to be an Osteopath you must study and know the exact construction of the human body, the exact location of every bone, nerve, fiber, muscle, and organ, the origin, the course and flow of all the fluids of the body, the relation of each to the other, and the function each is to perform in perpetuating life and health. In addition you must have the skill and ability to enable you to detect the exact location of every obstruction to the regular movements of this grand machinery of life.
A.T. Still, 1901.
As a pre-requisite, the Canadian College of Osteopathy accepts only students who already have a licence, registration or certificate in the health care field, such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, athletic therapists, and nurses. These students already have an active practice. With each new course that the student attends, they are able to integrate the osteopathic philosophy, theory, methodology and techniques into their current practice.
After taking the first course, the student of Osteopathy is already able to begin practising Osteopathy. With each advancing level of participation in the program, the student is able to incorporate more Osteopathy into his practice.
The graduate Osteopath integrates all the elements of Osteopathy into his practice, while still incorporating his previous training, such as exercise prescription, nutritional counseling and life-style management. It is for that reason that graduates of the CCO are some of the most qualified practitioners of manual therapy in the country.