field. Our outstanding teacher-to-student ratio ensures you get the individual attention and academic support you deserve, allowing you to achieve the highest level of comprehension possible. With instructors who are tuned into the industry, students can learn what it takes to become an osteopathic manual practitioner. 

A Curriculum that Covers Both Principles and Practice 

Our school is unique in offering principles-based osteopathy training. What does that mean? You’ll gain expertise in a variety of areas, such as clinical anatomy and physiology, osteopathic history and theory, principles in practice, and more. CAO believes osteopathy must be taught as a profession in and of itself rather than as an ‘add-on’ to other modalities. This is why our graduates are better equipped with a true understanding of the principles that underline osteopathic practices.

At the same time, you’ll gain the clinical competency to deliver safe and effective treatment to patients. Students are required to complete supervised clinical training and practice prior to graduation. This takes place in our dedicated clinical environments that are insured and supervised by professional Osteopathic Manual Practitioners. Working with fellow students in our practice clinic and treating real-life patients in our free public clinic, you’ll get the comprehensive experience you need for your career.

Graduates Are Eligible to Join OSTCAN

CAO is 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. As a result, all graduates of our osteopathy academy are eligible to become OSTCAN members. This is an association open to all practitioners with a world-class education in osteopathy. All members must have completed a minimum of 4200 hours of education, including supervised clinical training, and pass the OSTCAN certification exam in safety, ethics, red flags, and health sciences. 

At CAO, we prepare students to meet these comprehensive standards of practice on the path to becoming safer practitioners and delivering better outcomes for patients.

Are you interested in training at an osteopathy college?

Start your career with the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today.

The post How Our Osteopathy Academy Aims to Meet International Standards of Education appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy offers a world-class osteopathy education as well as an engaging community of like-minded people–all working in or towards a career in osteopathy. This kind of environment is one of support and encouragement. You’ll have the chance to connect with people on a similar path to you and build a network of friends to learn from and study with throughout your time at CAO. With small class sizes and a range of fun student events, we offer numerous opportunities for you to get to know your classmates and make the most of your time in the program. Here’s a closer look at how CAO creates a strong community dynamic for your education.

Participate in Student Events at Our Osteopathy Academy

Student life is an important part of the experience at CAO. Over our four-year program, we encourage every student to participate in school events and get involved in the community outside of the classroom. To encourage close-knit relationships between students, we’ve created a Student Council with representatives from each class. This group works together to organize a whole host of community events, including potluck dinners, pub nights, annual celebrations and more. Events like these help our students make new friends across all years and enrich their time at our school. If you’re looking for a fun and social learning experience, the community at our osteopathy academy awaits. 

Learn With the Support of Your Peers

Our student body comes together to support one another and ensure that each student has a rewarding experience in training for a new career in osteopathy. When you learn alongside a motivated and passionate group of people, you find the path to success becomes that much easier. 

In every year, you’ll find student tutors who are there to support your osteopathy career advancement, offering their own knowledge and experience as a learning resource. In addition, students in year 4 will act as Teaching Assistants and tutors for under-year students. This is their chance to instruct and guide other students while improving their own understanding of the osteopathy clinical practice as a whole. At the same time, under-year students volunteer as bodies in upper-year clinics, lending more experience to their peers.  

In small classes, you’ll have the chance to build a lasting network of aspiring osteopathy professionals to study with and support one another through your journey.

Join a Community of Osteopathy Professionals 

The community dynamic at CAO extends beyond the student body. When you enroll, you have the chance to connect with alumni who are working in the field, as well as our amazing faculty of experienced osteopathic manual practitioners. This is a great resource to see you through the four-year program and into a successful career. Our outstanding teacher-to-student ratio ensures you get the individual attention and academic support you deserve, allowing you to achieve the highest level of comprehension and achievement possible. In a supportive environment, you can ask questions, make mistakes, and gain confidence in your skills as an osteopathy professional. 

Upon graduating, you’ll be part of a lasting community of students, alumni, and teachers, all of whom can guide and inspire you throughout your career. 

Are you interested in training to become an osteopathy professional?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to learn more about our program. 

The post How We Create a Community-Centred Dynamic at Our Osteopathy School appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy focuses on delivering students into real-world careers as osteopathic manual practitioners. Over the course of our four-year program, you’ll be encouraged and challenged on your path to a rewarding profession. 

The student is at the centre of every stage of learning at CAO. We aim to give you the confidence to test your knowledge, ask questions and deepen your understanding of the body.

From small class sizes to support services to hands-on practice, these are just some of the ways that our osteopathy school prepares each individual for success during and after their training. Here’s a closer look at what student-centred learning means at CAO.

Students Lead the Way at Our Osteopathy School

Our program aims to empower students with advanced knowledge of osteopathic theory, principles and practices. We encourage every student to participate in their classes, inquire about the history behind the practice and get involved in trying out new techniques. In a student-oriented setting, you’ll find confidence in your own abilities while learning from your peers. 

