Frequently Asked Questions

Osteopathy (founded in 1874 by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still in the United States) is an established internationally recognized manual medicine system of diagnosis and treatment that has origins in the Cherokee Bodyworks and Healing arts, with main emphasis on the structural and functional integrity of the musculoskeletal system.

Osteopaths use a variety of hands-on physical treatments. These include techniques such as soft tissue therapy, osteoarticular mobilization, high velocity low amplitude manipulation, muscle energy, positional facilitated release, Still’s, strain and counterstrain, cranial osteopathy, visceral manipulation, therapeutic joint specific exercises, global, oscillatory, thermogenic, manual mechanotherapy & lymphatic drainage. These techniques are normally employed together with exercise, dietary, and occupational advice in an attempt to help patients recover from pain, disease and injury.

European style Osteopaths do not prescribe medications or perform surgery, while American style osteopaths perform surgery and prescribe medications as well as using osteopathic techniques in managing a patient’s condition.

Any student with a grade 12 high school diploma or its equivalent may apply for admission to our bachelor of science programs.

Our master of science and doctoral programs generally require a bachelor’s degree or a professional degree in a doctoral program such as chiropractic, medicine, or physiotherapy. or equivalent. Those without such degrees are eligible to obtain a dual degree, taking a master’s or doctoral program with one of the bachelor degrees offered at NUMSS. The dual degree program allows students to obtain a bachelor’s degree concurrently with a master’s or doctoral program, thus fulfilling the pre-requisites needed to enter the master’s or doctoral program without spending additional time and tuition. However the dual programs require more effort and studying.

The program length depends on the student background. There are 3 categories of students entering National University of Medical Sciences. Category 1 are regular students. Category 2 are students with previous health education. Category 3 are students who possess a doctoral degree or equivalent.

Our doctoral programs program are generally 4 years full time (for regular category 1 students ), 2 years full time (for category 2 students with previous health education, such as massage therapists) & 1year full time (for category 3 students who are doctors or physiotherapists).
The Master’s program is one year full time (2 semesters) for all category 1, 2, and 3 students.
The bachelor programs we offer are 3 years full time for category 1 students, 1 year full time for category 2 students & 6 months (1 semester) full time for category 3 students.

Tuition for each semester is €2,750 (Euro) for the single degree programs. Tuition for the combined degree programs is €3,090 for each semester of the master’s/doctoral dual degree program, €3,210 for each semester of the bachelor’s/doctoral or Bachelor’s/master’s dual degree programs, and €4,120 for the triple degree bachelor’s/master’s/doctoral programs.

All degree programs start twice per year; September 03rd and February 03rd of each year.

Financing any professional program requires considerable planning and budgeting. All major financial institutions and banks have loan programs and/or lines of credit available to NUMSS (Spain) students. Please contact your bank for details such as eligibility requirements, interest rates and applications. Government student loans are not available for any of our programs. National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) does not offer any student loans.

Upon graduation; osteopaths have the option of opening their own clinics; or to rent rooms in established medical, assessment, health or rehab clinics and benefit from cross referrals; or to work as employees in other osteopathic, medical, chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage or rehab clinics.

Most osteopaths work in private clinics, often as sole proprietor, associate or employee. However, the increase in multidisciplinary health care facilities and physical rehabilitation clinics has opened new opportunities for these osteopaths to collaborate with other health care professionals (such as family physicians, massage therapists, naturopaths, athletic therapists, kinesiologists, podiatrists, chiropodists, occupational therapists, ergonomists, & acupuncturists) and benefit patients with interprofessional care.

A small numbers of osteopaths also work in hospitals, nursing homes, health spas, sports teams, insurance companies claims services department, fitness clubs, cruise ship spas, colleges, universities, private schools, motor vehicle accident (MVA) assessment centres and other institutions.

Most new graduates start their professional work as employees. Later they establish their own private clinics.

We focus heavily on chronic pain education in the osteopathy programs we offer. Additional NUMSS osteopathy students receive over 250 business management lectures offered by osteopath & naprapath, Dr. Shawn Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, DN, PhD (NUMSS president). The ability of our alumni in treating chronic pain in additions to their skills in managing their private practices are the reason why they enjoy annual gross income of $150,000 which is $60,000 more than what other manual osteopaths make. Up to 20% of the income is spend towards expenses. NUMSS alumni on average charge $140 per hour of osteopathic session.

There is virtually no unemployment in osteopathy. All graduates find employment after graduation or they open their own private clinics independently or in partnership with established medical, physiotherapy, massage or rehab clinics.

There are approximately 4500 osteopaths in UK, 5000 manual osteopaths in Canada, 2000 osteopathic manual practitioners in the United States, 1000 manual osteopaths in Brazil and a few thousands more of manual osteopaths spread around the world in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Panama, Colombia, China, Iran, India, South Korea, Japan, Greece, South Africa, Singapore, Vietnam, Venezuela, Latvia, St Martin, Barbados, Jamaica, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, Argentina, Pakistan, Israel, Austria, Germany, Portugal, Italy, and Netherlands amongst others . Nearly half of them are women. Over 150,000 osteopathic physicians practice medicine in the United States and around the world

Yes. Any expenses incurred to obtain a degree at NUMSS is a tax-deductible expense in most countries such as United Kingdom, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and most Western European countries. Students receive a receipt for tuition paid. The cost of books and supplies are also tax deductible in most countries. However you should consult with the tax authorities of your jurisdiction to check on eligibility.

Yes. We are accredited by Council on Manual Osteopathy Education of the International Osteopathic Association, US Council on Osteopathic Manual Practice Education and a number of other organizations.

The osteopathy, naprapathy, physical therapy, massage therapy and athletic therapy programs have optional week-long optional practical technique classes & labs that are held in a number of locations around the world. In Spain they are held at our campus as well as the campus of Seville University of Health & Medicine. In the United States they are held at the campus of California Health University in Los Angeles. In Panama they are held at the Pourgol Osteopathy Chronic Pain Hospital. Attendance is not mandatory and the classes are not part of our degree programs meaning you can graduate without attending the labs. These classes are considered a continuing education program, offering 40 CEU credits to attendees.

In these classes students fine tune their techniques under the supervision of a clinician. There is a fee of €866.25 (Euro) for each week-long techniques lab.

Yes. There is no difference between online and campus based education. In some ways the online education is even superior to the campus based because students have the ability to pause the lectures and watch any techniques over and over again. Many successful osteopaths are practicing around the world who studied osteopathy through an online on-demand program. The professions of osteopathy, chiropractic, pedorthics, athletic therapy, massage therapy, physiotherapy and even medicine and dentistry have offered at one time or another correspondence courses. With the technology NUMSS uses students feel they are sitting in a classroom watching the lectures. They have also the ability to email NUMSS at any time and ask any academic questions they may have. Some universities in United Kingdom have started offering medical specialty courses such as orthopedic surgery to Medical Doctors through online programs, and some universities in the USA offer masters program in nursing through online lectures. As technology advances delivering high quality videos become easier and permits students worldwide to watch the lectures easily and comfortably. And more universities are embracing the online teaching as it eliminates the need for campus attendance and enables education to be spread internationally.

With the advancement in communication technology online education is improving rapidly. Time has shown that many of health related programs can indeed be taught online. Here are some examples:

  • Since 2003; many universities in the USA have been offering transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT) through 100% online education. The tDPT is available only to physiotherapists as a post professional degree. However the older generation of physiotherapists did not study diagnostic imaging, medical diagnosis or manual therapy. And the tDPT program teaches these subjects. So it is possible to learn diagnosis, radiology and manual therapy through online programs.
  • Since a decade ago; the University of Western Ontario has been offering a Diploma in Pedorthics program. The program has 6 courses which are online. These courses includes assessments and pedorthic examinations. The university has graduated many students and they are currently working as certified pedorthists in Canada. This shows that pedorthic education can be learned online.
  • A United Kingdom university is offering a 100% online specialty program in orthopedic surgery to medical doctors since the past few years.
  • Many universities in the USA are offering online master’s degrees in nursing since the past decade.
  • A college in Alberta, Canada is offering a diploma program in massage through online education.
  • Many colleges and universities in USA and elsewhere offer naturopathy diplomas and degrees through online format.
  • A school in USA has just started teaching needle-less acupuncture online.
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine is offered online through many schools.
  • Clinical nutrition is offered by hundreds of universities and colleges worldwide.
  • Kinesiology & human kinetics is offered through online education by a number of schools.
  • Degrees in clinical psychology is offered by many universities.

In certain countries such as Canada the osteopathic treatments provided by our graduates who are members of insurance approved associations such as ACMA and the College of Registered Manual Osteopaths (Canada) are accepted by most private health insurers.

In certain countries (such as Canada, Australia & most European countries) osteopathic treatments provided to patients who suffered injuries in a motor vehicle accident are covered by all insurance providers including State Farm, Allstate, Aviva, Belair, Certas, RBC, Royal, TD, Dominion, Cooperators, Chubb, Pilot, & Perth. For example in the province of Ontario in Canada all insurers as per Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) must cover osteopathic treatments at a rate of $57.67 per hour for non-catastrophic injuries and at a rate of $88.28 for catastrophic injuries.

National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) teaches more techniques than any other osteopathy school in the world and we have more technique instructors than others. Additionally we, along with the other schools founded by Dr Pourgol are the only schools teaching Manual Mechanotherapy techniques (MMT) which are considered the lost techniques of osteopathy. We cover all joints including lumbar, thoracic, cervical, temporomandibular joint, shoulder, scapula, elbow, wrist, hand, sacrum, hip, knee, ankle and foot.

Some of the osteopathic techniques we teach include osteoarticular, HVLA, static joint play, motion palpation, mobility testing, cranial osteopathy, visceral manipulation, strain / counterstrain, lymphatic drainage & pump, muscle energy technique, positional facilitated release, Still’s (the forgotten techniques of osteopathy), manual mechanotherapy (the lost techniques of osteopathy), soft tissue therapy, myofascial release technique, trigger point therapy, therapeutic joint specific exercise, etc.

