Osteopathy Regulation in Ontario

The practice of (non-medical) manual osteopathy is not currently recognized as a regulated health profession under the Ontario Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, or any other legislation. Regulated health care professions have a defined scope of practice under profession-specific Acts.

There is no law that defines a scope of practice for osteopathy. However, many OAO members are regulated health care professionals, such as nurses, massage therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists, who have sought additional education and training in order to provide manual (non-medical) osteopathic assessment, care and treatment. Some of our members are graduates of osteopathy educational programs in Europe where the practise of osteopathic manual practitioners is regulated and practitioners can legally use the title “osteopath” in their home country.

Group health insurance (extended health) benefits, which are paid by private health insurance companies, often include the services provided by Osteopathic Manual Practitioners who are OAO members. Please contact your benefits administrator for information about your group plan, benefits and limitations with respect to coverage for the services of an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner who is an OAO member.

The OAO is working to create the necessary documentation to submit to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, as required, on behalf of our membership. The process leading to regulation often takes several years to complete. Once successful, our members will be regulated health care professionals in Ontario, in addition to osteopathic physicians, who are regulated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

Osteopathic Manual Practitioner have extensive training in manual osteopathic practice. They assess and treat patients using an osteopathic philosophy and manual techniques only. The education and clinical training needed to become an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner is available in Canada.