Osteopathic physicians and surgeons: unauthorized practice: unauthorized use of titles

The law strengthens protections against unlicensed medical treatment and misleading claims of osteopathic credentials. Violations of the new title restrictions are misdemeanors.

What the law does ​

• Removes osteopathic manipulative treatment from the disclosure-based exception to California's unauthorized-practice-of-medicine laws.
• Defines osteopathic manipulative treatment as manually guided therapeutic forces used to alleviate somatic dysfunction.
• Preserves services lawfully provided by California-licensed health professionals and massage services authorized under California law.
• Makes it a misdemeanor for an unlicensed person to use “doctor of osteopathy” or “D.O.” or to use “osteopath” misleadingly while offering treatment for a medical or physical condition.

Who it affects ​

• Unlicensed people offering osteopathic manipulative treatment or other services to treat medical or physical conditions.
• Osteopathic physicians and surgeons licensed by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California.
• Patients seeking treatment marketed as osteopathic care.

Context ​

The changes take effect January 1, 2028.