DOBSC in Osteopathy
Study Time (category 1 students)4 years full time (category 1)3 years full time (category 1)
Accelerated Study time (categories 2 & 3)
for students with prior health education: physiotherapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, physicians, kinesiologists, manual osteopaths, etc)
2 years full time (category 2)
1 year full time (category 3)
No part time
1 year full time (category 2)
6 months full time (category 3)
No part time
Total Tuition (category 1 students)€12,000 (Euro)€9,000 (Euro)
Total Tuition (category 2 students)€6,000€3,000
Total Tuition (category 3 students)€3,000€1,500
Books€100 to €400 per semester€100 to €400 per semester
DesignationDOBSc (Osteopathy)
Average Annual Income$90,000 +$90,000
Hourly Treatment Fee$80 to $140$60 to $140
International Osteopathic Association (IOA) License NumberMust become IOA member to receive license to practiceMust become IOA member to receive license to practice
Malpractice Insurance Cost$500 to $700 per year$300 to $500 per year
PracticePrimary health practitioner. Can open independent clinic and see patients directly without supervision.Primary health practitioner. Can open independent clinic and see patients directly without supervision.
Osteopathic AssessmentAble to perform assessmentsAble to perform assessments
Osteopathic TechniquesAble to perform all osteopathic techniquesAble to perform all osteopathic techniques
PhysiotherapyAble to provide physiotherapy modalities to patientsAble to provide physiotherapy modalities with extra training
Decompression Traction Therapy (DTT)Able to perform DTTAble to perform DTT with extra training
Custom Made Orthotic Casting & dispensingAble to cast & dispenseAble to cast & dispense with extra training
Support Hose FittingAble to fit compression socksAble to fit compression socks with extra training
Clinical Ergonomic ServicesAble to provide clinical ergonomics to patientsAble to provide this service only with extra training
Independent Medical Evaluation (IME)Able to performAble to perform
AMA Impairment RatingAble to performAble to perform
Disability CertificatesAble to signAble to sign
Treatment PlansAble to signAble to sign
Functional Abilities Evaluation (FAE)Able to perform FAEAble to perform FAE with extra training
Home Based Assessment (HBA)Able to perform HBAAble to perform HBA with extra training
Job Site Analysis (JSA)Able to perform JSAAble to perform JSA with extra training
Osteopathy Treatment at HomePermittedPermitted
Hospital WorkPermittedPermitted
University Teaching PositionAvailable as professorAvailable as teacher`s assistant
Research PositionMay be hired as researcherMay be hired as research assistant
University CreditCourse accepted as university creditCourse accepted as university credit
Prerequisite3 years Prior university educationHigh school graduation (grade 12 or equivalent)
Employment PotentialZero unemployment. All osteopaths work soon after graduation.Zero unemployment. All osteopaths work soon after graduation.
RadiologyAble to read X-raysNot permitted
SpecialtyAble to specialize in orthopaedics, neurology, sports medicine & rehabilitation medicineNot available
Master’s DegreeNot able to enrol in a university master’s program without having a bachelor’s degreeAble to enrol in most postgraduate master’s programs including MBA
New PatientsDoctors offer more services (orthotics, ergonomics, physiotherapy, decompression) and they are more versatile clinically as they read x-rays. As a result they have more new patients.Services are limited to osteopathic treatments unless additional courses are taken.
PrestigeNo other degrees have the same prestige as a doctor of osteopathy. There are just a small number of DOs in the world so having a DO makes you belong to an exclusive club.A bachelor`s degree is a great way to start a career as it is a gateway that takes you to many other directions. There are not many osteopaths with a bachelor`s degree and having a BSc in osteopathy makes you unique amongst your peers.

There are a few known mechanism affecting individuals who receive osteopathic treatment for low back pain.

First mechanism: Osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) increases joint mobility by producing a barrage of impulses in muscle spindle afferents and smaller-diameter afferents ultimately silencing facilitated ? (gamma) motoneurons as proposed by Korr. This theory is supported by several recent studies by the Pickar lab and by findings that low back pain patients have altered proprioceptive input from muscle spindles. Recent work has also shown that that OMT modifies the discharge of Group I and II afferents. This has been accomplished by recording single-unit activity in muscle spindle and Golgi tendon organ afferents in an animal model during OMT.

A second mechanism is that OMT, by mechanically opening the intravertebral foramina (IVF), decreases pressure on the dorsal roots. Substantial evidence shows that the dorsal nerve roots and dorsal root ganglia are susceptible to the effects of mechanical compression. Compressive loads as low as 10 mg applied to dorsal roots increase the discharge of Group I, II, III and IV afferents. This compression can also alter non-impulse-based mechanisms (eg, axoplasmic transport) and cause edema and hemorrhage in the dorsal root. OMT mechanically decreases the pressure in the IVF by gaping the facet joints and opening the IVF. For instance, the synovial space of the lumbar facet joints increases by about 0.7 mm in individuals receiving manipulation. This doesn’t seem like much, but as with any therapy there is usually a course of care involved. Even in moderate stenosis patients treated by manual osteopaths typically see significant pain reduction following a period of 1-2 weeks of treatment.

A third mechanism is based on findings that persistent alterations in normal sensory input resulting from an injury can increases the excitability of neuronal circuits in the spinal cord. OMT works by applying non-noxious mechanical inputs to these circuits. This involves mechanisms similar to the pain-gate theory proposed by Melzack and Wall wherein activation of A-a and A-b fibers can reduce chronic pain and increase pain threshold levels. This is supported by studies where OMT of the lumbar region decreases central pain processing as measured via pin-prick tests. Additional studies have shown a reduction in central pain sensitivity after OMT using graded pressure and noxious cutaneous electrical stimulation.

A fourth mechanism involves beta-endorphin mechanisms. Studies have shown increases in beta-endorphin levels after OMT but not after control interventions.

Fifth mechanism: Substantial evidence also shows that OMT activates para-spinal muscle reflexes and alters motoneuron excitability. These effects are still being studied and appear to differ depending on whether performed on patients in pain or pain-free subjects.

A sixth mechanism involves inhibition of somatosomatic reflexes by alterations in muscle spindle input produced by OMT. It is thought that OMT may normalize spindle biomechanics and improve muscle spindle discharge.

Lastly, in humans, osteopathic manual treatment can decrease heart rate and blood pressure while increasing vagal afferent activity as measured by heart-rate variability. OMT in rats have been shown to produce an inhibitory effect on the cardiovascular excitatory response and reduce both blood pressure and heart rate. Osteopathic soft tissue therapy have been shown to impact behavioral manifestations associated with chronic activation of the HPA axis such as anxiety and depression, while decreasing plasma, urinary, and salivary cortisol and urinary corticotropin releasing factor-like immunoreactivity (CRF-LI). Manual stimulation in rats has been shown to significantly increase glucocorticoid receptor gene expression which enhanced negative feedback inhibition of HPA activity and reduced post-stress secretion of ACTH and glucocorticoid.

Athletic Therapy is the prevention, immediate care, treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries by an Athletic Therapist. It involves the assessment of physical function, the treatment of dysfunction caused by pain and/or injury in order to develop, maintain and maximize independence and prevent dysfunction. User groups of this service are varied and can include but are not limited to people with a musculoskeletal injury that may be active individuals, injured workers, motor vehicle accident injuries, recreational athletes, professional athletes and competitive amateur athletes.

Athletic therapists may work as personal fitness trainers or strength coach, however their scope of practice covers a lot more. Athletic Trainers are healthcare providers who provide care for both athletes and non-athletes alike. Personal trainers, on the other hand, are fitness professionals and not healthcare professionals. The training required to become a personal trainer is at the diploma level while athletic therapist education requires at least a bachelor�s degree.

The only similarity between Athletic Therapists and personal trainers is that both work with athletes, but they are two very different professions.

Athletic Therapists are currently employed in many sport medicine settings including:

Universities and Colleges

Athletic Therapists work with varsity athletes providing expertise on injury prevention, emergency and acute care, assessment and rehabilitation of injuries as well as developing conditioning programs. Many Athletic Therapists also teach related subject matters at various academic institutions.

Professional Sports

Athletic Therapists are currently employed by professional teams in the NHL, CFL, NBA, MLB, NWHL, NLL as well as professional dance companies. These therapists are responsible for injury prevention, emergency and acute injury care, assessment and complete rehabilitation of injuries and development of conditioning programs.

National Athletes

Athletic Therapists are an integral part of the ongoing care of national athletes. Athletic Therapists either work directly with the team or are selected to the medical teams for games such as; Olympics; Pan Am; Commonwealth; World Cup, etc.

Private Sports Medicine Clinics

A growing number of Athletic Therapists own or work in fee-for-service clinics, treating a variety of injuries and conditions. Treatment will include injury assessment and rehabilitation as well as conditioning programs for all active individuals.

The average income depends on the jurisdiction and types of practice. It generally ranges from $41,000 to $78,000. Depending on jurisdictions athletic therapists charge $40 to $60 per treatment sessions or $75 to $140 per hour of treatment

Yes. A growing number of athletic therapists open their own private athletic therapy clinics. Some have also started opening multidisciplinary clinics offering a number of health related services such as osteopathy, massage therapy, athletic therapy, chiropractic & naturopathy. A small number of athletic therapists also own and operate clinics involved solely in rehabilitation of workers and motor vehicle accident patients.

Athletic Therapists are highly skilled health care professionals, with similar scope of practice as physiotherapists that provide immediate treatment to musculoskeletal injuries. ATs employ a sports medicine model of rehabilitation to physical injuries incurred from sports, recreation, accidents, daily activities or occupation. Early exercise prescription is often given to aggressively heal soft tissue injuries and to maintain/increase mobility.

Athletic Therapy treatments are always one on one and usually 30-60 minutes in length. Treatments consist of manual therapy, including soft tissue therapy & joint mobilization, core strengthening & therapeutic exercise prescription, supportive taping & bracing, postural correction, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, neuromuscular retraining, nutritional advice & supplement recommendation, and the use of traditional modalities (ultrasound, IFC, TENS, laser, NMES). Almost every modality available to physiotherapists is also used by athletic therapists.

Many extended health plans cover Athletic Therapy treatments with a doctor’s referral.

Athletic Therapists specialize in orthopaedic assessment and rehabilitation of all physical injuries as well as sport specific exercise rehabilitation. Athletic Therapy is based on the sports medicine model of rehabilitation and unlike physiotherapy does not involve the study of neurological, respiratory, or cardiovascular rehabilitation.

ligament sprains, muscle strains, tendonitis, overuse injuries, bruises, joint pain, low back pain, myofascial trigger points, restricted range of motion, tissue impingement, plantar fasciitis, etc.

Yes. NUMSS graduates of the Athletic Therapy, once passed the board exams of the International Board of Certified Athletic Therapists (IBCAT) are permitted to work as Certified Athletic Therapists (CAT) in all countries including the USA, Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, China, India, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine, Pakistan, Egypt, UAE, Iran, Colombia, Venezuela, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Greece, Saudi Arabia & Vietnam. In Canada our graduates work as Athletic Therapists, not certified athletic therapists.

Yes. The Master of Science in Athletic Therapy program offered by National University of Medical Sciences is an approved program and accredited by the International Board of Certified Athletic Therapists.

Yes. NUMSS graduates of the Athletic Therapy degree program are eligible to sit for the board exams administered by the International Board of Certified Athletic Therapists. Once the board exams are passed graduates become certified and may use the designation CAT (Certified Athletic Therapist).

We are often asked a question in regards to the length of osteopathic education, as it differs widely, from 4 months to 9 years. This confuses many individuals, so here we try to explain the differences between the different types of education offered by European style osteopathic colleges.

4-months-or-4-yearsIn this article we will discuss only the osteopathic education of the European style osteopathy (also known as manual osteopathy or osteopathic manual practice). The American style osteopathy is similar to medical education in that it takes 3 years of university, followed by 4 years of osteopathic medical college and 2 years of residency, making it a total of 9 years. The American style osteopaths (also known as osteopathic physicians) can perform surgery and prescribe medications. This is available only in the USA.

Manual osteopathy is taught in diploma or degree formats.

The osteopathic colleges that offer diploma programs either issue a DOMP (Diploma in Osteopathic Manual Practice, a DO (Diploma in Osteopathy, not be confused with the Doctor of Osteopathy), a DMO (Diploma in Manual Osteopathy) and so on, ranging from 4 months full time to 5 years part time.

The osteopathic universities offering degree programs either issue a DO (Doctor of Osteopathy), BSc (Bachelor of Science in Osteopathy), MSc (Master of Science in Osteopathy), and so on, ranging from 3 to 6 years full time.

The diploma programs are generally offered in USA & Canada. In the diploma programs of osteopathy, medical diagnosis is not taught. Spinal and joint manipulations are also not taught as these two are controlled acts in Canada and USA. Manual osteopaths in Canada and USA are not permitted to render a medical diagnosis nor may they do manipulation. They can use hundreds of other osteopathic techniques though such as mobilization, muscle energy techniques, soft tissue therapy, etc.

