International Osteopathic Association

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International Osteopathic Association

International Osteopathic Association (IOA) is a self-governing body, established by the manual osteo

The International Osteopathic Association (IOA), based in North York, Ontario, Canada, is an international professional association; with members across North America, Latin America, Africa, Caribbean, Europe, Asia & Australia, that promotes the highest standards of ethics and patient care in European style osteopathy, contributing to the health and well-being of millions of osteopathy patients. On behalf of its members, IOA lobbies for pro-osteopathy legislation and policies, promotes a positive public image of osteopathy, supports research, protects the public, and offers leadership for the advancement of the osteopathy profession. IOA issues certificates of registration & license numbers to osteopaths who are graduated from accredited osteopathic schools and who have successfully passed osteopathy board exams. IOA members are permitted to practice European style of osteopathy worldwide and to bill insurers when applicable. Osteopaths registered with IOA adhere to the code of ethics and professional guidelines set up by IOA.

10/05/2026

Photo Guidelines for the Registered Manual Osteopaths (RMO) Directory

To ensure that the Registered Manual Osteopaths Directory has a professional, consistent appearance, all RMOs are asked to follow the guidelines below when submitting their photo and directory information.

Please email your photo and information to Almira at [email protected].

Photo Requirements
Your professional photo should meet the following requirements:
The photo must be saved in JPEG (JPG) format.
Please name the photo file using your full name.
The photo should be passport-style, showing your head and upper body clearly.
The background must be plain white.
You must wear a white clinical/lab jacket.
Men should wear a dress shirt and tie underneath the white clinical jacket.
Women should wear professional clinical/business attire underneath the white clinical jacket.
Please do not wear casual clothing.
The photo should be clear, recent, well-lit, and professional.
Please face the camera directly and avoid selfies, filters, sunglasses, hats, distracting jewelry, or busy backgrounds.
If you do not already own a white clinical jacket, inexpensive options are available online, including on Amazon for approximately $20.
Please submit the original photo without adding your own text, logos, borders, or graphics. These will be added in a consistent format for the RMO Directory by our staff.

Information to Include
In the same email, please provide:
Your full name exactly as you would like it displayed in the RMO Directory
Your professional titles and academic credentials
Clinic name
Complete clinic mailing address
Clinic telephone number
Professional email address
Website address
If you practise at more than one clinic or location, please provide the complete information for every location.
Please carefully check the spelling of your name, credentials, contact information, and website before submitting them. The information you provide will be used to create your professional RMO Directory profile.

Our goal is to create a consistent, professional national directory that presents Registered Manual Osteopaths to the public, physicians, and others in a professional manner.

Thanks and have a great day.

09/29/2026

RMO Directory Will Refer Patients to You

I am very happy to announce that Almira Navarro has officially joined us on a full-time, permanent basis as my Executive Assistant. Today is her first day!

Almira holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA). She has also completed an additional two years of education in Business Information Management.

In addition, Almira has extensive education and knowledge in artificial intelligence (AI), which will be a valuable asset to our organizations as we increasingly move in this direction. We plan to integrate AI into our operations to improve our systems, increase efficiency, streamline processes, and help us better manage and expand our projects.

One of Almira’s primary responsibilities will be helping us set up, manage, develop, and promote one of our most important new projects: the Registered Manual Osteopaths (RMO) Directory, scheduled to become fully operational in early 2027.

The purpose of this directory is simple: to connect the Canadian public with qualified Registered Manual Osteopaths and generate patient referrals for RMOs across Canada.

I strongly believe this will become one of the most important projects we have undertaken for the future of manual osteopathy in Canada. We have both the membership numbers and the financial resources necessary to give this project the support and promotion it deserves.

Unfortunately, there are individuals practicing manual osteopathy in Canada who have not completed adequate education or clinical training. Some have completed only very short courses before offering manual osteopathic services to the public. This creates concerns for patient safety and for the reputation of our profession.

