Osteopathic medicine in Canada

Osteopathic medicine in Canada is equivalent to conventional medicine in Canada, but also attempts to bring additional benefits of osteopathic manipulative techniques to diagnose and treat patients. Osteopathic physicians hold equal practice rights to allopathic physicians (MDs) in Canada. Osteopathic medicine (medical) as opposed to osteopathy (non-medical) requires the osteopathic physician to be trained and receive the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. Though licensure requirements for physicians varies by province in Canada, osteopathic physicians are generally able to obtain a license to practice medicine throughout the country.

The Canadian Osteopathic Association is the largest association of osteopathic physicians in Canada and the Canadian osteopathic medical student association (COMSA) is the affiliated student organization. Currently COMSA is led by Ravi Uppal, Corey Mayer and Khashayar Farzam.

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) should not be confused with non-physician osteopaths. Currently, there are no DO programs outside the United States. DO programs are accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). The authority for licensure of osteopathic physicians lies with the provincial Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons.