Skip to content

Chiropractor and Osteopath
What is the difference?

Education and Training for a Doctor of Chiropractic

Dr. Christian BeaudryThe doctor of chiropractic program is offered at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières since September 1993. The 5-year university program accumulates 245 credits for the future health care professional. The candidate must previously hold a two years college degree or a one year university degree/certification. The program totals 4969 hours of study in the classroom with 1530 hours of clinical supervision at the university clinic located in the chiropractic pavilion at UQTR. The curriculum enables the student to master the skills essential to their doctoral competency, such as patient interview, physical, neurological, orthopaedic and radiological examination in order to identify possible anomalies and/or related pathologies.

Knowledge and competency allow the doctor to carry out the proper analysis and determine the best clinical approach for each patient. Furthermore, this knowledge is necessary if the patient is to be referred somewhere else. With his expertise and training, the chiropractor is able to prescribe the requisite imaging test such as tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and echography.

*1, 2 et 3 : Chiropractic university in Québec, Trois-Rivières.

https://oraprdnt.uqtr.uquebec.ca/

Osteopath, what is the training?

The clinical practice of osteopathy in Quebec is not governed by any particular regulation in this province, as far as the academic training is concerned. In order to apply to ‘Académie de l’ostéopathie de Montréal’, the future student needs no previous educational qualification. The website of The Academy stipulates that the program will be adapted to each potential student. The osteopathic program at the AOM varies between 1200 and 2500 hours. The program leads toward the ‘Diploma in Osteopathy’ (d.o). This non-university-sponsored program has zero hours of study in the following disciplines: neurology, clinical neurology, differential and medical diagnosis as well as bone and general radiology.

The osteopath does not hold any knowledge and training in prescribing or interpreting x-ray (if necessary), and diagnostic tests such as tomography, magnetic resonance, imaging or echography. These tests are indispensible for making the correct diagnosis, as they can reveal pathologies unidentifiable with simple physical tests.

If your general practitioner refers you to an osteopath for treatments, ask him instead to refer you to a real certified health care professional with a doctorate degree who has the necessary knowledge and competency to properly diagnose your health problem. Why settle for anything less than the best for something as important as your health?

CONTACT US »

Dr. Christian Beaudry, DC – (514) 694-0303