NAO’s osteopathic manual practice program can be taken either part time or full time. This is the only osteopathy program in Canada offered in a condensed full time program.
The four months condensed full time program runs full days Mondays to Fridays, for three months followed by a month of clinical internship.
Students interested in taking NAO’s osteopathy program on a part time basis may complete the required courses in nine months or three years. Classes for the nine months part time program run every weekend. Classes for the three year part time program are held one weekend per month.
Entrance Requirements
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
1. All students must be at least 18 years of age at the time of admission.
2. Students must have an earned high school diploma, its foreign equivalent, or a General Educational Development diploma (GED). Students are strongly recommended to take at least one year each of high school biology, chemistry and physics; and mathematics through algebra.
3. Students must demonstrate sufficient maturity to undertake a health care profession, including the capacity to ethically and responsibly manage professional boundaries.
Admission to National Academy of Osteopathy is competitive. The Academy expects that most, if not all, students will exceed the minimum admission requirements.
Qualifications
A student must possess the following abilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, for completion of the professional diploma program in osteopathic manual practice:
1. Ability to apply manual medicine techniques and adjunctive techniques over the full range of a client’s body, including positioning clients, palpating, feeling with hands and fingers, pushing, pulling, kneading, grasping, twisting wrists, and lifting up to 10 pounds, for periods of up to 60 minutes without interruption;
2. Ability to determine depth and intensity of manual pressure and force, as applied in the performance of common manual and adjunctive procedures and techniques;
3. Ability to see and hear, with or without reasonable accommodation, sufficient that the student can receive and record client histories; document treatment plans; provide instructions to clients; and provide routine client safety services;
4. Ability to perform in all laboratory and clinical settings without posing a threat to herself/himself, to the safety and well-being of fellow students, or to clients;
5. Ability and willingness to receive hands-on and adjunctive treatment. Much of the technical instruction in the programs requires reciprocal application of the osteopathic techniques, including joint mobilization and soft tissue therapy. In reciprocal laboratory experiences, receiving techniques is necessary in order to learn proper procedures, and to receive and provide learning feedback; reciprocal application of technique is also useful for developing sensitivity to client needs. The Academy may temporarily excuse a student from receiving osteopathy treatments provided that there is a specific medical contraindication, as determined in writing by a licensed health care professional.
All students, with or without reasonable accommodation, must carry out laboratory and clinical assignments, including providing osteopathy treatments to clients. Qualified persons with disabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, must be able to pass oral, written and practical examinations, and meet all of the clinical requirements of the Academy.
It is in the best interests of both the student and the Academy to assess the degree of limitation caused by disability. However, the Academy will make the final determination of whether or not an individual meets all qualifications for study at the Academy.
Persons who have been convicted of a misdemeanour of a violent criminal or sexual nature or any felony will be prohibited from professional health care practice in many jurisdictions. National Academy of Osteopathy will deny admission to applicants with such convictions. The Academy therefore reserves the right to conduct a criminal background check on applicants or on any enrolled student at any time in the program.
Responsibility of Applicant
It is the responsibility of the applicant to be aware of the entrance requirements and to ensure that they are met prior to enrollment. If National Academy of Osteopathy determines at any time that requirements are not met in full, the student will not be allowed to enroll or to continue at the Academy.
