World Health Organization Benchmark for Osteopathic Training

In November 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a benchmarks document to serve as a reference for national authorities who wish to establish systems of training, examination and licensure that support the qualified practice of osteopathy. The document presents what is considered to be adequate levels of education and training and contraindications for safe practice.  You can access Benchmarks for Training in Osteopathy at: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s17555en/s17555en.pdf

Recognized Osteopathic Educational Institutions

There are many educational programs of study in osteopathy throughout the world, and in Canada.  Not all of these programs of study are recognized by the SAO such that their students or graduates would be eligible to be student members, or active members, respectively, of the SAO.

The SAO promotes the highest standard of osteopathic education and training and the highest, safest standard of osteopathic practice.  As discussed in  the World Health Organization’s benchmarks document, osteopathy is practised in many countries throughout the world and there are manual therapists who use osteopathic techniques, and claim to provide osteopathic treatment, although they may not have received proper training.

 

Foreign Education

Osteopathic manual therapy is regulated in several countries and have full-time programs for individuals without prior health care education. This is considered a Type 1 practitioners.

 

Canadian Education

Osteopathic manual therapy institutions accepted by the SAO are listed below.

 

Type 2 practitioners must have prior education in another health profession before entering the osteopathic manual therapy program. 

 

At present all our members that have taken a part-time course in Canada are graduates from courses that are 4-5 years in length that include a research component and additional clinical hours supervised by an osteopathic manual therapist. They must also hold, in good standing, another health profession license.

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*Please note: As per the World Health Organization Benchmarks for Training in Osteopathy, "training must be delivered via direct contact", therefore, applicants from online schools will not be considered.

 

Accepted Educational Institutions

The SAO is a provincial member of the Canadian Federation of Osteopaths (CFO) and is a proud partner of the Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA). The mission of the OIA is to encourage systems of education and regulation that will ensure high standards for safe and effective healthcare from osteopaths and osteopathic physicians.

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At this time, the Saskatchewan Association of Osteopaths/Osteopathic Manual Practitioners only considers applicants who have graduated from a list of osteopathic educational institutions. 

 

The list of approved educational institutions:

note:  All applications from Canadian institutions require additional prior health care education.

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CANADA – ONTARIO

Canadian College of Osteopathy (CCO)
Canadian Academy of Osteopathy (CAO) 

 

CANADA – Quebec

Le Centre Osteopathique du Quebec (COQ)
College of Osteopathic Studies also known as the Le College d’Etudes Osteopathiques (CEO) 

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CANADA – British Columbia

Canadian School of Osteopathy Manual Practice (CSO)

 

EUROPE

Swiss International College of Osteopathy (SICO) (Switzerland)
Deutsches Osteopathie Kolleg (DOK) (Germany)
Schule für klassische osteopathische Medizin (SKOM) (Germany)
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences – (Helsinki, Finland)
Belgian School of Osteopathy (BELSO) (Belgium)
Centre International D’Ostéopathie (CIDO) (France)
Centre Européen d’ Enseignement Supérieur de l’Ostéopathie (CEESO) (France)
Ecole Superieure D’Osteopathie (France)

Ecole D'Osteopathie Avignon (IFO-GA) (France)

L'Institut Supérieur d'Ostéopathie de Lille (InSO Lille) (France)

 

UNITED KINGDOM

The British College of Osteopathic Medicine, London (UK)
The College of Osteopaths, London & Stoke on Trent (UK)
The European School of Osteopathy, Kent (UK)
Leeds Beckett University, Leeds (UK) - No longer accepting new students
The London College of Osteopathic Medicine (for medical doctors only), London (UK)
London School of Osteopathy, London (UK)
Oxford Brookes University, Oxford (UK) - Closed after Dec 31, 2017
The Surrey Institute of Osteopathic Medicine, Surrey (UK)
Swansea University, Swansea (UK)
University College of Osteopathy, London (UK) formerly the British School of Osteopathy
The University of St. Mark and St. John, Plymouth (Marjon) (UK)

 

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) (Australia)
Southern Cross University (Australia)Unitec Institute of Technology (New Zealand)
University of Western Sydney (UWS) (Australia)
Victoria University (Australia)