The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy offers a comprehensive four-year program that equips you to deliver safe, effective, and targeted treatments to patients. To do so, we’ve designed a curriculum that goes deeper than the practical techniques of osteopathy. Instead, we take a principles-based approach; students gain a true understanding of osteopathic principles and theory, with the clinical competency to apply those principles in their careers. 

You’ll gain expertise in a variety of areas, such as osteopathic anatomy and physiology, osteopathic history and theory, principles in practice, and more. With over 4400 hours of clinical and classroom training, we teach it all at CAO. Keep reading to learn what to expect from the curriculum at our osteopathy college!

Build a Foundation in Osteopathic Principles 

Osteopathy is its own branch of healthcare with a long history behind it. At CAO, we respect this tradition by teaching osteopathy as a profession in and of itself rather than as an ‘add-on’ to other modalities. That involves teaching students the founding principles of the practice. These principles govern the ‘who, what, where, when, and why’ behind osteopathic assessment and treatment. 

First and foremost, osteopathy acts as a complementary therapy alongside conventional medicine. Rather than using medicines to cure the symptoms of the body, osteopathy focuses on aligning the layers of the structure of the body through non-invasive manual therapy. This is based on a belief in the body’s ability to self-heal and self-regulate, which is why an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner does not see themselves as a healer but instead as a facilitator of health. 

At CAO, you’ll learn how to break down your findings into these natural principles–so you won’t have to memorize techniques from a book to know when to use them.

Examine Anatomy & Physiology Through an Osteopathic Lens

A good working knowledge of health sciences is an important part of osteopathy. But at CAO, we move 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 model emphasizes the relationship between the many structures and systems of the human body. 

Throughout your training at osteopathy college, you’ll focus on facilitating the health of joints and muscles with the goal of returning the body to a state of normal health. With an in-depth understanding of osteopathic anatomy and osteopathic physiology, you’ll be ready to treat the layers of the body on a personalized, individual level. 

Develop a Mind for Osteopathic Thinking at Our Osteopathy College

As explained above, osteopathy is a completely new way of thinking about the body and approaching physical problems. Delivering effective treatments to clients requires you to adopt the right mindset when problem-solving and working with physical challenges. 

Rather than looking for symptoms and finding ways to alleviate them, osteopathy seeks the underlying cause of the problem. It requires you to think beyond the obvious signs of pain and examine how the whole body may be affected. If the self-healing and self-regulating mechanisms of the body are being obstructed, it is your job to remove that obstruction using manual therapy. Rather than searching for illness, osteopathy requires you to think about how you can revitalize areas where health is affected. 

At CAO, you’ll develop a mind for this approach during our classroom labs and put that mentality to practice in our clinical lessons. 

Are you ready to prepare for your osteopathy specialization? 

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post Going Beyond Technique: 3 Things You’ll Learn at Our Osteopathy College 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 Canadian Academy of Osteopathy offers engaging, high-quality training for students at every stage of the four-year program–whether they’re just getting to grips with osteopathic principles or taking the lead in patient treatments. Students in the upper years of our osteopathy program will find a particularly useful learning experience in our Apprenticeship semester. 

During this time, upper-year students act as teaching assistants in our under-year clinic and the classroom lab. This is their chance to monitor other students and gain a practical understanding of the osteopathy clinical practice as a whole. Continue reading to learn more about the value of completing an Apprenticeship semester at CAO.

Learn by Teaching 

One of the biggest advantages of the Apprenticeship semester is the chance to learn by seeing the material reviewed again and monitoring other students in the under-year clinic at our osteopathy college. You’ll be overseeing students as they learn the information for the first time in the classroom, refine their information in the clinical semester, practice interview and intake procedures, learn to report patient history, assess and treat their peers, and understand how to catch red flags or symptoms of the body. 

Assisting these students is an additional opportunity for you to increase your exposure to different osteopathic scenarios. Every patient and circumstance is different, and the more exposure you get, the better equipped you’ll be in your own practice. At the same time, you can see how your fellow students approach each case and apply different osteopathic techniques.

