NARDMO is a professional association that establishes membership standards, assesses qualifications and promotes ethical manual osteopathic practice.

Membership does not replace registration with a statutory regulator where provincial legislation requires it. Members must comply with the laws and practice requirements applicable where they work.

Manual osteopathic care involves hands-on assessment and manual techniques, with attention to movement, physical function and the individual’s circumstances.

The services a practitioner may provide depend on their qualifications, competence and applicable practice laws. Manual osteopathic care should not delay appropriate medical assessment or treatment.

People may seek manual osteopathic care for concerns such as back or neck discomfort, joint discomfort and difficulties with movement.

Whether care is appropriate depends on the individual’s symptoms, health history and assessment. A practitioner should explain the limits of their services and recommend assessment by another healthcare professional when appropriate. Treatment outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Ask about the practitioner’s education, relevant experience, professional liability insurance and current association membership or statutory registration, where applicable.

Before agreeing to care, ask the practitioner to explain the proposed assessment and treatment, expected benefits, material risks, alternatives and fees.

You may contact NARDMO to request confirmation of a practitioner’s current membership status.

A referral is usually not needed to see a manual osteopath; however, your health plan insurer may have specific referral requirements. You may want to contact your employer’s human resources department—or the insurance plan provider directly—to find out if there are any referral requirements. Most plans allow you to just call and schedule an appointment with a manual osteopath.

Yes, children can benefit from manual osteopathy care. Children are very physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from activities of daily living as well as from participating in sports. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Manual osteopathy care is always adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle.

Yes but it depends to practice jurisdiction and the coverage provided in the patient’s health plan. Manual osteopathy care is generally included in some health insurance plans, including major extended health plans, workers’ compensation, & auto insurers, among others.  Please check with your individual plan coverage.

The practitioner should review your health history and concerns, explain the proposed assessment and discuss whether care is appropriate.

Before treatment, the practitioner should explain the proposed techniques, expected benefits, material risks, alternatives and fees, and obtain your informed consent. You should have an opportunity to ask questions.

You may ask for a technique to be modified or stopped, or withdraw consent at any time.

Fees and appointment lengths vary by practitioner, location and service.

Ask the clinic for its fees, appointment lengths, cancellation terms and any additional charges before booking. NARDMO membership fees are separate from the fees patients pay for treatment.

The number and frequency of appointments depend on your individual circumstances and response to care.

The practitioner should explain the reasons for any recommended treatment plan, discuss alternatives and review your progress. Further appointments should not be presented as automatically necessary.

Contact NARDMO for the current complaints procedure and submission requirements.

Provide the practitioner’s name, a description of your concern and relevant dates or supporting information. NARDMO’s complaints process concerns its members and does not replace processes available through statutory regulators or other authorities.

No. Applicants must meet NARDMO’s applicable education, clinical competency, examination and professional requirements.

Students should confirm that their specific program and intake are recognized before enrolling. Recognition of a school or another program does not automatically confirm recognition of every program, delivery format or intake.

The proposed standards distinguish between two entry pathways:

The 1,600-hour clinical minimum is included within the total program hours; it is not an additional requirement on top of those hours.

These are NARDMO’s proposed association standards. Referencing World Health Organization (WHO) benchmarks does not mean every numerical requirement above is prescribed by WHO.

Under the proposed policy, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) may recognize relevant education and demonstrated competence.

Each decision must document:

• The evidence reviewed and its relevance.

• The competencies and hours credited.

• Remaining coursework and clinical requirements.

• Any additional assessments required.

Approved credits contribute toward the program total. Previous healthcare employment does not automatically qualify as supervised osteopathic clinical training.

Under the proposed standards, schools must identify:

• Academic prerequisites.

• Accepted healthcare qualifications.

• Language requirements.

• Mature-student pathways.

• Clinical-placement requirements.

Admission decisions must assess readiness for both academic study and practical patient care.

