Osteopath VS Chiropractor

Many people become confused between a chiropractor and an osteopath. The educational requirements are completely different as well as the titles each carries. A Doctor of Chiropractor has the D.C. initials while a Doctor of Osteopathy holds the initials D.O.

Chiropractor Educational Requirements

A chiropractor first completes a bachelor's degree and should take several of the sciences to help when they enter an accredited chiropractor school where they must complete 90 hours of semester work. They also have to complete clinical and laboratory hours as well as classroom study. It is a very demanding program where students learn how to manipulate spine.

Osteopath Educational Requirements

An osteopath must complete their bachelor's degree and then finish an addition four years of graduate study. They also must take a lot of courses in the sciences. In addition, they have an internship that last approximately one year. In order to be a D.O., they must take and pass the same medical exam that a family doctor would take.

Main Difference Between Chiropractor and Osteopath

The main difference between a chiropractor and an osteopath is an osteopath is a medical doctor that focuses on the whole person and diseases of the musculoskeletal. A chiropractor is a doctor, but a non-traditional since they do not go to medical school. Their focus is on manipulating the spine in order to bring relief to the patient without the use of drugs or surgical procedures. The choice for many people is clear depending on their desires for non-traditional treatment versus more traditional approach.