An Overview of NUMSS Admissions to the Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) Program

Why Choose Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is one of the most complete health care systems in the world. It is a distinctive form of medical practice. The practice of osteopathy utilizes all available modern manual medicine techniques to assess injury and diseases of muscles, bones, joints and nerves. It also offers the added benefit of hands-on diagnosis and treatment through a system of therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). Osteopaths understand how all the body’s systems are interconnected and how each one affects the others. They focus special attention on the musculoskeletal system, which reflects and influences the condition of all other body systems.

Why Choose to Study Osteopathy at NUMSS?

Our education is quite unique and that is one reason why we have become the largest provider of manual osteopathic education in the world with alumni in 72 countries.

We graduate successful osteopaths because we heavily focus on chronic pain education as well as business management. Our students receive over 250 business management lectures from Dr. Pourgol. These lectures plus their ability in treating chronic pain are two reasons why our graduates have annual income of $150,000 which is $60,000 more than what other European style osteopaths make.

National University of Medical Sciences prepares you to be a successful osteopath. Our program is clinically oriented and you learn lessons that can be used the next day in your practice. You will become a doctor ready to practice in the real world. You will learn subjects not covered in other osteopathy programs such as orthopedic bracing, custom made orthotics, decompression therapy, clinical ergonomics, work & auto injury rehabilitation and physiotherapy modalities. Additionally we are the only DO program in the world the aside from the common osteopathy techniques like cranial, visceral, PFR, BLT, Still’s, osteoarticular, MET, Global, STT, HVLA and others also teach the Manual Mechanotherapy Techniques (MMT), which are considered the lost techniques of osteopathy.

Undergraduate Admissions

You require a bachelor’s degree as per-requisites to enter the Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) program. You have an option to take the prerequisite courses concurrently while attending the doctor of osteopathy program. The prerequisite Bachelor of Science program in Osteopathy can be taken concurrently with the DO program. Upon completing the 4 years of studies students graduate with two degrees; a Bachelor of Science in Osteopathy (BSc (Ost) & a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO). The dual degree program while being more condensed and harder to complete, offers the students a chance to become a doctor in four years instead of seven and to save on tuition.

Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) Curriculum

There are 4 different curriculums for the DO program:

  • Curriculum for category 1 students (4 years) without previous health education
  • Curriculum for category 2 students with previous health education (2 years)
  • Curriculum for category 3 students who have a doctoral or physiotherapy degree (1 year)
  • Curriculum for category 3 students who have a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree from NUMSS (6 months)

Curriculum for DO category 1 students without previous health education (4 years – 4716 hours total – 560 hours per semester)