The RMO designation was created to help the public distinguish practitioners who have met defined educational, clinical, ethical, and examination requirements.

RMOs have completed more than 2,000 hours of education, including at least 1,000 hours of supervised clinical education and training. They must also complete mandatory education in areas such as sexual abuse prevention and insurance fraud prevention, and successfully complete rigorous written and practical board examinations.

The RMO Directory will not simply be a list of practitioners. Our goal is to actively promote the directory so Canadians looking for manual osteopathic care can find qualified RMOs in their communities. I have personally committed $10,000 a month towards advertising this directory on social media.

There is a simple reality in any profession: when an organization helps its members build their practices and earn a better living, people recognize its value. By helping generate patients for RMOs, we can also create a powerful incentive for qualified manual osteopaths to come together.

We are already seeing members of other associations joining us because they recognize the potential of the RMO initiative and the directory. And that is exactly what we want. We want qualified manual osteopaths from across Canada to come together under a recognizable professional designation and have greater access to patients.

When that happens, everyone benefits. The public benefits because it becomes easier to identify qualified practitioners. RMOs benefit through greater visibility and potential patient referrals. And the manual osteopathy profession benefits by becoming stronger, more unified, and more professional.

Welcome to our osteopathic family, Almira! We are very happy to have you with us, and I am excited about what we are going to build together.

Dr. Shawn Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, DN, PhD
Osteopath, Naprapath, Chiropractor & Founder of:
National Academy of Osteopathy (Canada, USA)
National University of Medical Sciences (USA, Spain, Panama)
Osteopathy Chronic Pain Clinics of Canada (380 clinics in 34 countries)
Florida Naprapathic Association
World Osteopathy Day

09/28/2026

I wanted to share a few updates with everyone.

The Registered Manual Osteopaths (RMO) Directory is so important to us that we have decided to hire a full-time employee with an MBA degree whose primary responsibility will be to help manage, develop, and promote it.

Normally, a professional directory would not require a full-time employee—especially someone with an MBA, which is a significant expense. However, we see this as much more than simply a directory.

Our goal is to create a major public resource that helps Canadians find qualified Manual Osteopaths while also promoting RMOs across the country. Having a dedicated professional managing and promoting the directory should benefit our members, the Canadian public, and the manual osteopathy profession as a whole.

A couple of quick reminders before I forget!

I have been informed by the National Academy of Osteopathy that our telephone service at the new campus should be installed this Wednesday. Until then, please do not call NAO. Email is the best way to reach the school for the next few days.

Also, there are only 2 days remaining to take advantage of the ACMA $2,500 grant toward the CRMO board examination fees.
If you have not yet contacted CRMO, please email them as soon as possible. Simply emailing CRMO to begin the membership process in September 2026 is enough to qualify for the $2,500 grant. You do not need to complete all the CRMO membership requirements or take the board examinations immediately. You have until the end of 2026 to complete the process.

Today is actually going to be a very busy day for me. I normally walk about four hours every day, with two of those hours after work. But today I finished my walking early in the morning because I have 25 video interviews scheduled! We are putting a lot of effort into finding the right person for this position.

Of course, projects like this require significant financial support.
Fortunately, the National Academy of Osteopathy is registered as a non-profit school, which means I cannot legally take even $1 of its profits for myself. Instead, funds are used to support initiatives that we believe can strengthen and advance the profession.

Over the past seven years, NAO has provided more than $750,000 in support to the College of Registered Manual Osteopaths (CRMO). NAO has also provided more than $1.5 million in support to the American Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (AAOMP).

In the United States, that support helped fund the work associated with establishing the ROMP (Registered Osteopathic Manual Practitioner) credential as a requirement for practitioners seeking a GEHA license to practice manual osteopathy.

In Canada, I hope the support provided to CRMO will similarly help build public awareness and recognition of the RMO (Registered Manual Osteopath) title so that, over time, Canadians increasingly recognize it when looking for a qualified manual osteopath.