As a result the diploma program in manual osteopathy is a lot shorter in time than the degree programs. The diploma programs generally include 800 to 2000 hours of lectures.

The degree programs offered in osteopathic education range from 3 to 6 years full time. Most require 2 to 3 years of prior university education, and some are available only to health professionals.

In the degree programs students learn full medical diagnosis, with a lot of emphasis on practical training and they learn more diverse techniques. National University of Medical Sciences (www.numss.com) for example offers two degree programs in osteopathy, a full time 3 years bachelor of science in osteopathy & a 4 years full time doctor of osteopathy. Students with prior health education can finish the degree programs faster, as per WHO guidelines.

For example, physiotherapists can finish the BSc in 6 months or the DO in 1 year. This depends to the university offering the degrees. Some do not offer any advanced credits, as the case is in Italy, where they accept physiotherapists only to the osteopathy program and then they must study 6 more years.

World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that osteopathic schools give advance credits to students who are health practitioners and recommends 1000 hours of study for them.

It is important to note that manual osteopaths with either a diploma or a degree program can work in all countries, without exception. All they need is to pass the board exams of the International Osteopathy Examining Board and then become a member of the International Osteopathic Association. They will receive a license number which allows them to obtain malpractice insurance, and then either work in a clinic or to open their own clinics.

It is understandable that a number of osteopaths with degrees, such as the ones in Italy, who have studied 9 years to become an osteopath (after paying up to $90,000 in tuition) feel bitter and resentful towards the new osteopaths with a diploma who in 4 months (after paying just $5026 for tuition) are able to work as osteopaths in Italy and elsewhere.

Thousands of manual osteopaths with a DOMP diploma have been practicing more than 30 years in Canada & USA and are offering excellent osteopathic care. Knowledge of medical diagnosis is not necessary to practice manual osteopathy. Massage therapists for decades have been providing great services to patients without ever being able to medically diagnose a patient. The practice of manual osteopathy is actually quite safe when medical diagnosis is removed as the manual osteopath can just focus on treatment.

In summary, the diploma in osteopathic manual practice is for those students who want to graduate quickly, pay less tuition, and have a more relaxing osteopathic practice. The degree programs in osteopathy is for those students who wish to become doctors, who wish to have advanced knowledge of the body and deep mastery of the osteopathic techniques. For this they have to pay more tuition & spend more time studying.

Both the diploma and degree programs are great ways to serve patients. They are just two sides of the same coin, each with different type of benefit for the osteopathic practitioner. National University of Medical Sciences offer diploma and degree programs that can be taken online or in-campus. With our diplomas or degree we guarantee that you can practice in any country of the world.

NUMSS is a fully accredited university and our students have access to membership in many organizations in their fields. Some of the organizations that approve NUMSS include:

  1. College des Osteopathes Canadiens (CDOC)
  2. Alliance Canadienne de Medecine Alternative (ACMA)
  3. Ontario Association of Osteopathy & Natural Medicine (OAONM)
  4. Asociation des osteopathes Regroupement des Intervenants et Therapeutes en Medecine Alternative (RITMA)
  5. Ontario Osteopathic & Alternative Medicine Association (OOAMA)
  6. Bangladesh Board of Physiotherapy Specialists (BBPS)
  7. Ontario Association of Osteopathic Practitioners (OAOP)

Yes. Most regulatory boards for chiropractors, physiotherapists, massage therapists, naturopaths, acupuncturists, occupational therapists, kinesiologists, athletic therapists & trainers, homeopaths, & medical doctors accept the time you spent studying in our programs towards your CE requirement. Most regulatory boards require 20 to 40 hours of CE in a year or two, and our programs cover this requirement as all our programs are over 40 hours.

Yes but it depends on the type of patient’s coverage, EHP or MVA.

In most cases you cannot bill extended health plan (EHP) insurers for osteopathy and another type of treatment (chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy, naturopathy, athletic therapy, acupuncture, etc) on the same day. Most EHP insurers accept only one type of treatment from one health practitioner. Your clinic can bill for osteopathy and massage therapy for example on the same day if the treatments are performed by two health practitioners. But if the health practitioner is a massage therapist/osteopath then in one day massage therapy must be billed and another day osteopathy.

This does not apply to motor vehicle accident (MVA) patients. For MVA patients health practitioners can charge the insurers for more than one type of therapy. For example on the same visit an insurer can be billed for osteopathic treatment, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation.

Yes, you can practice and open a clinic in all Canadian provinces, all US states, and everywhere else in Australia, United Kingdom and New Zealand. However the osteopathy profession is regulated in these countries and our graduates must work as osteopathic manual practitioners. They may not use the term osteopaths in these countries. For example in the USA & Canada, the term osteopath is reserved for osteopathic physicians who do surgery and prescribe medications.

In all other countries, including Italy, Spain, France, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, South Korea, Brazil, Iran, China, Taiwan, Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Singapore, Mexico, Venezuela, Greece, Vietnam, Netherlands, Turkey, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, & Denmark , our graduates can use the term osteopath and practice as osteopaths

European style Osteopathy, massage therapy & physiotherapy are offered in a diploma or degree format, while chiropractic is offered only as a degree. These four professions have more similarities than differences. They all offer valuable services to patients and are great health professions. In many cases and in many rehabilitation clinics, osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists and massage therapists work together as a multidisciplinary team to get patients better in the best way applicable. They each offer unique & amazing health care which is much appreciated by patients worldwide.

OsteopathyChiropraticPhysiotherapyMassage Therapy
DesignationDOMP, DO, BSc (O), MSc (O)DC, BSc (C), MSc (C)BSc (PT), MSc (PT), PhD, DPTRMT, LMT, MT
Average School Tuition$5,000 to $100,000$60,000 to $120,000Free (government paid) to $100,000$15,000 to $30,000
Study Time for Regular StudentsFrom 1 to 4 years (depending on diploma or degree)3 to 4 years2 to 4 years1 to 2 years
Accelerated Program Study Time for Students With Prior Health Education4 months to 2 years (depending on student’s background & diploma or degree program)1 to 2 years depending on student’s background1 to 2 years depending on student’s background4 months to 1 year depending on student’s background
Average Annual Income$90,000$100,000$80,000$60,000
Average hiring salary for new graduates$30 Per Hour$40 Per Hour$40 Per Hour$20 Per Hour
Average Hourly Treatment Fee (Canada)$80 to $140$100 to $150$80 to $150$60 to $80
Hourly Fee Set by Financial Service Commission of Ontario for Car Accident Patients$57.67$111.80$98.86$57.67
Insurance Coverage in CanadaAccepted by all major insurersAccepted by all major insurersAccepted by all major insurersAccepted by all major insurers
Board ExamsYesYesYesYes
PracticePrimary health practitioner. Can open independent clinic and see patients directly without supervision.Primary health practitioner. Can open independent clinic and see patients directly without supervision.Primary health practitioner. Can open independent clinic and see patients directly without supervision in most countries. In some places must be supervised by MDPrimary health practitioner. Can open independent clinic and see patients directly without supervision.
Medical DiagnosisYes (for degree holders), No (for diploma holders)YesYesNo
Manual DiagnosisYes, both diploma & degree holders can perform osteopathic diagnosisYes, can perform chiropractic diagnosisNo. Manual diagnosis is not taughtNo. Manual diagnosis is not taught
Physiotherapy ModalitiesYes (diploma holders need extra trainingYesYesNo
Prerequisite to EducationHigh school graduation for diploma holders & BSc (O), university education for DO & MSc (O)University educationHigh school graduationHigh school graduation
Employment PotentialZero unemploymentZero unemploymentZero unemploymentZero unemployment
RadiographyNot permittedAble to take x-raysNot permittedNot permitted
RadiologyDegree holders able to read x-rays. Diploma holders no.Able to read x-raysNot able to read x-raysNot able to read x-rays
Most Common Disorder TreatedLow back pain followed by neck painLow back pain followed by neck painLow back pain followed by neck painLow back pain followed by neck pain
Foot OrthoticsAble to cast & dispenseAble to cast & dispenseAble to cast & dispenseNot able
Orthopaedic BracingAble to dispenseAble to dispenseAble to dispenseNot Able
Compression support hoseAble to dispenseAble to dispenseAble to dispenseNot able
Treatment PlanAble to signAble to signAble to signAble to sign
Functional Abilities EvaluationDegree holders permitted.PermittedPermittedNot Permitted
Job Site AnalysisDegree holders permittedPermittedPermittedNot Permitted
Home Based AssessmentDegree holders permitted.PermittedPermittedNot Permitted
Independent Medical EvaluationDegree holders permittedPermittedPermittedNot Permitted
Treatments at HomePermittedPermittedPermittedPermitted
RegulationRegulated in 7 countriesRegulated in 7 countriesRegulated in all countriesRegulated in 7 countries
Can Open Independent ClinicYes, in all countriesYes, in all countriesYes, in some countries. Elsewhere PTs must work in an MD owned clinic or hospitalYes, in all countries
Largest Schools InternationallyNational University of Medical SciencesPalmer UniversityUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Illinois
FounderDr Andre Taylor StillDr Daniel David PalmerHenrique LingUnknown
First known school121 years ago in USA116 years ago in USA100 years ago in UKLess than 100 years ago in USA
Largest AssociationInternational Osteopathic AssociationAmerican Chiropractic AssociationAmerican Physical Therapy AssociationAmerican Massage Therapy Association

Osteopathy TV, founded by our president Dr Shahin Pourgol as an instrument to increase the name recognition of osteopathy amongst the public while also increasing their health related knowledge. This is the first ever TV channel dedicated to osteopathic health care. The TV station is being developed and soon will start producing programs on a weekly basis

There are many. Our president, Dr Shahin Pourgol has set up a Facebook page called Osteopathy Related Research & Sciences at www.fb.com/osteopathicresearch which compiles links to many useful manual osteopathic related research papers.

Yes, we offer a number of manual osteopathic related seminars at very low fees. Please contact the admissions office for more info. You can also visit our seminar Facebook page for more info at www.fb.com/osteopathyseminars. Our seminars are offered on a wide variety of topics including sports osteopathy, kinesiological taping, decompression traction therapy, leg length discrepancy, osteopathic wellness protocol, etc.

OHC (www.fb.com/osteopathyhealthclinics) or (www.osteopathyhealthclinics.com)is a not for profit charity based organization founded by our president, Dr Shahin Pourgol. Membership to OHC is free to all manual osteopaths. For every patients referred by OHC, the manual osteopath member pays 10% of the treatment fee received to a charity

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NUMSS (Spain) president, Dr Shahin Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, PhD founded June 22nd as the World Osteopathy Day in 2012. In November 2013 the Canada Post published a small number of postal stamps with the World Osteopathy Logo on it.

With a treatment satisfaction rate of 95%, manual osteopathy is the number one choice of patients in Canada for low back pain relief (data from 2012).

Of all the alternative health care practitioners in Canada, patients have the highest confidence in manual osteopaths (data from 2006).

Fracture of the femur bone due to a slip & fall is the main cause of accident related death in seniors. This is mainly due to osteoporosis making the bones weak, and subsequently when the person fells down the bone breaks easily. The fractured bone in some cases cuts through the femoral artery. A number of patients die due to bleeding even before reaching the hospital. The osteopathic muscle energy techniques (MET) are known to improve function & balance by improving range of motion of the joints and the muscle tone. A better function & balance decreases the chance of a fall, and subsequent bone fracture and possible death. Seniors should receive weekly manual osteopathic care to remain more active and to continue enjoying a better quality of life. Manual osteopaths help prevent injuries. And by decreasing chances of a slip & fall they ultimately save lives.