1st Year (1st Semester)1st Year (2nd Semester)2nd Year (3rd Semester)2nd Year (4th Semester)3rd Year (5th Semester)3rd Year (6th Semester)4th Year (7th Semester)4th Year (8th Semester)
HA 101   Human AnatomyOS 102  Manual Ostepathic Skills IIMM 201   Medical MicrobiologyDS 202   Diagnosis & SymptomologyOR 301   Orthopedic ExaminationOP 302   Osteopathy Principles, Practice, Ethics & JurisprudenceAT 401  Auxiliary Osteopathic Therapy (decompression therapy, foot orthotics, orthopaedic shoes, orthopaedic bracing, support hose fitting)OT 402  Manual Ostepathic Techniques XI
HP 101   Human PhysiologyNA 102   Neuro AnatomyPA 201   PathologyND 202   Neuro-DiagnosisOT 301   Manual Osteopathic Techniques VIIINE 302   NeurologySN 401   Sports Nutrition & Weight Loss ManagementOT 402   Manual Osteopathic Skills IX
OT 101  Manual Osteopathic Techniques ICN 102  Clinical NutritionIM 201  ImmunologyFA 101  Fitness Assessment and TrainigOS 301  Manual Osteopathic Skills VIRM 302  Rehabilitation MedicineRX 401  Principles of Radiology & Diagnostic ImagingFC 302  Pathomechanics and Foot care
OS 101   Manual Osteopathic Skills IOT 103   Manual OSteopathic Skills IIIOT 201   Manual Osteopathic Techniques VLD 202   Clinical Laboratory DiagnosisGB 202   Gait Biomechanics and Anatomy of Lower LimbOT 302   Manual Osteopathic Techniques IXOT 401   Manual Osteopathic Techniques XCE 402   Clinical Ergonomics
OM 101 Theory, Philosophy & Methods in OsteopathyOS 103 Manual Osteopathic Skills IIIOS 201 Manual Osteopathic Skills IVOT 203 Manual Osteopathic Techniques VIIOC 301 Manual Osteopathy Clinic ManagementOS 302 Manual Osteopathic Skills VIOS 401 Manual Osteopathic Skills VIIISI 401 Sports Injuries
OT 102   Manual Osteopathic Techniques IITE 102   Therapeutic ExercisesOT 202   Manual Osteopathic Techniques VIOS 202   Manual Osteopathic Skills VPT 301   Physiotherapy ModalitiesDA 202   Lower Limb Diagnosis and AssessmentsPA 301   Lower Limb Patient AssessmentTH 402   Research Project and Thesis
CR 101   Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation(CPR)OT 104   Manual Osteopathic Techniques IVCB 102   Clinical BiomechanicsTP 102   Orthopedic Taping Techniques
Optional class: PL101 Practical lab (techniques review, 1 week FT, in Madrid)Optional class: PL102 Practical lab (techniques review, 1 week FT, in Madrid)Optional class: PL201 Practical Lab (techniques review, 1 week FT, in Madrid)Optional class: PL202 Practical Lab (techniques review, 1 week FT, in Madrid)Optional class: PL301 Practical Lab (techniques review, 1 week FT, in Madrid)Optional class: PL302 Practical Lab (techniques review, 1 week FT, in Madrid)Optional class: PL401 Practical Lab (techniques review, 1 week FT, in Madrid)Optional class: PL402 Practical Lab (techniques review, 1 week FT, in Madrid)

Curriculum for DO category 2 students with previous health education (2 years – 2368 hours total – 592 hours per semester)

1st Year (1st Semester)1st Year (2nd Semester)2nd Year (3rd Semester)2nd Year (4th Semester)
OT 101   Manual Osteopathic Techniques IOT 102  Manual Osteopathic Techniques IIIOT 104  Manual Osteopathic Techniques VIIOT 103  Manual Osteopathic Techniques X
OS 301   Manual Osteopathic Skills IOS 302   Manual Osteopathic Skills IIOP 302   Principles, Practice, Ethics & Jurisprudence in OsteopathyOC 301   Manual Osteopathic Clinical Management
CB 102   Clinical BiomachenicsOT 202   Manual Osteopathic Techniques IVLD 202   Clinical Laboratory DiagnosisPT 301   Physiotherapy Modalities
DS 202  Diagnosis and SymptmologyOR 301   Orthopedic ExaminationRX 401   Principles of Radiology and Diagnosis ImagingTE 102   Therapeutic Exercises
NE 302   NeurologyND 202   NeurodiagnosisPA 301   Lower Limb Patient AssessmentSI 401   Sport Injuries
TP 102   Orthopedic Taping TechniquesCE 402   Clinical ErgonomicsAT 401   Auxiliary Osteopathic Therapy: Orthotics and CastingFC 302   Pathomechanics and Foot care
FA 101   Fitness Assessment and TrainingGB 202   Gait Biomechanics and Anatomy of the Lower LimbOT 401   Manual Osteopathic Techniques VIIIOS 402   Manual Osteopathic Skills IV
OM 101   Theory, Philosophy and Methods in OsteopathyDA 202   Lower Limb Diagnosis and AssessmentOS 401   Manual Osteopathic Skills IIIOT 203   Manual Osteopathic Techniques XI
OT 301   Manual Osteopathic Techniques IIOT 302   Manual Osteopathic Techniques VOT 201   Manual Osteopathic Techniques IXTH 402   Research Project and Thesis
CN 102   Clinical NutritionOT 403   Manual Osteopathic Techniques VI
PL 101 Optional class: Practical Technique Class, 1 week FT, in Spain, Panama, United States & other locationsPL 102   Optional class: Practical Technique Class, 1 week FT, in Spain, Panama, United States & other locationsPL 201   Optional class: Practical Technique Class, 1 week FT, in Spain, Panama, United States & other locationsPL 202   Optional class: Practical Technique Class, 1 week FT, in Spain, Panama, United States & other locations