Ultimately, both the RMO in Canada and ROMP in the United States are about establishing meaningful professional standards.

The requirements for obtaining these titles are intentionally substantial. They help distinguish practitioners who have completed appropriate education, clinical training, competency requirements, and board examinations. Strong standards help protect the public while also strengthening the credibility and future of the profession.

This directory is another important part of that work, and I am very excited about what we can build for RMOs and the Canadian public.

Have a great day and God bless.

Dr Shawn Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, DN, PhD
Osteopath, Naprapath, Chiropractor & Founder of:
National Academy of Osteopathy (Canada, USA)
National University of Medical Sciences (USA, Spain, Panama)
Osteopathy Chronic Pain Clinics of Canada (380 clinics in 34 countries)
Florida Naprapathic Association
World Osteopathy Day

09/23/2026

My Gift to Registered Manual Osteopaths!

“Go big or go home!” has always been part of how I approach life. Whatever I choose to do, I put my heart into it and try to make it the very best it can be. This project is no exception!

I want to create one of the largest and most comprehensive referral directories for manual osteopaths anywhere in the world, and I am personally committing $250,000 toward making this vision a reality.

Starting in 2027, Registered Manual Osteopaths (RMOs) will have a dedicated website and app designed to help the Canadian public easily find an RMO near them.

The website is www.registeredmanualosteopaths.ca, a name chosen by the majority of registered manual osteopaths in a poll we done last week. The website is not ready yet though as we just registered the domain.

But building the directory is only the beginning.

I plan to invest heavily in promoting it across Canada. We also plan to send referral information to family physicians, communicate with unions and employers, and work with extended health plan insurers to increase awareness of RMOs and encourage recognition and referral to qualified Registered Manual Osteopaths.

My goal is simple: I want more Canadians to know where they can find well-educated, competent and ethical manual osteopathic practitioners.

The Canadian public deserves access to safe, effective and ethical manual osteopathic care. Unfortunately, educational standards within our profession can vary considerably. There are programs with very limited educational hours, organizations that issue credentials without meaningful education, and short continuing-education courses that may give participants the impression that a weekend of training is sufficient preparation to practice manual osteopathy.

I have spent much of the past 16 years working to raise educational and professional standards within manual osteopathy. Promoting the RMO designation across Canada is another step in that journey.
I want the public to understand what the RMO title represents.

Registered Manual Osteopaths must meet strict membership requirements. These include written and practical board examinations, education in areas such as insurance fraud prevention and sexual abuse prevention, more than 2,000 hours of osteopathic education, 1,000 hours of clinical practice, and additional professional requirements.

When the public can clearly identify practitioners who have met substantial educational and competency standards, everyone benefits: patients, the profession, and the registered manual osteopaths.

This is my gift to Registered Manual Osteopaths, many of whom have been my students at National Academy of Osteopathy (Canada, USA) and National University of Medical Sciences 9Spain, USA, Panama) over the years.

But the RMO designation is not just for my graduates. It is intended for qualified manual osteopaths from any educational institution who meet the required educational, clinical and professional standards required by the College of Registered Manual Osteopaths (CRMO), a voluntary association owned/operated by Indigenous Peoples. As you know osteopathy is a heritage of Indigenous Peoples and CRMO is the first and only association that is working to promote this knowledge through its Council of Elders.

I want to see our profession grow. And most importantly, I want Canadians to have confidence in the manual osteopaths they choose for their care.

One final note: my apologies if our staff have been a little slower than usual in responding to your messages. We are currently in the middle of moving, so for the next two to three weeks our team will be exceptionally busy. Please rest assured that they will get back to you as soon as possible.

Exciting things are ahead for Registered Manual Osteopaths in Canada!

Have a wonderful day, and God bless.

