Chiropractic vs. Osteopathy

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At first glance, these two professions may seem similar, as they both treat the same types of patients. In France, however, there are approximately 1,500 chiropractors compared to nearly 36,000 osteopaths. This difference is partly due to the significant variation in training between the two disciplines.

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Differences Between an Osteopath and a Chiropractor

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Chiropractic is recognized by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It is considered the third largest healthcare profession, after medicine and dentistry.

Standardized and Rigorous Chiropractic Training

Chiropractors receive a consistent international education: regardless of whether they study in France or abroad, all chiropractors undergo the same rigorous training at an accredited college. This training consists of 5,000 hours of full-time coursework over five years.

 

To complete their studies, chiropractic students must undergo clinical internships in hospitals, clinics, and chiropractic offices, as well as submit a final research dissertation to obtain their diploma. The training follows strict standards set by both the U.S. and European Ministries of Education, leading to the internationally recognized title of Doctor of Chiropractic.

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n France, the IFEC (Institut Franco-Européen de Chiropraxie) is the only accredited institution that teaches chiropractic. It is officially recognized by the French Ministry of Health. Thanks to this extensive training, chiropractors are qualified to:

• Identify contraindications to treatment

• Interpret medical imaging and tests

• Perform differential diagnoses

• Conduct a chiropractic examination

Osteopathy: Variable Training and Multiple Categories

 

Only a small percentage of osteopaths (5%) receive a five-year education. The rest undergo training of varying lengths, typically between three to five years, with significant differences in course structure and quality.

Osteopaths fall into three main categories:

1. Medical osteopaths – Trained as doctors, they receive osteopathic training through internships.

2. Physiotherapist osteopaths – Originally trained as physiotherapists, they also acquire osteopathic knowledge through internships.

3. Non-medical osteopaths – These practitioners are neither doctors nor physiotherapists, and their training varies greatly depending on the school they attended, as there is no standardized curriculum in osteopathy.

This variability in osteopathic education explains the disparities in practice and expertise among osteopaths.