Curriculum for category 3 students with doctoral degree (1 year – 1120 hours total – 560 hours per semester)

1st Year (1st Semester)1st Year (2nd Semester)
OT 101 Manual Osteopathic Techniques IOT 104 Manual Osteopathic Techniques VII
OS 301 Manual OSteopathic Skills IOS 402 Manual Osteopathic Skills III
OS 302 Manual Osteopathic Skills IIOS 401 Manual Osteopathic Skills IV
OT 102 Manual Osteopathic Techniques IIOT 201 Manual Osteopathic Techniques VIII
OT 103 Manual Osteopathic Techniques IIIOT 203 Manual Osteopathic Techniques IX
OM 101 Theory, Philosophy ,and Methods in Osteopathic Health CareOT 401 Manual Osteopathic Techniques X
OT 301 Manual Osteopathic Techniques IVOT 202 Manual Osteopathic Techniques XI
OT 302 Manual Osteopathic Techniques VTE 102 Therapeutic Exercises
OP 302 Principles, Practice, Ethics, & Jurisprudence in Osteopathic Health CareOC 301 Manual Osteopathy Clinical Management
CE 402 Clinical ErgonomicsPT 301 Physiotherapy Modalities (Ultrasound, Electrotherapy, etc)
RX 401 Principles of Radiology and Diagnostic ImagingPA 301 Lower Limb Patient Assessment
TP 102 Orthopedic Taping TechniquesFC 302 Pathomechanics and Foot care
FA 101 Fitness Assessment and TrainingTH 402 Research Project and Thesis
OT 402 Manual Osteopathic Techniques VI
PL 101 Optional class: Practical Technique Class, 1 week FT, in Spain, Panama, United States & other locationsPL 102 Optional class: Practical Technique Class, 1 week FT, in Spain, Panama, United States & other locations

Curriculum for category 3 students who have a DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) degree from NUMSS (560 hours total) 1 semester, 6 months.

1st Year (1st semester)
OT 101  Manual Osteopathic Techniques I
OS 101   Manual Osteopathic Skills I
OT 102   Manual Osteopathic Techniques II
OS 102  Manual Osteopathic Skills II
OT 103   Manual Osteopathic Techniques III
OT 104   Manual Osteopathic Techniques IV
OT 201  Manual Osteopathic Techniques V
OT 202   Manual Osteopathic Techniques VI
OM 101   Osteopathic Theory, Philosophy & Methods
OC 301   Manual Osteopathic Clinic Management
TH 402   Research Project and Thesis
PL 101 Optional Class: Practical Lab(Techniques review ,1 week FT,Madrid )
Our DO students have access to one week of in-person practical technique class in multiple locations. This practical technique review class is optional as it is not part of the DO program. It is considered a continuing education program. Students receive a certificate awarding them 40 hours of continuing education credit towards fulfilling their association CE requirement. Classes are held in Los Angeles at the California Health University, In Panama City at the Pourgol Osteopathy Chronic Pain Hospital, and in Seville at Seville University of Health & Medicine. Based on demand the classes is also offered at selected 378 locations of Osteopathy Chronic Pain Clinics of Canada operating in 34 countries.