Education
Naturopathic Doctors in the province of British Columbia must complete a bachelor’s degree with the appropriate pre-medical courses in biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry as well as psychology and English. Naturopathic Medical School is a 4-year post-graduate program that includes 3500 hours of instruction and 1400 hours of clinical training. Licensure in British Columbia requires graduation from an accredited Naturopathic Medical School as well as successful completion of examinations from the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia (CNPBC) and the North American Board of Naturopathic Examinations (NABNE).
The only accredited school of Naturopathic Medicine in Western Canada is the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine, if you would like more information regarding specific training you can find it here.
Prescribing Authority
In April 2009, Naturopathic Physicians in British Columbia were granted an expanded scope of practice, which includes the ability to prescribe certain pharmaceutical medications. In order to be granted prescribing authority, a fully licensed ND must undergo additional training and successfully complete the written and oral examination process.
Regulation
The regulation of ND’s varies depending on the provincial or state jurisdiction that you are practicing in. British Columbia has some of the most well established regulatory standards for Naturopathic Doctors. ND’s practicing in this province are regulated by the CNPBC, who oversees standards, limits and conditions in terms of licensure, acts on complaints regarding patient care, and mandates continuing education policies.