Canadians on average spend about $220 per year on manual osteopathic care (data from 2006).Amount Spent on Manual osteopathy in 2006

Statistic Canada reported that 10% of Canadians have annual income of over $80,000. Manual osteopaths in Canada, with an average income of $90,000 per year are part of the wealthiest 10% of Canadians (data from 2013).

According to the most recent Gallup survey of the American workplace in 2013; only 30% of workers were satisfied with their employment. Manual osteopaths in Canada, with a job satisfaction rate of 95% have one of the highest job satisfaction rates of all occupations as there is zero unemployment in this health profession and the starting salary is $30 per hour. Manual osteopathy has been included in the top 25 best occupations in demand in Canada by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

Dr Pourgol has prepared an article on major similarities and differences of these four health professions that offer manual therapy. To read the article please click on the link below which takes you directly to Dr Pourgol’s personal blog site.
Click here

Top 10 Job Vacancies in Canada in 2013 (Half of these jobs are in health care sector, report Published in the Toronto Star Newspaper)

  • Primary health care providers (physicians, dentists, chiropractors, manual osteopaths, veterinarians, athletic therapists and other treating health professionals.)
  • Managers in engineering, architecture & information systems.
  • Managers in health care, education & social services.
  • Managers in construction and transportation
  • Accountants & other business service professionals.
  • Scientists & engineers.
  • Nurses & nursing supervisors.
  • Medical technologists.
  • Social workers, psychologists, counsellors, probation officers.
  • Supervisors in mining, oil & gas manufacturing & processing.

There are many such groups. However the largest osteopathy group on Facebook is “We Love Osteopathy” which is founded by our president Dr Shahin Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, PhD. It is open to everyone. Feel free to join the group.
The group address iswww.fb.com/groups/weloveosteopathy.

Yes, Dr Pourgol has set up the “Osteopathy Business Tips” Facebook page that offers valuable business tips to practicing manual osteopaths. It is open to everyone. You can visit it by clicking on the link below: www.fb.com/richosteopath.

Dr Pourgol has completed a book called “An Introduction to the Profession of Manual Osteopathy” which is currently being edited and hopefully be published soon. The book will be available free of charge to everyone and would be mailed to all libraries, schools, colleges & universities. It is written to increase the public awareness to the beautiful wonderful profession of manual osteopathy.

Dr Pourgol in cooperation with Osteopathy TV and the financial backing of the National University of Medical Sciences is in the process of producing a full length film documentary on manual osteopathy called “The Last Resort”. The documentary discusses why manual osteopathy is in such a high demand in Canada and why patients sometimes wait months to see a manual osteopath. The documentary will be provided free of charge to Netflix, the Documentary Channel, PBS and other networks, with the hope that it increases the public awareness to the wonderful beautiful profession of manual osteopathy.

Yes. Since 2003; over 20 universities in the USA have been offering the transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) through 100% online education. The DPT program is available only to physiotherapists as a post professional degree. However the older generation of physiotherapists did not study x-ray & diagnostic imaging, medical diagnosis or manual therapy. The DPT program therefore teaches these subjects. So it is possible to learn diagnosis, radiology and manual therapy through online programs.

Although there are over 20 universities (all in the USA) offering the transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, NUMSS is the only non-USA based university offering the DPT through a 100% online program. Additionally the other universities generally charge 5 to 10 times more tuition than NUMSS and they only accept US licensed physical therapists while NUMSS accepts all physiotherapists and physical therapists from every country such as India, Iran, Canada, USA, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Netherlands, United Kingdom, South Africa & Netherlands.

Yes. We have a DO graduate who is working in a hospital in United Arab Emirates. We have many DPT graduates working in hospitals. Dr, Golamreza Daghighi, DPT, the head of Grand Oil Hospital in the city of Ahwaz (Iran) and 17 physiotherapists working in his department are all graduates of NUMSS (Spain) DPT program.

Yes, NUMSS (Spain) is affiliated with National University of Medical Sciences (USA). Dr Pourgol has founded all three schools, however they are independent schools registered in different countries.

There are over 14,700 students of European style osteopathy (also known as manual osteopathy) enrolled in degree or diploma programs around the world.

There are 21,741 students of American style osteopathy (also known as osteopathic medicine) enrolled in the DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) programs in American osteopathic universities and schools.

USA is the only country offering education in osteopathic medicine. All other countries where students enrolled offer European style osteopathic education (no surgery, no medication).

The total number of European style osteopaths (as opposed to American style osteopathic physicians who practice surgery and prescribe medications) is 43,000. The total number of American style osteopathic physicians is 87,000.

A 2013 survey indicates that manual osteopaths receive the most number of patients through word of mouth referrals of their own patients. The second most common source of patient referral is from family physicians. Here are the most common sources of patients referrals to European style manual osteopaths. The amount is in percentage.

Friend of patient 29.7%
Medical Doctor (M.D.) 23.6%
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) 3.9%
Chiropractor 1.8%
Chinese medicine 2.3%
Physiotherapist 15%
Counselor/psychologist 3.5%
Podiatrist 4.1%
Dietician 1%
Personal trainer 3.5%
Massage therapist 6.6%

A 2013 survey of European style manual osteopaths finds that the majority of manual osteopaths prefer to own their own private osteopathy clinic. Of interest is that over 3% of manual osteopaths work in hospital and 6.5% of them have positions in universities.

Private clinic 43%
With 1 partner 14.1%
More than 2 partners 18.2%
Hospital 3%
Outpatient clinic 2.9%
Medical institution 3.9%
University 6.5%

30 to 45 minutes is the most common treatment length for manual osteopathic treatments. A 2013 survey indicates 40.5% of patients manual osteopaths see in Canada, USA & Europe receive this length of treatment.
The 2nd most common is 45 to 60 minutes, which 31.8% of patients receive.

The 2nd most common referral sources of manual osteopaths (also known as European style osteopaths) in Canada, USA & Europe are medical doctors. 18.5% patients manual osteopaths see are referred by MDs, a 2013 survey finds.

A 2013 survey finds that over 10.6% of the patients that manual osteopaths treat in the USA, Canada and Europe are referred to them by physiotherapists. Physical therapists make up the third most common referral sources of manual osteopaths. By manual osteopath we mean European style osteopaths as opposed to American style osteopathic physicians who perform surgery and prescribe medications. Manual osteopaths limit treatments to hands-on manual therapy.

Here are approximate number of European style osteopaths (also known as manual osteopaths) in a selected number of countries.

Argentina125Australia1,725Austria600Azerbaijan2Bahamas1
Bahrain3Belgium1,539Belize1Bosnia & Herzegovina2Brazil250
Brunei1Bulgaria5Cameroon2Canada1,750Cayman Islands1
Chile45China (including Hong Kong & Macau)150Costa Rica15Croatia2Czech Republic5
Colombia15Croatia16Cyprus11Denmark50Dominican Republic2
Egypt35El Salvador2Estonia5Finland300France17,460
Germany7,000Greece40Hungary5Iceland2India360
Indonesia10Iran120Ireland120Israel50Italy6,000
Jamaica1Japan275Jordan20Latvia20Lebanon10
Lithuania10Luxembourg40Malaysia25Malta1Martinique5
Mexico175Morocco35Namibia1Netherlands639New Zealand400
Nigeria10Norway250Oman1Palestine5Panam20
Philippines30Poland30Portugal400Qatar2Romania35
Russia1,300Saudi Arabia50Serbia5Singapore30Slovakia2
Slovenia2Spain800South Africa49South Korea200St Lucia1
St Martin10Sweden200Switzerland850Taiwan30Tanzania4
Thailand45Trinidad & Tobago1Turkey25UAE30UK4,211
Ukraine80USA2,000Venezuela10Vietnam20

Yes, you can. While most schools of osteopathy offer excellent education, many of their students do transfer to National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) for a variety of reasons.
Program length is one reason students transfer to NUMSS (Spain). We offer accelerated programs for health professionals, such as physiotherapists.
Tuition is another reason they transfer to NUMSS. In some countries students pay up to 100,000 EURO for osteopathic education. We offer the most affordable osteopathic education in Europe and North America.
Another reason is that they can enrol in dual degree programs and graduate with two degrees. This would save students time and money.

We are glad to announce that the title “Osteopathic Manual Practitioner” has now been officially entered into the National Occupational Classification of Canada; under the NOC Code # 3232 (Practitioners of Natural Healing).

This is great news for the profession of manual osteopathy as it gives a unique identity to the job title of our graduates, and it is a great step towards regulating the profession of manual osteopathy in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada.

Previously there was only the title “osteopath or Doctor of Osteopathy” was classified in Canada to represent anyone who practices any forms of osteopathy. Now there are officially two distinct forms of osteopathy in Canada, one the osteopathic medicine, which its practitioners call themselves osteopaths in Canada and the other European style manual osteopathy which its practitioners are called manual osteopaths or osteopathic manual practitioners

On Nov 11, 2014, Canada Post published World Osteopathy Day stamps, designed by Dr Shahin Pourgol, president of the National University of Medical Sciences, the largest providers of manual osteopathic education worldwide. Osteopathy, since it was founded over 137 years ago by Dr Still in the USA, had never had a day of its own until 2012 when Dr Pourgol founded June 22nd as the World Osteopathy Day.

The NOC (National Occupation Code) for “Osteopathic Manual Practitioners” in Canada is 3232 and it falls under “Practitioners of Natural Health”.

The following are the most popular single degree programs offered by NUMSS. Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Master of Business Management in Health Care (MBA), Bachelor of Science in Osteopathy (BSc(O)), Master of Science in Athletic Therapy (MSc(AT)), Master of Science in Pedorthics (MSc(Ped)), Bachelor of Science in Massage Therapy (BSc(MT)).

The following dual degree programs are most popular; MBA/DO, BSc(O)/DO, DO/DPT, MSc(AT)/MBA, MBA/DPT, MSc(AT)/DO, BSc(O)/MSc(AT), BSc(O)/MBA.

The following triple degree programs are most popular; BSc(O)/MBA/DO, BSc(O)/MSc(AT)/DO, MBA/DPT/DO, MSc(AT)/MBA/DO, BSc(O)/MBA/DPT

Yes, National University of Medical Sciences graduates can join the British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES) as a member. For membership information please visihttp://www.bases.org.uk/

Yes. Free membership in the “Association of MBAs in Canada” http://ambac.ca is available to all National University of Medical Sciences graduates of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Health Care 100% online degree program who reside in Canada.

No. The Master of Business Administration in Healthcare (MBA) is available to everyone who fulfills the required prerequisites, regarding prior business education. It is open to health professionals, engineers, accountants, lawyers and scientists as well as those in the business and financial industry.

There are three different types of DO granted by osteopathic educational institutes globally. The first DO is Doctor of Osteopathy and also known as doctor of osteopathic medicine. It is awarded only in the USA to those American style osteopathic physicians who do surgery and prescribe medications.
The second DO is Diploma in Osteopathy, offered in the province of Quebec in Canada, and most European countries. This is European style manual osteopathy diploma.
The third DO is Doctor of Osteopathy issued by National University of Medical Sciences and others indicating a doctoral degree in European style manual osteopathy.
All of the above education takes about 4 years to be completed.

Yes. Our Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students can join American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as International Members for an annual membership fee of $50 (US).

Canadian Government Accepts NUMSS as a foreign university for tax credit purposes to our Canadian students.