Solidify Your Knowledge of the Program Material

Working as an osteopathic manual practitioner requires you to bring together all your knowledge of functional anatomy, physiology, osteopathic principles, and techniques. While there’s a lot to learn, CAO is here to support you in reviewing and applying this essential knowledge at every stage of the program. 

The Apprenticeship semester is a great opportunity for upper-year students to go over some of the foundational material that’s covered in the lower years. While monitoring other students, you have the chance to fill in any gaps in your comprehension of the program material. At the same time, you’ll see how the osteopathic principles, history, and theories you learned come together in a clinical setting.

Improve Your Confidence in a Clinical Setting 

As a hands-on profession, an osteopathic manual practitioner will need to feel confident taking the lead on patient treatments. During the Apprenticeship semester, you’ll familiarize yourself with work in a clinical setting, guiding other students in their practice. During this time, you’ll hone in on observing and evaluating patients, deliver real results to patients, and foster relationships. By practicing with your fellow students in the classroom lab and clinic, you have the chance to make mistakes, learn from new experiences, and improve your confidence in a real clinical environment. Upon graduating, our students are ready to practice safe, effective, and informed osteopathy. 

Are you ready to start training in an osteopathy specialization?

Get started with the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post 3 Benefits of the Apprenticeship Semester at Our Osteopathy College 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.

If you’re embarking on a career as an osteopathic manual practitioner, you have an exciting and rewarding path ahead. But it all starts with choosing the right school for your needs and goals. 

In Canada, there’s good demand for osteopathy professionals across the country, and getting the right training will position you at the forefront of that demand. 

Depending on your experience and circumstances, you might be wondering what to look for in an osteopathy school. Perhaps you’re a working professional looking to upskill with a flexible program. Or perhaps you’re looking for a course in line with international standards. 

Choosing the right osteopathy school is no easy decision, so here’s a look at some key things to consider as you prepare for your osteopathic education!

Does the Curriculum Meet Professional Standards?

Since osteopathy schools are not regulated by the government in Canada, it’s important to do your own research to ensure you’re choosing a school that offers a reputable and qualified program. 

At the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, we are proud to offer a curriculum that aims to meet and exceed international standards. Our program is recognized and monitored by OSTCAN and Osteopathy Canada.

Specifically, all graduates of our osteopathy college are eligible to become a member of OSTCAN, an association open to practitioners with a world-class education in osteopathy. Members must have a minimum of 4200 hours of osteopathic education, including supervised clinical training, which is what you’ll get during your time at CAO. 

While learning from a team of professionals who are actively working as osteopathic manual practitioners, you can be confident you’re getting the training and qualifications you need to start a reputable career. 

What Kind of Support Will You Get During Your Training?

The path to an osteopathy specialization can be challenging, and it’s important that you feel comfortable and supported along the way. Given the work and commitment it requires, you’ll want a school that facilitates the training process and accommodates the needs of different students where possible. Think about your current professional and personal commitments and whether the school offers a learning environment that is convenient for you. 

At CAO, we offer a flexible, full-time program that allows you to continue to work while in the program. The combination of in-person and online lectures also allows flexibility for those commuting from out of the province. 

We understand that adjusting to a full course load can be a challenge, which is why we have plenty of support systems available for students at CAO’s community-centred campus, including access to a Student Success Coordinator, opportunities to form connections with classmates and small classes taught by passionate faculty.

Does the Osteopathy College Offer Real-World Experience? 

A good osteopathy school should ultimately prepare you for a professional career as an osteopathic manual practitioner. You’ll want to graduate with the confidence to deliver safe and effective osteopathic treatment to patients. The best way to achieve that is through a program that offers real-world experience for you to put your knowledge to the test.

Students at CAO 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. Real-life patients come to the clinic for assessments and ongoing care, at which point you’ll practice intake procedures, take the lead on treatments, learn how to catch signs or symptoms of the body, and more. With hands-on experience under your belt, you’ll graduate as a more qualified and confident practitioner.

