About EDO - The Vluggen Institute for Equine Osteopathy and Education

About EDO®

The “Equine Osteopath EDO®” stands for Equine Diplomate Osteopath, a trademark and quality mark registered since 2006 throughout the USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia. The EDO® quality mark transparently communicates to the equine community that the osteopath holding and maintaining the EDO® is educated according to the standardized competency profile developed using the Canadian Medical Education Directives (CanMEDs) model, recognized worldwide as the standard for medical professional education. The standardized competency profile is a framework that outlines the essential abilities, knowledge, expertise, and skills an equine osteopath requires beyond the borders of their foundational education.

The CanMeds model outlines seven primary roles for the EDO®, which are dynamic and periodically reviewed and revised. These roles are: Medical expert, Communicator, Leader, Collaborator, Health advocate, Scholar, Professional.

Equine Osteopath EDO® is trademarked and licensed to the Registry for Equine Diplomate Osteopaths International (REDOI), which indicates those awarded the quality mark are:

Graduates of top-tier accredited and regulated educational institutions with rigorous educational requirements.

Proficient in advanced animal osteopathy as demonstrated by passing the Equine Osteopath Competency Examination (EOCE), a test designed and administered by EDOs® to measure the examinee’s osteopathic knowledge, application of osteopathic theory, and performance of osteopathic techniques.

Dedicated to pursuing additional osteopathic education for equine, canine, or animal osteopathy and quality whole animal care to expand knowledge and ensure advancement of clinical knowledge and skills.

Obtaining the EDO® quality mark distinguishes EDOs® in interactions with horse owners, other equine professionals, and veterinarians in the growing unregulated animal therapy industry to the standard, ethics, and continuing education requirements as governed by REDOI.
Accreditation is designed to attest to the educational quality of new and established educational programs. Registry for Equine Diplomate Osteopaths International for Equine, Canine, and Animal Osteopaths, Inc. (REDOI), accredits complete and independent equine, canine, and animal osteopathic education programs leading to the Equine Osteopath EDO® quality mark internationally. By determining if equine, canine, and animal osteopathic education programs comply with accepted standards of educational quality, REDOI serves the interests of the general public, osteopathic students enrolled in those programs, and graduates of the programs.
To achieve and maintain accreditation, an animal osteopathic education program preparing students to achieve the EDO® quality mark must demonstrate appropriate performance in the standards and elements as determined by REDOI. The accreditation process requires an animal education program to provide assurances that its graduates exhibit general professional competencies which are appropriate for entry to the next stage of their training and serve as the foundation for lifelong learning and proficient equine, canine, and animal osteopathic care.
If your educational institution is not accredited, please have your educational institution contact us directly at info@redointernational.org to begin the review and approval process. If you want to be awarded use of the EDO® quality mark, you will need to provide a diploma from an equine, canine, or animal osteopathic institution to be eligible to sit for the Equine Osteopath Competency Examination (EOCE). Upon successful completion of the EOCE, you will be eligible for registration with REDOI and awarded use of the EDO® quality mark.