What’s the difference between DO and DOMP?

You’re scrolling through health options online.
You see one practitioner listed as a DO.
Another is listed as a DOMP.

They both say they practice osteopathy. So what’s the difference?

This is where things get confusing — fast. And unless you understand the education and regulation behind each title, it’s easy to mistake one for the other.

At YFS (Your Form Sux), we believe in clear, honest, no-fluff education — because people deserve to know who they’re working with, and what their practitioner is actually trained and licensed to do.

⚖️ DO vs. DOMP: What the Letters Mean

• DO = Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• DOMP = Diploma in Osteopathic Manual Practice

Sounds similar, right? But the difference is huge — especially depending on whether you’re in the United States or Canada.

🇺🇸 In the United States: DO = Licensed Medical Doctor

In the U.S., a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) is a fully licensed physician who:

• Attends medical school (just like an MD)
• Can prescribe medications
• Can perform surgeries
• Practices in hospitals, clinics, or family practices
• Is recognized in every state as a full-scope doctor

DOs receive training in osteopathic principles, which means they learn hands-on techniques (osteopathic manual therapy) as part of their education — but most DOs in the U.S. don’t regularly use manual therapy in their practice.

Think of it this way: in the U.S., DO = MD + osteopathic lens. It’s not the same as a manual therapist — it’s a full medical doctor with added musculoskeletal training.

🇨🇦 In Canada: DOMP = Manual Osteopathic Practitioner (Not a Doctor)

In Canada, the term DO isn’t legally used for osteopathic practitioners who are not medical doctors.
Instead, we use DOMP — Diploma of Osteopathic Manual Practice — which refers to a non-physician manual therapy practitioner.

DOMPs:

• Are not doctors
• Cannot prescribe medication or perform surgery
• Are not regulated under a provincial health college (yet)
• Provide hands-on therapy only (similar to massage, physio, or chiro)

Training programs vary — some DOMP programs are part-time over several years, others are full-time academic tracks. The curriculum usually includes:

• Manual osteopathic techniques
• Anatomy and physiology
• Visceral and craniosacral therapy
• Postural analysis and soft tissue work

So while both DOs and DOMPs may refer to “osteopathy,” they are completely different professions with very different scopes of practice.

🛑 What This Means for You as a Client in Canada

If you’re seeing someone in Canada for “osteopathic treatment,” they are most likely a DOMP — a trained manual practitioner, not a physician.

This means:

• They cannot diagnose medical conditions
• They cannot prescribe medication
• They focus on hands-on therapy to improve mobility, reduce tension, and support systemic function

And that’s not a bad thing — but it’s important to know what you’re getting, and what you’re not.

At YFS, if you work with a DOMP, you’re getting skilled hands-on care that’s often integrated with:

• Functional rehab
• Strength training
• Breath and nervous system work
• Movement correction
• Collaborative care alongside physiotherapists, coaches, and RMTs

🧠 So… Should You Work with a DO or a DOMP?

Here’s a simple breakdown:

Work with a DO (U.S.-based) if you:

• Need full-scope medical care
• Want osteopathic principles in a physician-based setting
• Are dealing with internal medicine issues, diagnostics, or medications

Work with a DOMP (Canada) if you:

• Want gentle, full-body manual therapy
• Are recovering from injury or chronic tension
• Need nervous system or fascial support
• Want to complement your movement or rehab plan

Just make sure you’re not assuming that a DOMP is a medical doctor — they’re not. And if someone in Canada is advertising themselves as a “DO” and not a “DOMP,” that’s a red flag.

🚨 A Note on Regulation (Because This Matters)

In Canada, DOMPs are not currently regulated by a provincial health college (like physiotherapy or chiropractic is).

That doesn’t mean they aren’t trained or skilled — but it does mean:

• The profession is not covered by public healthcare (OHIP)
• Education standards may vary between schools
• You should ask questions about your practitioner’s training, background, and approach

At YFS, we only work with osteopathic manual practitioners who:

• Have extensive training from recognized DOMP programs
• Understand functional systems-based care
• Integrate manual therapy with real rehab and movement work

Because we don’t believe in passive therapy alone. We believe in strategic, integrated care that helps your whole body get better.

Bottom Line: Same Letters, Different Professions

“DO” and “DOMP” sound similar — but in the world of healthcare, they mean very different things.

One is a physician (in the U.S.).
The other is a hands-on therapist (in Canada).

Both can play a role in your care — depending on your needs.

Just don’t confuse the two — and don’t assume that “osteopathy” always means the same thing across countries, providers, or clinics.

Need help figuring out what kind of care your body actually needs?
Book a movement + systems assessment at YFS, and we’ll help you build a team that supports your body — from the ground up.