Want to learn more about training as an osteopathic manual practitioner?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post Interested in Osteopathy College? How to Choose the Right School for Your Training 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.

Osteopathic manual practitioners open the door for their patients to pursue healthier and happier lives. By addressing the root causes of each ailment, these professionals can change the quality of life for anyone needing physical relief. 

Osteopathy is a patient-centred practise by nature. This means that osteopathic manual practitioners treat every patient as a unique individual, and provide an extensive and holistic approach to address their every need. This can come in many forms, so continue reading to learn more about how to adopt this technique as you complete your studies at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Osteopathic Principles Allow for Customized Techniques

Here at the CAO, you will receive a hands-on, principles-based curriculum. A comprehensive understanding of the founding osteopathy principles will allow you to determine the ‘who, what, where, when and why’ behind each osteopathic treatment. 

Sticking to the principles-based curriculum, you’ll learn how to break down your findings into natural law once you complete osteopathy college. This saves you from resorting to simply memorizing techniques from a book and allows you to dive into the history and intricacies of the body. Having the freedom that comes with understanding the overarching principles of the practice, you will be able to better assess each patient to come up with a unique and effective treatment plan that will best help them on an individualized level. 

Providing More Than Simple Physical Care as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner

While physical treatment is important as an osteopathic manual practitioner, it is essential to deeper than simple, surface-level care. Adopting a true patient-centred approach includes a personalized treatment that is customized based on the patient’s unique anatomy and lesioning patterns.

Taking the time and care to fully assess each individual patient, you will base your treatments off of objective findings in the patient’s body once you begin your osteopathy career. Working thoroughly and carefully, you can palpate the body and create valid reasoning for treatment based on your foundational knowledge of osteopathic principles. Deeply assessing every part of the body allows for an individualized experience for each patient, keeping each patient and their health at the centre of your practice.

Cultivating Trust and an Ongoing Relationship

Practicing listening, connecting and communicating effectively with your patients will help you build a strong relationship with each one. When a patient feels seen and heard, they will begin to trust you as their care provider. 

Trust is essential to any osteopathic manual practitioner and patient relationship. By working with the interrelated systems and functions of the human body, osteopathic manual therapy can return the body to normal health so it can self-heal and self-regulate. However, if the patient doesn’t trust their professional, they may not continue to seek healing. While working in the student lab at the CAO, you will be able to practice your osteopathic techniques, as well as your patient-centred approach to your craft.

Interested in exploring an osteopathy specialization?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy for more information!

The post How You Can Adopt a Patient-Centred Approach as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Not every profession is the perfect fit for every individual, which is what makes pursuing a fulfilling career so exciting. If you’re thinking about beginning a career as an osteopathic manual practitioner, then you’ll want to make sure that you feel confident in your abilities as well as the reasoning for your choice.

Successful graduates of the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy are caring, organized, and patient-oriented people who love connecting with the individuals that they work with. These qualities don’t always come naturally, and are often refined during schooling and practical experience. Discover four signs that will help you decide if osteopathy school is right for you.

1. You Enjoy Working with Your Hands

Human body-related or not, if you love working with your hands, then an osteopathy specialization will satisfy your desire to keep your hands busy. A traditional office job, requiring you to work for 8 hours at a computer, may seem unnatural to you if you are more heavily drawn toward movement, human interaction, and working with your hands.

Manual work allows you to connect more closely with your craft, which creates a rewarding working experience. Osteopathic manual practitioners especially enjoy their jobs because they learn to understand the ‘why’ behind what they do with each movement and each touch of their hands, further connecting them to their work.

2. You Are a Natural-Born Problem Solver

The field of osteopathy is full of challenges, surprises, and complexities. This is a great career path for you if you want to make sure that no two days on the job are the same. At CAO, students gain over 1,000 hours of supervised clinical experience that prepares them for work in the real world.