Our Canadian students can now receive Tuition, Education, and Textbook tax credits from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

To receive this tax credit our students must submit to CRA the TL11A form (Tuition, Education, and Textbook Amounts Certificate – University Outside Canada) along with their annual tax return.

Students should contact the National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) admissions office and ask a copy of signed and completed TL11A be emailed to them.

This is such great news as it would potentially save thousands of dollars for NUMSS Canadian students.

National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) graduates of the bachelor of science in osteopathy & the doctor of osteopathy programs, 18 to 34 years old who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply for business development loans of up to $15,000 (at prime posted by CIBC plus 3% interest rate) under the Futurpreneur Canada program of the Canadian government.
You must have already been graduated as a manual osteopath and have already opened your own private osteopathy clinic. Your clinic must be less than one year old and you have to agree to work with a mentor for up to 2 years and prepare a business plan.

We just received clarification from the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario in regards to using the title of “DO”. This is what you are allowed to write on your business card, flyers, website, Facebook, etc:
John Smith, DO (Spain)
Osteopathic Manual Practitioner

If you do not treat patients (for example if you are a teacher or clinic manager), you can use:
Dr John Smith, DO

If you treat patients, you cannot call yourself a doctor or use the designation “Dr”. However everyone else can call you a doctor or use “Dr” before your name (as long as they are not your employees).

This applies only to those graduates practicing in Ontario. In most countries you are allowed to use Dr John Smith, DO.

NUMSS graduates in Alberta, Canada can join the National Manual Osteopathic Society (NMOS) which currently allows them to directly bill Green Shield Insurance company. They cal also join the Society of Osteopaths of Canada (SOC).

Dr Javadifar teaches custom made foot orthotics & orthopedic shoes casting, making, modification & dispensing at NUMSS to the manual osteopathy, physiotherapy and pedorthics students. He also owns one of the best orthotics manufacturing labs in Canada, while also having a multidisciplinary clinic in North York, Ontario. Shahla & Sara, two graduated manual osteopaths work with Dr Javadifar in his clinic.

We congratulate Professor Javadifar on becoming a doctor of osteopathy and wish him continued success.

NUMSS teaches more osteopathic techniques than any other osteopathic university.
Did you know that we are the only osteopathic university that has Canadian, American, European & Asian technique instructors?

Our DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) students can now join Sociedad Española de Fisioterapia en Pediatría (SEFIP) as a member.
The annual membership fee is €35 (Euro). As members of the association, students receive regular and relevant scientific articles & the opportunity to take courses at a discount.
To register applicants must complete a registration form and send it (via email ). All the information can be found in www.sefip.org .
If you need more information please contact Monica Yuste, SEFIP secretary at monica.alonso@sefip.org.

Yes. We consistently upgrade all our degree programs. We just added a number of courses to NUMSS DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) program. These courses are:

1- Taping techniques
2- Fitness assessment
3- Gait biomechanics
4- Lower limbs diagnosis
5- Lower limbs assessment
6-pathomechanics & foot care

Dr. Khalid Faeq Kashef Al Ghetaa, MD, DO, a surgeon in the United Arab Emirates and a National University of Medical Sciences DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) graduate has been offered a permanent position as an osteopath in the LifeCare Hospital in Abu Dhabi (UAE).
This is the first time one of our graduates is employed by a hospital.

Ontario National University of Medical Sciences graduates who are between 18 and 29 years old are eligible to apply for up to $60,000 in non-payable grant, and those who are 30 years old and over are eligible to apply for up to $30,000 under the Smart Start Seed Fund from the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE).
The money must go to start up costs of your osteopathy clinic and is non-payable (this is a grant, not a loan).
Each grant comes with its own criteria and rules, but they all require that a start-up osteopathy clinic be endorsed and that the cash investment be matched by a third, non-government source (such as the manual osteopath).
Your clinic must be located in Ontario, and be incorporated. You must be the director or majority shareholder of your osteopathic clinic. The clinic must be less than 3 years old and you must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.

Yes. Our Canadian graduates of the doctor of osteopathy (DO) and the bachelor of science in osteopathy (BSc(O)) are eligible to apply for up to 50,000 in loan money from Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) if they are residents of the province their osteopathy clinic is located.
The graduates must be the clinic owner, and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. The osteopathy clinic must have been in operation for two years or longer. Clinics less than two years old are not eligible to apply. The loan must be repaid within 4 years and the current interest rate is 5.7%. The application process is completely online, eliminating any need for personal visits and meetings.

A recent research on hands on skill learning indicates that in the long term online students learn better techniques than those enrolled in a campus based program.
The research done recently in USA compared two sets of students learning a manual skill, one set in a class and another from an online video. The results indicated that in the same day, after watching the skill being taught online vs live in the classroom, those classroom students learned the skill better. However after one week, the online students performed the skill clearly better than the campus students.
The conclusion the researchers made is that the campus based students learn from an instructor and then rely on memory to perform the skill task every day. While the online students get to watch the instructor everyday and this makes their skill set closer to what the instructor teaches.
So in the short term (the same day) campus based education is better. However in the long term online students perform better techniques.

No. We do not offer any full on-campus degree programs. However we do offer week-long practical technique classes in selected locations such as Madrid (Spain). The on-campus technique labs are available only to our registered online students.

Osteopathic spinal osteoarticular techniques are proven through scientific research to cause neurophysiological effects resulting in hypoalgesia (local and/or distal), sympathoexcitation, reduction in spinal stiffness, heterogeneous in location and timing, and improved muscle function.

These techniques also produce increased nociceptive flexion reflex threshold, improved posture, decreased concentration of substance P, and improved sway index.

The evidence for effectiveness of osteopathic osteoarticular techniques suggests involvement of an endogenous pain inhibition system mediated by the central nervous system.

We teach visceral techniques of osteopathy (visceral manipulation) & cranial osteopathy (osteopathy in the cranial field) both online, as well as on-campus. Dr Oleg Bagren, MD, DOMP & Mr Jorje Andas, MSc (O) teach visceral techniques and Pamela Crosson Fournier, RMT, DOMP & Dr Daniel Nuzun, DO teach cranial osteopathy.

As botanical medicine is not a regulated health profession, membership in associations is not mandatory to practice as a doctor of botanical medicine or botanical medicine specialist. However those students and graduates of NUMSS doctor of botanical medicine who wish to join associations may do so. There are a number of associations that accept our DBM students and graduates as members, including the British Herbal Medicine Association (BHMA) and National Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA). To inquire about membership in these associations please contact them directly.

After successfully graduating from the doctor of botanical medicine (DBM) of NUMSS you can call yourself a doctor of botanical medicine in most countries. However in some countries such as Canada & USA the title of “Dr” is regulated and cannot be used by our graduates. In these countries you can mention that you earned a DBM – Doctor of Botanical Medicine as your designation after your name. But you must call yourself a “botanical medicine specialist”, and refrain from using “Dr” before your name.

We teach more techniques than other schools (including the lost techniques of osteopathy, which we are the only school teaching them) and we teach them everything we know about clinical and business management. The clinical skills of our students is evident in the high satisfactions of our patients at our student clinic and their own patients when they graduate. We have so many people apply to our schools to study osteopathy after receiving treatments from our students. Their skills as manual osteopaths and their knowledge of business management is what makes our alumni so successful in their own practice. This is why they love their Alma Mater so much!.

Dr H. R. Spitler was a medical doctor, chiropractor, osteopath and optometrist in Ohio, USA who invented a model of osteopathy techniques about a hundred years ago that dealt with soft tissue as well as osseous manual therapy. As his techniques focused mainly on orthopedic conditions of musculoskeletal system, he fell out of favour with the osteopathy leadership of the time and his techniques were not taught in most osteopathic schools. We, the National University of Medical Sciences (USA) along with NUMSS (Spain) are the only schools of osteopathic manual practice teaching the manual mechanotherapy techniques of Dr. Spitler. Manual mechanotherapy is now mainly practiced in Ohio by a group of practitioners calling themselves mechanotherpists. The techniques are considered the lost techniques of osteopathy. Dr. Daniel Nuzum, NMD, DO (from Ohio, USA) has done six lectures on this technique which is now available for our students to watch at our video server.

Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO (founder of osteopathy) developed many methods of treatments. In one such method (commonly known as the Still Techniques) the patient is initially moved away from the dysfunctional barrier, then a well-directed focusing force is applied, during which the dysfunctional joint is carried through a path of least resistance into the barrier. The Still technique loosens the ligaments and tendons binding a joint by first moving away from the barrier into relaxation, and then reverses direction to allow the joint to slide back into place while the supporting ligaments and tendons are relaxed. The Still techniques never gained popularity with early osteopaths because easier and quicker osteopathic manual therapy techniques were available to osteopaths. Still techniques, the ground breaking methods of relaxing the soft tissue and then settling the joint were somewhat forgotten until Dr. Richard VanBuskirk, DO published “The Still Technique Manual” in 2000. Now these techniques have regained the popularity they deserve as a number of schools including, National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) and National University of Medical Sciences (USA) have added them to the curriculum of their manual osteopathy diploma and degree programs. Dr Daniel Nuzum, NMD, DO teaches Still Techniques which is uploaded to our video servers for our registered students to watch..

Our education differs from other schools because we teach our students everything we know about managing their business. Our students learn a lot about how to run, market and manage their clinics effectively. Our lectures include varied topics such as tax planning, asset protection, marketing, public relations, accounting, investing and financial planning. We strongly believe a successful graduate is a happy graduate and that society as a whole improves with success of our graduates. A successful graduate spends more, and helps charities more often. This would result in the economy being stimulated once a person has better purchase power. It is a common knowledge that money improves quality of life. However there was not much research available to back this up. In the past few years a number of research projects have shown this to be true. The most recent research published by the Toronto Star, and done by PhD graduate student, Annie Xiaoyu Gong and her team at McGill University indicates that “Higher income increases people’s life satisfaction in general”. The word “money” is a taboo in healthcare. We do not agree. We believe you can be a great health professional while also being financially successful. We graduate successful health professionals and that is what helped us become the number one provider of manual osteopathic education in the world, teaching in 68 countries. You can study manual osteopathy in many schools. However to learn about how to manage and grow your practice with proven effective tips, then we are your only choice.

Our graduates of the DO (doctor of osteopathy) program in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Newfoundland & Labrador are permitted to use the title doctor “Dr” after graduation.

Our Canadian graduates of the DO program in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba cannot use the “Dr” before their names. However they can say “John Smith, DO (Spain), doctor of osteopathy graduate of NUMSS (Spain) in their business cards, websites, etc.

NOPA, the National Osteopathic Practitioners Alumni (http://www.osteopathyalumni.com/) is an association that our graduates can join free of charge. Membership is available only to the alumni of National University of Medical Sciences (USA) & National University of Medical Sciences (Spain).

Yes. The British Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (BCAOMP) accepts as members the graduates of bachelor of science in osteopathy and doctor of osteopathy programs of National University of Medical Sciences (Spain).

Chiropractic and naprapathy are two health professions originated from osteopathy. Most manual therapy techniques used by physiotherapists are also osteopathic in origin. Osteopathy is the grandfather of most manual therapy primary health care systems.

Yes, graduates of the doctor of osteopathy (DO) and the bachelor of science in osteopathy programs of National University of Medical Sciences are eligible to join the Newfoundland & Labrador Osteopathic Association (NLOA). Visit http://www.osteopathyassociation.ca for more information.