Dr. Shawn Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, DN, PhD
Osteopath, Naprapath, Chiropractor & Founder of:
National Academy of Osteopathy (Canada, USA)
National University of Medical Sciences (USA, Spain, Panama)
Osteopathy Chronic Pain Clinics of Canada (380 clinics in 34 countries)
Florida Naprapathic Association
World Osteopathy Day

09/16/2026

Free $2,500 Seminar for RMOs & NAO/NUMSS Students and Alumni

This $2,500 seminar is being offered free of charge to Registered Manual Osteopaths (RMOs), as well as students and graduates of the National Academy of Osteopathy (NAO) and National University of Medical Sciences (NUMSS).

Join me on Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 9 AM to 5 PM at the National Academy of Osteopathy campus. This program is offered only on-site and is not available in online format.

In this seminar, you will learn how to create and implement a personalized financial system designed to help you keep more of what you earn, reduce taxes, build wealth, and protect your assets. Over a 25-year period, these strategies have the potential to help an average RMO create and preserve more than $1 million in additional wealth.

The seminar satisfies 8 hours of structured continuing education toward the College of Registered Manual Osteopaths (CRMO) CE requirements.

I will personally teach this seminar and share the financial strategies and systems I have learned and used over the years.

To register, please contact Maria at [email protected].

Love to see you at NAO this fall!

Dr. Shawn Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, DN, PhD
Osteopath, Naprapath, Chiropractor & Founder of:
National Academy of Osteopathy (Canada, USA)
National University of Medical Sciences (USA, Spain, Panama)
Osteopathy Chronic Pain Clinics of Canada (380 clinics in 34 countries)
Florida Naprapathic Association
World Osteopathy Day

09/14/2026

Chiropractor, naturopath, Registered Manual Osteopath (and future naprapath) Dr. Sylvain Desforges, president of the Canadian Alliance of Alternative Medicine (ACMA) and a graduate of the National University of Medical Sciences (Spain), has generously donated $10,000 in prepaid Google advertising to promote Registered Manual Osteopaths (RMOs) across Canada. ❤️

The College of Registered Manual Osteopaths (CRMO), copyright holder of the RMO – Registered Manual Osteopath title since 2019, is working with ACMA to develop an RMO directory website and app that will help Canadians find qualified RMOs near them.

The RMO title was created to help protect the public by distinguishing properly educated manual osteopaths from inadequately trained practitioners. Some programs currently offer osteopathy certificates with as little as 46 hours of study or even a single weekend of training.

RMO represents one of the strictest standards for manual osteopathy in Canada. Applicants must complete over 2,000 hours of education and 1,000 hours of clinical practice, maintain CPR certification, undergo a criminal background check, complete training in insurance fraud and sexual abuse prevention, and pass both written and practical board examinations.

RMO is not limited to graduates of the National Academy of Osteopathy (Canada/USA) or National University of Medical Sciences (Spain/USA). It is open to graduates of any school who meet CRMO's educational and professional standards.

Our goal is simple: protect the public, strengthen the profession, and help Canadians identify and choose properly qualified manual osteopaths.

To learn how to become a Registered Manual Osteopath, contact CRMO Registrar Dr. Dasha Veprjitska at [email protected].

09/03/2026

RMO: Helping Protect the Public and Strengthen Manual Osteopathy

Did you know that there are individuals practicing as manual osteopaths in Canada who may not have adequate education or clinical training?

Unfortunately, we have documented cases of individuals calling themselves manual osteopaths after completing only a weekend course, and others after programs involving as little as 46 hours of instruction. We have helped closed a number of such schools over the years but new ones keep opening up. Situations like these highlight the importance of having a clear professional designation that the public can recognize and trust.

The RMO (Registered Manual Osteopath) designation is awarded by the College of Registered Manual Osteopaths (CRMO) and is now required by ACMA, as well as recognized or required by a number of other professional organizations, including the American Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners and the International Osteopathic Association.