Treating each client as a unique individual with a unique set of ailments helps osteopathic manual practitioners get to the bottom of their complaints to help them along on their healing journey. If you love getting to the root cause of issues, you’ll enjoy life after osteopathy school.

3. You Love Anatomy and Physiology 

If you already love anatomy and physiology, then you’ll thoroughly enjoy diving deeper into the interrelated processes of the human body. During osteopathy training at CAO, students learn how to recognize signs and symptoms that they can address to help their clients. A deep understanding of the human body, and the principles that relate bodily systems to osteopathy, adds a needed level of context to the osteopathy techniques that students learn to use.

4. You Want to Help Others After Osteopathy College

If you love helping people, then you know that osteopathy college is a great option for you. An important aspect of an osteopathic manual practitioner’s job is to connect with patients to help them feel seen, heard, understood, and cared for.

At CAO, you can look forward to individualized learning that will help you recognize your strengths and adopt the skills you need to best care for your future clients. All CAO graduates can uphold safe, effective, and ethical osteopathy practices to better the health and wellness of others.

Are you interested in becoming an osteopathic manual practitioner?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy for more information!

The post 4 Signs a Career as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner Is Right for You appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Osteopathy is a hands-on profession that demands a strong understanding of the relationship between the structure and function of the human body. As they work with patients to address any physical challenges they are facing, osteopathic manual practitioners benefit from practical training in working with real-life patients. 

At the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, students focus on getting the first-hand experience they need to practice safe, effective and ethical manual osteopathy in their career. You’ll have access to a practice student clinic and a free public clinic in which you’ll try your hand at treating real-life patients. This practical component ensures that graduates are career-ready, possessing a competitive edge over other candidates. Here’s what you can expect from the clinical experience at CAO.

Put Your Knowledge of Osteopathic Principles into Practice 

All students at CAO are required to complete supervised clinical training and practice before graduation. This takes place in CAO’s dedicated clinical environments – our under-year and upper-year clinics– insured and supervised by professional Osteopathic Manual Practitioners. This is an essential part of gaining the education and certification to become an osteopathic manual practitioner, as well as a chance for you to deepen your understanding of osteopathic principles in practice. You’ll apply what you’ve learnt about anatomy, physiology and the interrelated systems to treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized, individual level. 

Learn from Your Peers at Osteopathy College

Along with your instructors, there’s a lot to learn from your fellow students at CAO. After all, they are the ones who can relate to the learning experience that you‘ll go through on your way to an osteopathy specialization. 

In our under-year clinic, students try their hand at assessing and treating fellow students in a safe and supportive space. They practice reporting patient history, intake procedures and full body assessment and treatment, all in an environment that affords them the freedom to make mistakes.

In our upper-year clinic, students will focus on treating patients in our public free clinic as they take the lead in their treatments. Students in the upper years of the osteopathy program will also complete the CAO Apprenticeship as teaching assistants in our under-year clinic. This is their chance to guide other students and improve their understanding of the osteopathy clinical practice as a whole. As they instruct and learn from their peers, students discover different perspectives and approaches to facilitating health in the body. In a collaborative learning space, you’ll develop a more comprehensive understanding of the osteopathy practice. 

Develop Confidence Treating Real Patients 

When you become an osteopathic manual practitioner, you’ll work with patients who are experiencing a wide range of physical challenges. These may include back pain, headaches, postural problems and sports injuries. Exposure to these difficulties is the first step to effectively facilitating recovery. 

Patients in the community come to the clinic for assessments or ongoing care. This is a chance for students to apply their osteopathy training to real-life situations. Beyond the application of osteopathic theory, students will also practice listening to patient concerns and responding appropriately. By putting their problem-solving and people skills to the test, our students are ready to step into their careers as more confident and experienced osteopathic manual practitioners. 

Are you interested in attending osteopathy college?

Start your career with the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post Considering Osteopathy College? Discover the Value of Clinical Experience appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.