Yes! We made history (again!) by introducing osteopathy to Bermuda. Anyone wishing to receive manual osteopathic care in an exotic beautiful island setting in Bermuda should contact Thomas Andrew at the Reefs, a five star luxury resort in Southampton, Bermuda (https://www.facebook.com/thomaselisseou/about). Thomas is the only practicing osteopath in Bermuda. He is one of the students of National University of Medical Sciences (Doctor of osteopathy – DO).

Yes, National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) graduates of the bachelor of science in osteopathy and the doctor of osteopathy programs can join MOA (Canada) for active membership.

The answer may surprise you!

Here is a research article by the US Department of Education that indicates online students perform better than on-campus students. “The meta-analysis found that on average, students in online learning conditions performed modestly better than those receiving face-to-face instruction.”

https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.pdf

Dr Bruno Bordoni, DPT, DO is an Italian physiotherapist and osteopath who is also a member of our board of directors. Dr Bordoni is a world re-known researcher and has published numerous peer reviewed research articles. Here is a recent research paper about effectiveness of osteopathy in cardiology. Dr Bordoni the only osteopath of this research. We are so proud of him!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28109570

Naprapathy is a manual medicine system of healthcare that focuses on the examinations, diagnostics, manual therapy and physical rehabilitation of the neuromusculoskeletal and joint conditions. Doctors of Naprapathy (DN) also known as naprapaths are connective tissue specialists. Naprapaths work through the connective tissues holding the skeleton together. Examples of connective tissue include ligaments, tendons, and muscles, which are flexible and resilient when healthy. Tension in the connective tissues may cause a structural imbalance. Doctors of Naprapathy work by gently manipulating the connective tissue with their hands, thereby releasing tension and restoring balance.

Yes, graduates of our naprapathic medicine program can join the Canadian Naprapathic Association (CAN) upon graduation to become a certified naprapath (C.Nap.) after passing the board exams administered by CNA.

Yes, it is. Our doctor of naprapathic medicine (DN) program is accredited by the Canadian Naprapathic Association (CAN). Our graduates can join CAN to become certified naprapaths (C.Nap.).

Our graduates of the doctor of naprapathy (DN) program can work in all countries of the world as a naprapath, except Sweden and two states of Illinois and New Mexico where naprapathy is regulated. In these three jurisdictions our graduates can work as manual therapists.

The average income of naprapaths in the states is $89,899 (about $120,496 Canadian dollars) in 2016. The average hourly rate is $43 ($57 Canadian). The entry level salary per year is $68,190 ($91,398 Canadian dollars). The senior level salary is $117,951 ($158,095 Canadian dollars).

The National University of Medical Sciences (USA) holds the copyright to Doctor of Naprapathy – DN in Canada. The writer of the copyright is our president, Dr Shahin Pourgol.

DN (doctor of naprapathy) is issued by our university and you can use it after your name when you graduate. C.Nap. (certified naprapath) is a designation issued to you by Canadian Naprapathic Association (CNA) when it accepts you as member. And you can use that also after your name.The proper way to use both title is:
John Smith, DN, C.Nap.
Doctor of naprapathy
Certified naprapath.

Yes. We have set up a Facebook group called “Naprapathy & Naprapaths” that you can join by clicking on the link below:https://www.facebook.com/groups/naprapathy.

The title “Dr” cannot be used in Canada by naprapaths. However they can say “doctor of naprapathy” under their names, but cannot put “dr” before their names. Doctor of naprapathy is their program name so they can use it. “Dr” is a title given to doctors who are MD, DDS, PhD, OD, & DC in Canada and certified naprapaths cannot use it. An example of proper usage is:
John Smith, DN
Doctor of Naprapathy .

National University of Medical Sciences doctor of Naprapathy Curriculum for category 3 students with Doctor of Osteopathy degree issued by NUMSS (Spain) is 6 months, 1 semester – 560 hours total.
The courses include:
NT 101 Naprapathic Techniques
NS 101 Naprapathic Skills
NM 101 Theory, Philosophy & Methods of Naprapathy
NC 301 Clinical Management in Naprapathic Medicine
TH 402 Research Project and Thesis
PL 101 Optional class: Practical lab (techniques review, 1 week FT, in Madrid )

NUMSS (Spain) president, Professor Shahin Pourgol has studied both chiropractic & osteopathy. He has posted an article explaining the main clinical differences of these two professions. Here is the link to his blog: http://drpourgol.blogspot.ca/2017/04/clinical-differences-between.html

Then you should join the “We Love Osteopathy” group! With 16,750 members this group founded by our president, Dr Shahin Pourgol is the largest osteopathy group in the world.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/weloveosteopathy/

If you are interested in osteopathy related research, then visit the “Osteopathy Related Research & Science” also set up by Dr Pourgol.
https://www.facebook.com/osteopathicresearch/

Yes. Graduates of National University of Medical Sciences who wish to get a certified translation of their degrees should contact:

Ms. Madonna Antonio
Translation Agency of Ontario
http://taontario.ca
(647) 985-7174
(343) 700-0324

The cost is $110.74 (Canadian). They provide official certified translation to almost all languages of the world.

These are similar yet a bit different systems. Both techniques originated from the works of Dr. William Garner Sutherland, DO, who introduced his cranial concept in 1929. It was originally called osteopathy in the cranial field which later was known as cranial osteopathy.

Craniosacral therapy was formed by Dr John Upledger, an osteopath from Michigan.

The main difference between the two techniques are that cranial osteopathy is taught only to osteopaths & manual osteopaths, while craniosacral therapy is taught to everyone else.

Dr Sutherland had been struck by an idea as a student that the bones of the head were beveled as if to indicate motion. He spent the next 20 years or so trying to prove himself wrong. Through a detailed examination of the anatomy of the skull, followed by a series of experiments on his own head and on his patients, he became convinced that there was a subtle motion of the head which could be palpated with experience; and that distortions of the joints between the bones of the skull would create problems in the machine of the body just as distortions of the joints of the body create problems. His treatments were gentle, almost imperceptible movements aimed at restoring free motion of the skull.

Dr. John Upledger was a practicing Osteopath in Michigan when he attended his first cranial osteopathy course. He began practicing, and researching, the motion of the cranial bones. He later decided to rename his technique Craniosacral therapy and begin to teach it in 1983.

Interested individuals who wish to get confirmation from the Registro Mercantil de Madrid of Registradores de Espana of the Spanish government that National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) in indeed registered with them can do an online serach vy using the government website at:
Registradores de España
There is a charge of 5 EURO per search and you must open an account with the government and use either a credit card or Paypal to pay the 5 EURO. The website would provide detail information on NUMSS (Spain) registration. We have attached the following two pages that shoe exactly what the information is on the Government of Spain website. NUMSS Spain registrationg NUMSS Spain registrationg

Yes, there is. The National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) and Bangladesh Physical Therapy Association have worked together to implement a campus based transitional DPT program in Bangladesh. NUMSS (Spain) campus based DPT program in Bangladesh is open only to physiotherapists who are members of the Bangladesh Physical Therapy Association. Our online DPT program is open to all other physiotherapists. For information on how to register for the on-campus doctor of physical therapy program of National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) please contact Dr. Farid Uddin, the secretary general of Bangladesh Physical Therapy Association at info@bd-bpa.org or Phone: 01712-081578.
Registration for the on-campus DPT program is done only through Bangladesh Physical Therapy Association. 2015 - Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association president meets National University of Medical Sciences president

We have many students working in hospitals as physiotherapists & physicians. However until now we just had one student who was working as an osteopath in a hospital in UAE. Now we found out another student, Stéphane Laporte, DOMP, DO (a graduate of National University of Medical Sciences & has secured a position as an osteopath in Vietnam. We are so proud of him!

This is an email sent today to Dr Pourgol by Stephane:
This email is to send you a heartfelt thank you for your guidance in the field of Osteopathy. Thanks to you and your education, I am now working in a major JCI accredited hospital in the physical therapy and rehabilitation department. It’s a great experience, working in a team of therapists. This is of course the very beginning, and I look forward to grow fast in personal development and to apply the lessons from the NUMSS business lectures.”
Stephane.

Legalization is the process of authenticating or certifying a document so a foreign country’s legal system will recognize it as with full legal effect. Authentication by legalization is widely used in international commerce and civil law matters in those jurisdictions where the simpler apostille system has not been adopted.

Some countries require your degree to be legalized if you with them to accept your degree for whatever reasons you may have that require dealing with the government. For example, if you wish to immigrate to another country, the embassy may need your degree to be legalized.

Legalization is a complex procedure that can be done by yourself (cheaply) or by using a firm (more expensive). Doing it yourself is less expensive but time consuming and involves dealing with a number of agencies.

In Canada, it involves first notarizing the degree, then sending it to Canadian government to confirm the notarizing, and then to Spanish consulate for signature and stamp. To do it yourself costs in Canada about $200. In Spain it would cost about 50 EURO, but it is almost impossible to do it yourself. To do it yourself you must be present personally in Canada or Spain. In Spain the process of doing it yourself is:
1- Certified true copy of the diploma by public notary:
Don Angel Almoguera Gomez
http://www.almogueranotario.com/
2- Notarization by the chamber of notaries: Ilustre Colegio Notarial de Madrid
Dona Maria Eugenia Reviriego Picon
http://notaries-europe.com/spain/madrid/notary-dona-maria-eugenia-reviriego-picon
3- Legalization by the Ministry of Justice
4- Legalization by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
5- Authentication by the Embassy/Consulate of the country where the degree is to be used.
Extract from the Spanish government website http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/MANILA/en/ServiciosConsulares/Pages/Legalizaciones.aspx “These shall be legalised by a notary public, in the following order: public notaries, chambers of notaries (see the following list of chambers of notaries in Spain), Ministry of Justice – Legalisations (C/ de la Bolsa, 8 – 28071 Madrid Tel. +34 902 007 214), Legalisations Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (C/ Juan de Mena, 4 – 28071 Madrid. Tel: +34 91 379 16 55), and, finally, at the diplomatic or consular mission, accredited to Spain, of the country in which the document is to take effect.”
To use a law firm in Spain would cost about 1,000 EURO. However one of our alumnus used an agency in Spain that cost him only $700 (US) to get the whole process done.
We wish to thank National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) graduate in Vietnam, osteopath Dr Stephane Laporte, DOMP, DO for providing us with this agency’s contact information. By the way Dr Laporte has secured employment in a hospital in Vietnam. He is our second doctor of osteopathy graduate who has gained employment within a hospital.
Dr Laporte used Crown Worldwide https://www.crownworldwide.com/en-us (Daniel Martinez <dmartinez@crownww.com>) as an agent. This is a private company that provides logistic services to clients. So, if you need to get your NUMSS (Spain) degree legalized then contact Mr. Daniel Martinez at the email address given above.

Thank you.</dmartinez@crownww.com>

Yes, we do have a Farsi language website which is found at:

http://irandpt.ir.

We have about 400 students in Iran who have taken the DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) and DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) programs of NUMSS (Spain).

Yes, our degrees can be legalized now in Spain.

Thank you to National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) student in Switzerland, Dr Maria A. B. Bumidang, MBA, DO for letting us know that within 3 weeks her MBA in Healthcare and Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree from NUMSS (Spain) have been legalized in Spain.

The Spanish Embassy (consulate) has now officially endorsed our degrees as valid in Spain. This means our degrees are considered valid across countries that are part of the European Union. Legalizing a degree is common in some countries when they need to use government services for any reasons. It is not mandatory or required for your degrees to be legalized. It is needed only in a certain situations, for example when you plan to immigrate to another country and want to prove that you have a doctor of osteopathy degree, then legalizing your DO degree is recommended.