Becoming an RMO is not simply a matter of paying a membership fee. Applicants must meet comprehensive educational and professional standards. These include more than 2,000 hours of osteopathic education, 1,000 hours of academically supervised clinical education, successful completion of written and practical board examinations, no criminal background, having sufficient malpractice insurance, and additional education in important areas such as insurance fraud prevention and sexual abuse prevention.

Our goal is simple: when members of the public see the RMO designation, we want them to understand that the practitioner has met established standards of education, clinical preparation, ethics, and professional competency.

We are also in the process of hiring a public relations firm to help educate Canadians through traditional and social media about the RMO designation. We plan to communicate its meaning to the public, insurance companies, government bodies, and other organizations so that RMO becomes a recognizable indication of a qualified manual osteopath.

Ultimately, the RMO designation is about public protection. Patients deserve to know that the person providing their manual osteopathic care has appropriate education, clinical training, and professional preparation. They deserve access to care that is safe, effective, and ethical.

Osteopathy also has important connections to Indigenous healing traditions and knowledge and it is considered a heritage of Indigenous Peoples. The College of Registered Manual Osteopaths is owned and operated by Indigenous Peoples and has a Council of Elders that provides oversight and guidance to its operations, including its commitment to respecting and protecting Indigenous Peoples' relationship with this profession.

By establishing meaningful standards and helping the public understand what RMO represents, we hope to protect patients while strengthening the credibility, professionalism, and future of manual osteopathy.

09/01/2026

Mandatory RMO Title for ACMA Members Effective January 1, 2027

We are pleased to share an important new development aimed at strengthening the manual osteopathy profession in Canada and supporting high standards of patient care.

RMO – Registered Manual Osteopath is a copyrighted professional title issued by the College of Registered Manual Osteopaths (CRMO). The RMO designation indicates that a manual osteopath has successfully completed rigorous written and practical board examinations, as well as at least 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practice, in line with recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).

As part of a broader effort among organizations in the manual osteopathy profession to promote consistent professional standards and public protection, the Canadian Alliance of Alternative Medicine (ACMA) has decided that the RMO designation will become mandatory for all current and new ACMA members effective January 1, 2027.

The goal is simple: to give patients greater confidence that an RMO has met established educational, clinical, and examination standards necessary to provide safe, ethical, and effective manual osteopathic care.

All current ACMA members, as well as those wishing to join ACMA, are encouraged to contact CRMO and begin the registration process. Beginning January 1, 2027, current ACMA members will be required to hold CRMO membership and the RMO designation in order to renew their ACMA membership.

We also have some great news! During September 2026, ACMA will cover the full $2,500 cost of the CRMO board examinations for its current and new members. To benefit from this special grant, eligible applicants must register with CRMO during the month of September.

We extend our sincere appreciation to ACMA President Dr. Sylvain Desforges, an osteopath, chiropractor, naturopath, and graduate of National University of Medical Sciences (Spain), for his dedication and hard work in advancing professional standards and helping protect the Canadian public.

This is an exciting step forward for manual osteopathy in Canada and toward ensuring that patients can more easily identify practitioners who have demonstrated the qualifications and competencies expected of Registered Manual Osteopaths.

Together, we can continue building a stronger, safer, and more respected manual osteopathy profession in Canada.

08/02/2026

Congratulations to the National Academy of Osteopathy in Canada on its beautiful new campus!

07/09/2026

Cranial osteopathy is a gentle, hands-on approach that aims to support the body's natural ability to heal and maintain balance. Using light, precise techniques, practitioners work to release tension and improve the mobility of the head, spine, and surrounding tissues. Many people report feeling more relaxed, sleeping better, experiencing fewer headaches or jaw problems, and enjoying an overall sense of well-being after treatment.

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6021 Yonge Street, Suite 390
Toronto, ON
M2M3W2

Website

http://www.internationalosteopathicassociation.org/

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