The clinical experience at our osteopathy school is the perfect example of this. In our under-year clinic, students will practice assessing and treating fellow students. At the same time, students in their upper years will complete the CAO Apprenticeship as teaching assistants  in our under-year clinic and classroom lab. This student-led approach to learning gives those of all years the chance to solidify their knowledge, learn from the approaches of others, and problem-solve with their peers. In a collaborative environment, our students take centre stage. 

Individual Support from Experts in the Field

Courses at CAO are taught by a faculty passionate about the success of their students. Our instructors are professionals actively working as Osteopathic Manual Practitioners, ready to impart their insights into the field to the students. What’s more, small class sizes with a good teacher-to-student ratio ensures you get the individual attention and academic support you deserve. Here, you’ll delve into key topics surrounding principles and practice, osteopathic theory and history, and health sciences.  

Beyond the classroom, CAO’s reputation and extensive network of partnerships ensure that students have plenty of opportunities to network in the field, including multiple events and shadowing rotations completed in the clinical semester of Year 3. With these kinds of resources, our students can work towards the highest level of comprehension for their careers. 

Try Your Hand in a Real Osteopathy Clinic

The program at our osteopathy academy is a hands-on, immersive experience for our students. Students not only receive hands-on instruction, but they also receive clinical training, where they apply what they’ve learned to patients under the supervision of professors. Patients in the community come to the clinic for assessments or ongoing care, giving you the opportunity to progress through your education and develop clinical skills in an environment that benefits all.

You’ll practice interview and intake procedures, report patient histories, catch signs or symptoms of the body and take the lead on real patient treatments. This learning experience lets students take on the role of the osteopathic manual practitioner, giving them the confidence they need to excel in their careers.

Are you interested in training at an osteopathy college?

Learn more about the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post How Our Osteopathy Academy Supports Student-Centred Learning appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy delivers a rewarding and challenging program that prepares graduates for successful careers. We support each and every student on their path to working in a practice alongside other healthcare professionals or opening their own private practice in osteopathy. 

Our students come from different educational and professional backgrounds with different skill sets, and we give them the resources and learning environment they need to practice safe, ethical and effective osteopathy. From experienced instructors to community activities and peer-to-peer support, students at CAO are able to make the transition into an exciting new field of study. Learn more about the kind of support that awaits at our osteopathy school!

Build a Foundation for Your Studies With Our Prep Course

Students come to CAO from all different backgrounds, ranging from no healthcare experience to a degree in Health Sciences. To make the transition for all students easier, we offer an optional Year 1 Prep course to help you learn and review essential anatomy and physiology content before entering Year 1 of the program. The Prep course is a great option for students who have no healthcare background or limited experience in areas such as personal training, yoga, pilates or nutrition. 

Alternatively, many students come to our osteopathy college with a degree in Health Science or as a Licenced Health Professional. This includes those working as nurses, chiropractors, physicians, physiotherapists, and more. Those students may be eligible to bypass the Prep course and go directly into Year 1 of the program, with a Prep workbook to help you review essential content before classes begin. By ensuring that you have the foundation you need, we set you on the path to success now and in your future career. 

Learn at Your Convenience

Many students are unsure whether they can make the adjustment back to school while upholding other work or personal commitments. At CAO, we make the transition to your studies and a new career as convenient as possible. Flexible program delivery is a key benefit of studying with us. Students enjoy a full-time schedule made up of online and in-person learning. You’ll attend in-person classes once a month for hands-on practice, while online lecture days are lumped together for added convenience. You can be sure you’ll get the training you need while easing the adjustment to the demands of full-time school. 

Support from Your Peers and Instructors at Our Osteopathy College

While the coursework and nature of our osteopathy program may be challenging, there are many support services available for students on our campus. These include a Student Success Coordinator, assistance with registration and admissions processes, Office Administration Service and Financial Aid Services. Our courses are taught by faculty who are passionate about the subject and are highly invested in your osteopathy career advancement. They are there to offer you a wealth of knowledge and experience from their own time working as osteopathic manual practitioners. 

As a community-centred institution, our Student Council regularly works together to create engaging events, such as potlucks, pub nights and more. In small classes, under-year students also volunteer as “backup patients” in upper-year clinics, upper-year students act as Teaching Assistants and tutors for under-year students, and students rely on their friends in class to study together and push each other. With opportunities to form valuable connections with both your peers and instructors, you’ll find the support you need to adjust to life at our osteopathy school.

Are you interested in attending an osteopathy academy?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post How Our Osteopathy Academy Helps Students Adjust to the Program appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Osteopathy is a manual form of therapy that helps to strengthen the framework of the body and support the health of joints and muscles. By treating the layers of bodily structure on a personalized level, osteopathy can be very beneficial to many people with a variety of physical strains. 

Osteopathic patients include young people, older people, manual workers, office professionals, pregnant women and athletes. As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you may be assisting these patients in overcoming pain from strain, recurring conditions, headaches, and more. Here’s a closer look at some of the physical problems that you may be treating as an osteopathic manual practitioner.