Dr Bumidang was kind enough to send us photos of her legalized degrees.

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We have started the process of getting the profession of manual osteopathy regulated in Ontario (Canada). The Coalition for the Regulation of Manual Osteopathy in Ontario (CRMOO) has been created to unite the profession as unity is the first and most important of the three requirements of the Ontario government to evaluate a profession for regulatory purposes.

Osteopathy is already regulated in the province of Ontario. In Ontario osteopaths are medical doctors who are members of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). The first time the profession started the process of regulation it failed because the word “osteopathy” was used. This caused opposition by CPSO and confused the Ontario government as “osteopathy” was already regulated. To avoid this concern “Manual Osteopathy” is used instead to separate our profession from osteopathic medicine in Ontario.

The second time profession started the process of regulation it also failed because selected organizations decided to exclusively start the regulatory process without uniting the profession. This has failed because Ontario government requires the profession to be united. This Coalition has been formed with the sole purpose of uniting the profession and representing the profession when dealing with the Ontario government. To this end the Coalition will accept all schools, all associations, and all organizations. It is not mandate of the Coalition to set educational requirements and policies for the profession or evaluate each organization. Educational, ethics and practice guidelines will be decided and developed by an appropriate committee when manual osteopathy regulation is achieved. Until then every organization is accepted.

There will not be any leadership posts in the Coalition. The Coalition will be managed by a committee that includes one representative from each school and organization. This is important as we want all organizations feel they have a voice in managing the Coalition. We understand there may be a few organizations that wish not to join the Coalition. However the majority will join and we believe the ones who do not join initially will join it later once they realize how beneficial regulation is to the profession.

All philosophical and educational differences can and should be set aside for the purpose of becoming united to get the profession regulated. Once manual osteopaths are regulated, they can get together and decide on what requirements they wish to have for osteopathic education. To do this beforehand is troublesome as it causes a divide in the profession and without unity there will not be regulation.

I invite all osteopathic manual practitioners to speak to their alma mater and associations and to encourage them to join this Coalition for the benefit of manual osteopathy.

Get united to become regulated.

Shawn Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, PhD
President
National University of Medical Sciences (Spain)
National University of Medical Sciences (USA)
Canadian Union of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners

While majority of manual osteopaths charge $80 to $140 per hour, we are seeing more and more alumni charging higher fees in Canada and abroad as per our request.

We reported before Dr Kenny Wong (physiotherapist/osteopath) a National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) alumni in Malaysia charging $400 per hour for osteopathic care and Dr. Thomas Andrew (massage therapist/osteopath), an alumnus of NUMSS (Spain) charging $400 for 90 minutes of osteopathic care in Bermuda. We have now been told that our alumna Dr Liza Egbogah (chiropractor/manual osteopath) is charging $270 per hour in downtown Toronto (Ontario, Canada).

In our business lectures we went over how to effectively increase your fees. A small increase in your fees will not deter patients from utilizing your services. However even a small increase have a huge impact on your net profit, as your expenses remain the same. So any increase in service fees translate into profit.
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Yes. The DPT (doctor of physical therapy), DO and degrees issued by the National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) is now accepted for signature by the Canadian Embassy after they has been approved by the Spain Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of External Affairs.

Our university degrees are now legalized in Spain officially and embassies of most countries now accept them as well, including Canadian embassy.

NUMSS degree legalized by Canadian embassy

Yes they can. Osteopathy Chronic Pain Clinics of Canada (https://www.facebook.com/osteopathypainclinics) has been founded by our president, Dr Shawn Pourgol to connect patients with our alumni and to increase osteopathy utilization by the public. Only osteopathy graduates of our two schools, National University of Medical Sciences (USA) and National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) can join this clinic. OCPCC works in many countries, not just Canada.
Osteopathy Chronic Pain Clinics of Canada logo - Sept 27 2017

Yes, we do. Sizes are available from 4 – 11 (half size are available). This ring is available on Silver – White Gold – Yellow Gold and Rose Gold (10K, 14K, 18K). You can choose your graduated year (2013-2017) , also your degree (MBA, DPT and DO). Each ring comes with LED ring box. For more information please send an email to info@MarketingNeeds.ca

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Yes, it is. Canadians who pay for manual osteopathic care are eligible to claim the expenses as “medical expenses” in their annual personal income tax return to receive deduction in their annual personal income tax payment.

This is applicable only to patients without private extended health plan. If the cost of manual osteopathic care is covered and paid by a third party payor, the individual is not permitted to use the receipt for tax credit. However the portion of the treatment that is not covered by the extended health plan (and paid by the patient) can be claimed as medical expense in Canada. Other countries may also have similar laws.

If you wish to practice European style manual osteopathy in the states (our profession is known as osteopathic manual practice in the States) you should choose an osteopathy school that is accredited by the US Council on Osteopathic Manual Practice Education.
The alumni of osteopathy schools accredited by COMPE are able to write the board exams administered by the American Osteopathic Manual Practice Examining Board. Those who pass the board exams can then apply to the American Association of Osteopathic Manual Practice for membership.
Upon joining AAOMP as a member you will be awarded with the title of COMP (Certified Osteopathic Manual Practitioner). AAOMP has copyrighted the title of COMP and only its members are permitted to use this title.
Our three school, NUMSS (Spain) and NUMSS (USA) are accredited member of COMPE. Our alumni are permitted to sit for the board exams of AOMPEB and to join AAOMP upon graduation. Most osteopathic manual practitioners in the states are our alumni.

The American Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (AAOMP), based in Nevada (USA) awards COMP (Certified Osteopathic Manual Practitioner) to its members.
The title is issued to AAOMP members who have successfully completed the board exams of the American Osteopathic Manual Practice Examining Board (AOMPB).
This creates a standard title that the public would associate with osteopathic manual practitioners in US.

What we teach is hands-on osteopathy, also known as European style osteopathy, manual osteopathy or osteopathic manual practice. These terms are used to distinguish what we teach from the American style osteopathy, also known as osteopathic medicine, which is taught across the states. Osteopathic medicine includes surgery and medications. European style involves only hands-on manual therapy.
In most countries alumni call what they do osteopathy. In the states we request alumni to use osteopathic manual practice as to not confuse the American public who associate osteopathy with osteopathic medicine.
The American Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners requires its members to use the term “Osteopathic Manual Practice” instead of “osteopathy”.

Yes. our school is accredited by the US Council on Osteopathic Manual Practice Education (UCOMPE). This permits our alumni to apply for the AOMPEB board exams and following successful completion of the board and all other requirements to join the American Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners.

Yes. Our alumni are eligible to sit for the board exams administered by the American Osteopathic Manual Practice Examining Board (AOMPEB).

Yes. Our alumni who pass the board exams of American Osteopathic Manual Practice Examining Board (AOMPEB) and who satisfy all the membership requirement of the American Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (AAOMP) can join AAOMP.

  • Our alumni made us the leader in osteopathic education and we are proud of them. They are some of the most distinguished manual osteopaths in the world. Presidents of many osteopathy organizations have studied osteopathy with us including the following: American Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners,
  • Canadian Union of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners,
  • American Osteopathic Manual Practice Examining Board,
  • Council on Osteopathic Manual Practice Education (USA),
  • European Osteopathic Association,
  • Caribbean Osteopathic Association,
  • Canadian Manual Osteopathy Examining Board,
  • International Osteopathy Examining Board,
  • Ontario College of Osteopathic Rehabilitation Sciences,
  • British Columbia Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners,
  • College of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners of Ontario,
  • Nova Scotia Osteopathic Association,
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Osteopathic Association,
  • L’Alliance Canadienne de Médecine Alternative,
  • National Osteopathic Practitioners Association,
  • Council on Manual Osteopathy Education,
  • Manitoba Osteopathic Association,
  • College des osteopathes canadiens,
  • Iranian Osteopathic Association,
  • African Osteopathic Association,
  • Osteopathy Association of Asia and
  • International Osteopathic Association.
  • Each association has its own membership criteria. Our alumni who satisfy the membership requirements of each association are eligible to join as members.

Yes. Alumni can join European Osteopathic Association (EOA) as a full member. Osteopath/physiotherapist, Dr Bruno Bordoni, DPT, DO, PhD (from Milan, Italy) is the first president of the European Osteopathic Association (EOA).
Dr Bordoni is one of the most prolific osteopathic researchers in the world who has published numerous osteopathy related research papers and books.
EOA is affiliated with the International Osteopathic Association (IOA) and follows its mandate and policies.
Dr Bordoni is a graduate of the PhD in Osteopathic Clinical Sciences program of the National University of Medical Sciences (USA). He is also a member of the board of governors of our two universities in USA and Spain.

Yes, alumni can join the Alberta Osteopathic Association (AOA).Manual osteopath, Tracy Laval, DOMP is the president of AOA.
Tracy is also a member of the Osteopathy Chronic Pain Clinics of Canada in Calgary, Alberta (clinic #167).

Our DO program has a course on osteopathic auxiliary therapy which includes physiological therapeutic modalities. Osteopaths are permitted to use physiotherapy modalities such as ultrasound, laser, electrotherapy, thermotherapy, cryotherapy, magnetic therapy, etc. in most jurisdictions. However they cannot call what they do physiotherapy and they cannot call themselves physiotherapists (unless they are licensed physiotherapists). In some locations however, such as Quebec in Canada and California in US, osteopaths are not permitted to use most physiotherapy modalities. Please check the laws of the jurisdiction you plan to practice for exact information.

The two weeks of on-site practical technique labs in Toronto (Canada) are mandatory only for our Canadian students. The two weeks of practical training is optional for students based in the United States of America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Canadian students can either take the two weeks together at the same time, or one after each semester.

An easy way to get volunteers to allow you to practice osteopathic techniques is to post a notice on your personal Facebook page as well as Facebook groups of your city, asking for volunteers.
Aside from getting bodies to practice on, a benefit is many of them end up becoming your patients once you graduate and open your own clinic.
Many of our students have done this successfully. They got tons of volunteers while also getting many of them to come back as patients. But please make sure you make it clear that you are not providing manual osteopathic care and treatments. You are just practicing techniques. You are not a manual osteopath yet and as such you cannot provide treatments. You can however practice techniques on others as long as they know they are not receiving treatments.

Many osteopaths from other schools join us mainly to benefit from the 200 business management lectures Dr Shawn Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, PhD teaches to National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) osteopathy students. These lessons create financially successful osteopaths
Here is a message from a NUMSS (Spain) student Luka Samarzija (in Ireland), who is now studying at National University of Medical Sciences (Spain).
“I joined NUMSS this year for the BSc (Osteopathy) degree. My two previous years were with another osteopathy College.
I must say that I see a big difference from my previous school compared to NUMSS, and it’s for the better. Where I studied before it was very stressful, but also expensive.
Then, by chance of luck I found NUMSS and now I must say that it really feels like I’m in the right place after a long time. A University that works in the best interest of their students, promoting them and paving the way for them. So I decided to talk about the osteopathy degree at NUMSS to as many as possible, to get as many people graduate from NUMSS here in Ireland, to show that there is a valid alternative.”
1- Dr. Bruno Bordoni, DPT, DO, PhD, Physical Therapist & Osteopath (president: European Osteopathic Association)
2- Dr. Sylvian Desforges, BSc, DC, DO, Chiropractor & Osteopath (president: Canadian Alliance of Alternative Medicine)
3- Dr. Mariana Rodriguez, MD, DO, Medical doctor & Osteopath
4- Dr. Daniel Nuzum, NMD (USA), DO (Spain), DN, PhD, Naprapath & Osteopathic Manual Practitioner (president: American Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners & Minister of Health: SCNRFP)
5- Dr. Farjoud Shokouhi, MBA, DBA, DPT, DO, physiotherapist & osteopath (president: IrOA)

The doctor of naprapathy (DN) program is just one semester long for NUMSS (Spain) doctor of osteopathy (DO) graduates.

