Pursuing a career in osteopathy is exciting for anyone looking to help others and make a real difference in their quality of life. Osteopathic Manual Practitioners have the ability to understand their patients’ bodies as a whole, helping them address discomfort they may be facing through careful assessment. 

Within the principles-based curriculum at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, we prioritize an understanding of the body as a whole, which helps Osteopathic Manual Practitioners customize treatments for each individual patient. Learning how to understand these principles and utilize them when needed allows our graduates to create effective treatment plans. Continue reading to learn more about our unique curriculum and find out why it could be just right for you.

Why Our Osteopathy School Uses a Principles-Based Approach

When we refer to principles in our osteopathy school curriculum, we are identifying the laws or rules of osteopathy, which provide the reasoning for every step of your practice. The principles are the “why” behind why you will use a particular technique on a patient, and how it will help them. Principles-based osteopathy training is about customizing the technique for the patient in the moment. At the CAO, students receive hands-on principles-based training in a two-fold approach to help solidify their understanding of these principles and how and when to properly apply them.

Understanding Theory and History to Better Guide Your Studies

Theory and history are also important for all osteopathy pathways, since these help students understand the origins of osteopathy principles. Understanding the origins of osteopathy principles and how they have been used throughout history allows students to gain a comprehensive perspective on their benefits, allowing them to more effectively help their future clients. 

The CAO curriculum focuses on the writings of A.T. Stills and his early students. Students get to complete literature reviews, discuss their understanding, and debate the applications of these theories in practice. This structure allows students to collaborate and gain important insight, giving them a more comprehensive understanding of the principles of osteopathy.

A Comprehensive Approach for Effective Learning

The final core component of our principles-based curriculum involves covering key concepts in anatomy and physiology. This knowledge, combined with an understanding of osteopathy principles and technique, is what allows our graduates to customize treatment plans when working on patients. Rather than reply on technique alone, students are able to use their understanding of osteopathy principles, anatomy and physiology, as well as technique, to get at the disfunction the patient is experiencing. This structure moves our program away from the traditional allopathic model and toward a fully integrated osteopathic model that examines the body as a whole.

We have education pathways for those with prior experience and for those without, making it a great option for those looking to get into a career as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner. Students who do have previous healthcare experience are able to bypass the Induction Prep course and start osteopathy training directly, while those without can first take the Induction Prep course to get them up to speed. 

Are you interested in becoming an osteopathy professional?

Contact the CAO for more information!

The post Considering Osteopathy School? Learn About Our Unique Principles-Based Curriculum appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy is committed to delivering relevant, comprehensive, and practical training that will prepare students to enter the professional field of osteopathic care. In a community-centered environment, the needs of our students are the number one priority. That’s why we offer a program that is flexible. 

Students can enjoy the benefits of a simple, flexible schedule format that allows them to balance their education with their work and home life. At the CAO, your professional goals become that much easier to reach. Learn more about the benefits of our flexible program here. 

Enjoy a Combination of In-Person and Online Learning at Our Osteopathy School 

For many students looking to attend osteopathy school, the commitment to consistent, in-person classes can be a challenge. At the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, we account for this by offering dynamic training with hybrid program delivery. Our program is divided into classroom and clinical semesters to give students extensive training in clinical anatomy & physiology, osteopathic history & theory, principles in practice, and more. The dual hands-on and online delivery of courses is perfectly suited to a program that combines skills training with a holistic, principles-based understanding of osteopathy. 

During the classroom semester, students will attend live online lectures on Zoom for three out of the five days, and come into school for the other two days of hands-on training. During the clinical semester, in-person clinical days are lumped together for more convenient scheduling. With small class sizes and expert instruction from professionals working as Osteopathic Manual Practitioners, both forms of class instruction deliver an engaging and interactive learning experience no matter where you are. 

A Modified Schedule to Suit Your Work Commitments 

The program at the CAO is primarily designed for students who are already working full-time or part-time. A flexible, full-time modified schedule format allows you to continue working while you pursue your goals to become an osteopathy professional in Canada. Students will be able to attend class in person once a month for intensive hands-on training, while online lecture days are condensed together for easy scheduling. 

Many students attending the CAO also come from out of province or have to commute a significant distance. To accommodate this, those students will be given priority in choosing dates to book their clinical shifts. By limiting travel time and allowing students to maintain their other personal and professional commitments, the CAO is able to provide accessible and inclusive training that prepares graduates to enter the field in their preferred osteopathic care environment.

Explore Both Clinical and Theoretical Training

At the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, our flexible program doesn’t compromise on the quality of education you’ll receive. Whether you’d prefer to start in the Fall or Spring, you’ll receive both clinical and theoretical training in our state-of-the-art classrooms, on-campus clinics, and osteopathy laboratories. Over the course of four years and a total of 4200 program hours, you’ll receive training that aims to meet or exceed international standards of education under the guidance of experts in the field.

The flexible nature of the osteopathy program allows us to deliver hands-on training in a two-fold approach. Beyond learning osteopathy techniques, students will receive clinical training in the CAO’s free public clinic, where they can apply what they’ve learned to patients under the supervision of professionals. Through our flexible and dynamic training program, students will graduate ready to practice safe, effective, and ethical osteopathy in their careers.

Are you interested in exploring osteopathy pathways? 

Get started with a training program at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy!

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