Physical Strain

Sports are some of the leading causes of strain on the body. Activities like running can cause stress on the joints and muscles, particularly those in the hips and knees. Likewise, weight lifting can lead to muscular strain in the back. Using non-invasive manual techniques, as an osteopathic manual practitioner you can help to support and strengthen the affected area. 

At the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, students explore hands-on practices in the classroom labs, with the chance to put those skills to work on real patients in our free public osteopathy clinic. Our students are given a solid understanding of the founding theory and principles of osteopathy, paired with an in-depth look at functional anatomy and physiology. By understanding the relationship between the structure and function of the human body, you can help your patients return to a normal level of activity and advise them on ways they can reduce the chance of repetitive discomfort. 

Long-Term Discomfort and Healing

Many people who seek osteopathy treatment are dealing with consistent, long-term pain or recurring problems. This includes things like headaches, difficulty sleeping, prolonged stress, low energy levels, or bodily pain. When a patient experiences this kind of long-term discomfort, it can often affect the efficiency of the whole body and its ability to function on multiple levels. 

As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you’ll look beyond the immediate symptoms and aim to restore the balance between the underlying systems of the body. This includes things like the nervous system, the lymphatic system and blood flow–which are vital to the body’s ability to heal and self-regulate. 

Students at our osteopathy academy will dive into clinical anatomy and physiology, moving away from the traditional allopathic model and toward a fully integrated osteopathic model that examines the body as a whole dynamic body of function. This prepares you to treat complex problems on a deeper and more sustainable level. 

Posture and Relaxation

The stresses of modern life can take a huge toll on the body. Many people spend hours sitting at a desk and computer or working manual labour jobs. All of these activities can result in poor posture and eventually lead to hip, neck or back pain. That’s why it’s become increasingly common for people to seek osteopathic treatment to manage the effects of their work or personal lives. As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you can help to realign the structures of the body and restore it to its natural state. With a strong understanding of osteopathic theory and principles, you’ll be ready to assess and treat the body on a personalized, individual level. 

Are you interested in a career as an osteopathy professional? 

Get started with training at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy!

The post 3 Patient Issues You May Encounter as An Osteopathic Manual Practitioner appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy is here to set students on a path to success as osteopathic manual practitioners. Our students come from backgrounds as personal trainers, yoga instructors, holders of a Health Science degree or no healthcare background at all. Once enrolled at CAO, they’ll dive into the principles, practices, history and theory of osteopathy. 

Regardless of their experience in healthcare, our students find the support and resources they need to develop specialized knowledge in the field of osteopathy. Read on to learn how CAO prepares students of all backgrounds for a new profession.

Those With a Degree in Health Science

Have you graduated from a University or College program in Health Sciences? Many of our students come from programs in Human Kinetics, Biological Medicine, Pre-Med or Life Sciences. These are students who have chosen to take their prior knowledge of anatomy and develop a new understanding of the body and dysfunction through an osteopathic lens. 

Before you begin at our osteopathy academy, students with a degree in Health Science can use their pre-existing knowledge of anatomy and physiology to bypass our Preparation Course. This allows them to proceed directly into Year 1 of the osteopathy program. 

Similarly, many students come from practicing careers in the healthcare field, including chiropractors, physiotherapists, nurses and paramedics. Those students will also be eligible to bypass the Preparation Course and get started on their path to a new career. 

Those With Limited or No Healthcare Experience

If you’re considering osteopathy school as someone with no background in healthcare, not to worry! At CAO, we welcome students with little to no healthcare experience at all and equip them with a comprehensive understanding of a highly specialized field. 

This includes students who have a limited understanding of anatomy and physiology through work as personal trainers, pilates instructors, nutritionists and more. It may also include those who have graduated from a program in fitness or health, such as physiotherapy assistant or occupational therapy assistant. 

In these cases, our Prep Course will help you learn and review essential anatomy and physiology content, allowing you to apply to Year 1 of the program. Whatever your level of understanding, CAO has a pathway that will allow you to safely and effectively progress to a rewarding career in the field of osteopathy. 

What to Expect at Our Osteopathy Academy

At CAO, we believe that osteopathy must be taught as a profession in and of itself, rather than as an ‘add-on’ to other modalities. That’s why, regardless of your experience, we focus on equipping all students with a true understanding of clinical anatomy and physiology, osteopathic principles in practice, osteopathic history and theory and much more. 

With expert instruction from professionals actively working as Osteopathic Manual Practitioners, our students have the support and resources they need to develop a clear understanding of osteopathy treatments. At the same time, our clinical experience gives students the chance to treat real-life patients in CAO’s free public clinic. With the right combination of theory and practice, students of all backgrounds will be ready to practice safe, effective and ethical osteopathy in their careers.

Are you interested in working towards an osteopathy specialization?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to get started!

The post How Training at Our Osteopathy School Caters to Students Coming from a Variety of Backgrounds appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.