Here is the link to Osteopathy TV YouTube channel. All the Osteopathy TV videos are found at this link.
Dr Gaurav Singra, MD, DOMP, DO, DN (candidate) who studied at National University of Medical Sciences has founded the first ever osteopath owned multispecialty hospital in India. The hospital has its own department of osteopathy. A department of naprapathy will be added in 2022.

Yes, they do. Most insurers in Quebec and some other provinces reimburse clients for naturotherapy. Naprapathy (also knows as naprapathic medicine) falls under naturotherapy services in Canada. Doctor of Naprapathy (DN) graduates of the National University of Medical Sciences (USA & Spain) can join associations such as the Canadian Alliance of Alternative Medicine (ACMA). Membership in these associations offer NUMSS DN graduates the right to bill extended health plan insurers as they are approved EHP associations. For information on how to join ACMA as a naprapath please contact ACMA president, Dr Sylvain Desforges, DC, DO.

Yes, they are. National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) degree is approved by the California University FCE (https://www.cufce.org/), a government approved degree evaluating agency in California (USA). California University FCE is a member of the American Evaluation Association as recommended by the United States Department of Education. The degree equivalency evaluation of this organization is accepted by the State of California Department of Education and many other organizations.

 

What is the process to get my NUMSS (Spain) degree evaluated/approved in USA?
National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) alumni will receive 10% off the cost of getting their degree evaluated/approved in the United States by the California University FCE. The cost is US$350 and you will get US$35 off. When applying please request for the discount by mentioning that you are a NUMSS (Spain) student. This is the evaluating agency website: https://www.cufce.org/contactus.htm.
 
Can I transfer my NUMSS (Spain) credits to another university?
Yes, you can. To do so you must first get a government approved agency, like the California University FCE (https://www.cufce.org/) in the United States evaluate and approve your NUMSS (Spain) degree. The cost is US$350 but NUMSS (Spain) alumni receive 10% off. Once your degree is approved then universities/colleges should accept your NUMSS (Spain) academic credits.
Our DN (doctor of naprapathy) degree is approved by the California University FCE (Foreign Credit Evaluation), a government approved degree evaluating agency in the state of California. CUFCE is a member of the American Evaluation Association as recommended by the USA Department of Education. The degree equivalency evaluation of this organization is accepted by the State of California Department of Education and many other organizations in the US, Europe and elsewhere. Here is a copy of the approved degree of NUMSS (Spain) graduate, Dr. Kristen Poe, PhD, DN. Dr. Poe is a board member of the American Naprapathic Association (founded in 1907) and practices naprapathy in Massachusetts. This evaluation means our doctor of naprapathy degree is evaluated as an equivalent to a normal doctoral program in the States.

In the following states, osteopathic manual practitioners and naprapaths can work without license as long as they get the clients sign a specific form indicating that they are not providing medical care, they are not doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, and that they do not provide electrotherapy, manipulation or massage.

-California
-Colorado
-Maine
-Minnesota
-Nevada
-New Mexico
-Rhode Island

There are a few other states that have specific exemptions bypassing the requirement for licensure. The list is provided elsewhere in our FAQ section.

Yes. The Richmond Gabriel University school of medicine has informed the National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) that NUMSS doctor of osteopathy (DO) graduates can take one year off its MD program. Any of our students who wish to get more information about this DO to MD program, please contact NUMSS (Spain) graduate, Dr. William Goggin Cobb for information (https://www.facebook.com/william.goggin.56) who is currently completing an accelerated MD program.

NUMSS (Spain) PhD program in Osteopathic Clinical Rehabilitation is legalized by the Spain Ministry of Justice. It is then endorsed by the embassies of most countries including Canada, the United States and most European countries.

Additionally the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Osteopathic Clinical Rehabilitation offered by the National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) has been evaluated and approved in the United States by the California University Foreign Credential Evaluation agency. This is great news for NUMSS (Spain) PhD graduates as an approval in the United States is usually accepted in Europe, Asia and elsewhere as well. Congratulations to Dr Daniel Nuzum for being the first NUMSS PhD graduate to get his degree evaluated & approved in the United States.

To receive information about National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) international partnership agreement with a medical school, that allows our graduates to prequalify for conditional acceptance into their Doctor of Medicine (MD) program, please visit the website of Richmond Gabriel University College of Medicine at https://richmondgu.org/rgu-numss/?fbclid=IwAR3ww97bilyOxcNdDAukK5A0-wZ7QDickpxRyp5A-fEj_i6kZ6D7qfbDRqE.
Yes, we are. We received official certificate from International Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education attesting that National University of Medical Sciences is fully accredited by the United States based accreditation agency.

The International Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education that has fully accredited the National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) has been accredited in the United Kingdom. As such its accreditation is valid throughout the UK. NUMSS (Spain) is accredited by this accreditation agency. The agency is recognized as an accrediting body for the purposes of Key Information Set (KIS), operated and published by the UK government Higher Education Statistics Agency and registered as `Accrediting Body´.

The International Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education has completed its 2022-2023 audit of National University of Medical Sciences (Spain). Here is our mark:

– Academic Quality & Integrity A-
– Teaching Staff Qualification A
– Delivery of Programs B+
– Student Services A-
– Website Design Performance B+

This reports by a United States based accreditation agency attests the high quality of online education we provide worldwide.

We are an accredited as an online university in Europe. National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) is fully accredited by the European Agency for Higher Education and Accreditation (EAHEA) with registration # 220A0228039.

Yes, it does. The Dubai Medical Registry of the Dubai Health Authority of Government of Dubai has accepted the NUMSS (Spain) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.

Naprapathy is regulated in Illinois and New Mexico. In these two states NUMSS (Spain) DN graduates cannot work unless they successfully complete a board exam. Our graduates can work in 48 states without completing a board exam but those who wish to practice in Illinois should take the Clinical Internship Bridge Program created by the National College of Naprapathic Medicine (founded in 1906). Completion of the clinical internship bridge program enables our alumni to sit for the Illinois Naprapathic License Examination to become a licensed doctor of naprapathic medicine, which allows them to use the title of “Dr” and to bill health insurers.
Yes. They can. Dr. Mercedeh Ghazy, MD, DO, DOMP is an example of a US board certified osteopathic manual practitioner. Dr. Ghazy is a DO graduate of National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) who has joined the American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners to become a Board Certified osteopathic manual practitioner in the United States.

The National University of Medical Sciences (USA) doctor of Naprapathy (DN) program is accepted by the American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners. Aside from 2 states in the US (Illinois & New Mexico) where naprapathy is a regulated health profession, our doctor of naprapathy (DN) graduates can practice as a  naprapath in 48 states. To apply for membership please visit: https://aanwp.com

AANWP registration permits DN alumni to work as natural wellness practitioners in USA providing naprapathic care to the public in 48 states.

Yes, they can. Our doctor of naprapathy (DN) graduates can join the Canadian Naturological Association – Association Canadienne de Naturologie as full members which has the benefit of purchasing a professional liability insurance, specifically for naprapaths, which is a first in Canada.

Yes, they can. Graduates of our osteopathy programs can work as osteopathic manual practitioners in 8 states, including California without any special license. In the other 42 states NUMSS (Spain) graduates should join an association, such as the American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners (AANWP) that allows its members to practice manual osteopathy (known as osteopathic manual practice in the United States) under their wellness practitioner license.

Yes, professional liability coverage is available in most countries for our graduates. For example our graduates who wish to practice in the United States can join the American Alternative Medical Association (AAMA) as a member which would permit them to buy $1M malpractice insurance for $138 per year. There are other associations, organizations and insurers that also provide malpractice insurance coverage to our graduates.

Our in-person classes in Pakistan are held at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
Validential Corp, based in Southern California with offices in Florida, Texas and New York completed a Certified General Foreign Academic Evaluation (CGFAE) of the Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree issued to Dr. Vorachoat Ike Karunyasopon by National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) in 2016 and they accepted NUMSS (Spain) DO as equivalent to a doctoral (D) level degree awarded by regionally accredited universities in the United States on October 21, 2022. NUMSS (Spain) DO degree was then apostilled and legalized in New York by the Deputy Secretary of State for Business & Licensing Services on November 10, 2022.
National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) students and alumni have the option of completing their practical osteopathy technique classes at the Pourgol Osteopathy Chronic Pain Hospital in Panama City (Panama). The program is offered throughout the year. It is 8 hours per day from Mondays to Fridays, a total of 40 hours per week. Tuition is US$1170 for the full program. The tuition and all the related travel expenses to attend this CE program is tax deductible in many countries such as Canada and the United States. The certificate awarded by the Hospital awards 40 hours of continuing education unit credit which is accepted by many associations around the world including the College of Registered Manual Osteopaths (Canada), International Osteopathic Association and the American Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners.

Yes, they can. NUMSS graduate, osteopath, Dr. Aravindhan Vengat Rajaloo, BSc (Ost), DO who is currently enrolled at our doctor of naprapathy (DN) program has been elected as president of the Malaysian Society for Complementary Medicine. National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) is now accepted by this NGO organization and our DN graduates can join it as naprapaths.

We have expanded osteopathy to 72 countries and now working to do the same for the profession of naprapathy that offers gentle effective care for connective tissue disorders.

Yes, We do teach the Fascia Kinetic Techniques to our doctor of naprapathic medicine students. UK/USA graduated connective tissue specialist, Dr. Anson Ching, BSc, MSc, DPT, HMS, OMT teaches a course on Fascia Kinetic Technique at National University of Medical Sciences. Fascia Kinetic Technique is a set of techniques used in naprapathy that combines naprapathic therapy, Flossband and joint specific exercises to restore back to normal the fascial restriction resulting from connective tissue disorders.

Yes, it is. The Higher Education Accreditation Commission of the California University Foreign Credential Evaluation has issued a “Certificate of Recognition” to National University of Medical sciences (Spain). This certificate means that our academic programs are equivalent in level to degrees awarded by the US States Approved universities.

Yes, there are a number of insurers offering malpractice insurance to NUMSS (USA) alumni. National University of Medical Sciences (USA) naprapathy & manual osteopathy graduates are eligible to get licensed in the U.S. under GEHA. NUMSS alumni are pre-qualified to obtain malpractice insurance (also known as errors & omissions or professional liability insurance) offered by the Lockton Affinity Insurance Company, LLC.

For information please contact Dr. Nicole Kimmel, PhD, vice president of the American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners (AANWP), where our president, Dr. Shawn Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, DN, PhD is a member of its Executive Board. Just a note that NUMSS (USA) is an accredited member of AANWP.

Yes, they do in certain countries such as Canada. Registered manual osteopaths (RMO) members of College of Registered Manual Osteopaths are accepted by TELUS DIRECT for e-Claim access which permits them to directly bill health insurers and directly receive payment without the need for patients to pay first and then submit the receipt to insurers for reimbursement.

The Bachelor of Science in Osteopathy – BSc (Ost) we offer at National University of Medical Sciences – Spain has been evaluated by the European Agency For Higher Education And Accreditation (EAHEA) and it was found to be equivalent to:1- 180 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System)2- 360 CATS credits (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme)3- 90 USC credits (Undergraduate Transfer Credit)