British Columbia Osteopathic Association

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BRITISH COLUMBIA OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION

Welcome to the official website of the British Columbia Osteopathic Association

The BCOA is an affiliate organization of the Canadian Osteopathic Association and represents graduates from American colleges of osteopathic medicine licensed to practice osteopathic medicine (General Practice, Medical & Surgical Specialties, and Musculoskeletal Medicine) by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia.   The BCOA was established in the 1920s and continues to represent the osteopathic medical profession in all provincial matters regarding legislation and licensure.

This website is intended to provide information to those physicians and students who are specifically interested in the practice of osteopathic medicine in British Columbia.  For detailed information regarding the practice of osteopathic medicine in other Canadian or American jurisdictions, please visit the websites for the Canadian Osteopathic Association at www.osteopathic.ca or the American Osteopathic Association at www.osteopathic.org.

This website will also provide the general public with accurate information regarding osteopathic medical education and the practice of osteopathic medicine in BC.  

Osteopathy originated in the USA

The osteopathic profession was founded by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still in the United States in the late 1800s.  Osteopathic medicine, or osteopathy, is a complete system of health care emphasizing a whole person approach to medicine. There are currently 29 colleges of osteopathic medicine in the United States producing physicians with comprehensive medical and surgical training, and with special skills in musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment, who make use of all modern diagnostic and treatment modalities, including unique manual treatment principles known as ‘osteopathic manipulative medicine’.  It is these American colleges of osteopathic medicine that provide the advanced medical and surgical training required for licensure in Canada.  These US colleges are also responsible for the development of the advanced osteopathic manual treatment techniques used by specialists in osteopathic manipulative medicine worldwide.  The American Osteopathic Association and American Academy of Osteopathy continue to be the international leaders in advanced manual therapy techniques.

The BCOA represents only qualified and licensed practitioners

Please be advised that currently there are various non-physician practitioners using osteopathic titles, practicing outside of legislation in British Columbia, and without osteopathic licensure, who do not hold the comprehensive medical, surgical, and musculoskeletal training required for osteopathic registration with provincial health care regulatory authorities.  

July 6, 2010