The Academic Program 


The complete academic program is of a duration of 5 years, part-time.

Following this, the students have up to 2 years to successfully present their thesis to an international jury before obtaining the D.O. (M.P.) (Diploma in Osteopathy (Manual Practice)) for Ontario or D.O. (Q) (Diploma of Osteopathy) for Québec.

To assist students in their thesis work, courses in research methodology are included in the program beginning in the fourth year. In addition, optional courses are offered on a regular basis to further own clinical skills during the program.  The program meets the standard for European Colleges.

Each academic year includes:  

1)                 6 courses of 4 days each

2)                 5 clinical days

If under extenuating circumstances, a student cannot attend a course, it is possible to take the course within another College recognised by the the Association (ex. Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, Germany and in the future Vancouver), where the same course is offered on a different date.

This unique option meets the particular needs of many students.


Course Content in Osteopathic Manual Practice

1ST Year:

- Concepts and philosophy of Osteopathy

- Specificity of Osteopathy

- General Osteopathic Treatment (G.O.T.)

- Osteopathy applied to the cranial sphere and the functional unit of the cranio-sacral system.  - Primary Respiratory Mechanism (PRM)

- The pelvis and lumbo-sacral junction

- The lower extremities

- Gait and posture analysis

- Strain-Counterstrain.  Myofascial-release

- Evaluation and treatment of the fascia

- System of auto-regulation

- Clinical methodology for evaluation and treatment


2ND year:

- Concepts of somato-visceral and viscero-somatic dysfunction

- The lumbar spine, thoracic spine, thorax, cervical spine and pivot points

- Second Degree lesions

- Cranial Osteopathy

- Evaluation and treatment of the fascia

- The Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

- Muscle Energy

- Intra-osseous lesions

- Clinical methodology for evaluation and treatment


3RD year:

- Osteopathic concepts in relation to postural equilibrium, the dural cranio-sacral mechanism and myofascial chains

- The occiput-atlas-axis

- Occlusion and the TMJ

- The upper extremity

- Neuro-motor development

- Treatment of infants and young children

- Functional emergency techniques

- Bones of the face

- Cranial Osteopathy

- Crossed myofascial chains

- Clinical methodology for evaluation and treatment


4TH year:

- Osteopathic concepts concerning interrelations between musculoskeletal and organ systems

- The central chain

- Evaluation and treatment of the fascia

- Complex osteo-articular lesions

- Embryology and movements of the viscera and organs

- Physiology and pathology of the digestive system

- The digestive system

- The respiratory system

- Evaluation and treatment of post-traumatic visceral and organic lesions.  The lymphatic system.

- Cranial Osteopathy of the encephalon

- Research methodology courses

- Clinical methodology for evaluation and treatment


5TH year:

- Osteopathic concepts and integration of various elements to assist you in establishing a differential diagnosis between lesions of a traumatic, visceral and/or emotional origin

- Physiology and Pathology of the cardio-respiratory system

- The circulatory system and cardiac vascularisation

- The elimination and reproductive systems

- Obstetrics

- Complex lesions of the pelvis

- Osteopathic treatment of multiple trauma patients

- The para-sympathetic and sympathetic systems

- Research methodology courses

- Evaluation and treatment of emotional trauma

- Cranial Osteopathy (general synthesis and advanced courses)

- The auto-regulation and immune systems

- General methodology for evaluation and treatment

Each year students develop new protocols of palpation thereby permitting them to work with greater precision on each part of the body.


Methods of Student Evaluation:

The student must obtain a grade of 60% in each section.

- Written exam at the end of each year

- Practical exam before a jury at the end of the 3rd and 5th years

- Research project at the end of 1st, 2nd and 4th years

- Presentation of a thesis protocol during the 5th year

- Presentation of the thesis before an international jury within 2 years of successfully completing the 5 year program

The exams take place in May or June, depending on the year.

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