Under the proposed standards, palpation, physical examination, manual techniques and practical competency assessments require in-person instruction and supervision.

Theory may be delivered in classrooms, live online sessions or structured asynchronous courses, with documented learning outcomes and assessment.

Under the proposed standards, schools must separately report:

• Classroom instruction.

• Live online learning.

• Structured asynchronous learning.

• Practical laboratories.

• Supervised clinical training.

• Independent study.

Hours must reflect documented learning activity. Activities cannot be counted twice. Independent study cannot substitute for required practical or clinical hours.

Clinical education must occur through an approved school clinic or placement with qualified supervision.

Records must distinguish:

•Direct patient assessment and treatment.
•Supervised observation.
•Case review and clinical discussion.
•Simulation.
NARDMO must publish the eligible categories, minimum direct-patient-care requirement and limits on other activities before implementation. Classroom and laboratory hours cannot automatically be labelled clinical hours.

Under the proposed standards, schools must verify relevant qualifications, professional standing, subject expertise and teaching or supervisory competence.

Clinical supervisors must be competent in manual osteopathy and comply with applicable practice laws. Supervision arrangements must support patient safety and timely assistance.

Under the proposed standards, graduates must demonstrate competence in:

• Foundational sciences and osteopathic principles.

• Assessment and clinical reasoning.

• Safe manual techniques.

• Contraindications, red flags and referral.

• Consent and documentation.

• Ethics and professional boundaries.

Schools must use academic examinations, observed practical assessments and clinical evaluations. Completing hours alone is insufficient.

NARDMO membership also requires successful completion of its National Board Examination or an examination formally accepted as equivalent.

Under the proposed recognition policy, schools must submit:

• Admission criteria.

• Curriculum maps.

• Detailed learning-hour breakdowns.

• Faculty qualifications.

• Clinical arrangements.

• Assessment policies.

Written recognition must identify the program, pathway, delivery format, applicable intakes, conditions and review date.

Material program changes require review. Periodic reassessment and student-protection arrangements must form part of the recognition process.

Students should obtain confirmation of recognition for their specific program and intake before enrolling.

The proposed application requirements include:

• Completed application and government-issued identification.

• Diploma, official transcripts and passport-sized photograph.

• CV and verified clinical-training records.

• Accepted examination results.

• Proof of professional liability insurance covering the applicant’s activities.

• Current first aid and CPR certification.

• Criminal-record screening and a Vulnerable Sector Check where applicable.

• Relevant professional-standing and disciplinary disclosures.

• Evidence of authorization to work in Canada, where applicable.

• Agreement to NARDMO’s bylaws, ethics and practice standards.

Screening findings must be assessed through a documented, fair review process.

The proposed fee schedule is:

NARDMO must publish the applicable payment, refund and late-renewal terms.

Reapplication requires reassessment against the requirements in force. Confirm the applicable fee and terms before submitting payment.

Members must maintain insurance, applicable safety certifications, accurate professional information and compliance with NARDMO’s applicable standards.

A requirement to complete 50 continuing-education credits every three years, supported by records, is proposed for adoption.

Before the first cycle begins, NARDMO defines credit equivalencies, accepted activities, activity limits, cycle dates and transition arrangements.

NARDMO’s current bylaws, education standards, recognition criteria, fees and membership policies should be accessible with their effective dates.

The proposed policy requires applicants to receive written decisions, reasons for refusal, identified deficiencies and instructions for reconsideration or appeal.

The applicable procedure, submission method and deadlines must be published before implementation. Application reconsideration and appeals are separate from patient complaints.

Revised requirements apply only after formal approval and from the effective date specified in the adoption notice.

The notice must explain transition arrangements for:

• Existing members.

• Current students.

• Previously recognized programs.

Until then, proposed revisions must not be represented as current requirements. Applicants and schools should confirm which requirements apply to their circumstances before relying on a proposed change.