Registering as an ND in Ontario

To practise naturopathy in Ontario you must be registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (the College). As part of our commitment to protect the public, we establish the entry-to-practice (ETP) requirements for safe, competent and ethical naturopathic care. By registering, NDs show that they have met these requirements, and may use the protected titles granted to the profession.

Claiming to be a naturopathic doctor or “ND” without being registered can result in prosecution, disciplinary action and fines.

Registration Regulation

The Registration Regulation defines the requirements for becoming registered with the College, including education, and examinations. To practice naturopathy in Ontario, Applicants must have completed a 4-year program in naturopathy accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) or have a combination of education and experience that has been assessed and deemed substantially equivalent to a CNME-accredited education. Under the College, this is called the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) program. Applicants must also complete required ETP examinations, and the College’s three-step registration process, detailed below.

NDs actively practicing naturopathy in another regulated jurisdiction and seeking to move between provinces, may apply for registration as per the labor mobility provisions of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) and the Registration Regulation.

CNME-accredited Naturopathic Schools

There are seven schools accredited by the CNME providing a naturopathic education that meet the College’s entry-to-practice requirements. Information on these schools can be found on the CNME website.

Registration Process

To become registered, Applicants must complete a three-step process:

• Step 1: Pre-Registration—Sign up for a College account through the LOGIN page and complete the online Application for Pre-Registration form. This form confirms your identity with the College, allows you to declare proficiency in English or French, and helps the College identify whether you are applying as a CNME-accredited program graduate, a PLAR applicant, or as an ND registered in another regulated Canadian jurisdiction.  This form is submitted before sitting ETP exams, and before initiating the PLAR program. Click here for more information about Step 1.
• Step 2: Application for Registration—Complete the online Application for Registration form. Step 2 also requires paying an application fee, submission of a criminal record check and proof of valid CPR certification. If registered and practising naturopathy in another regulated Canadian jurisdiction, a letter of good standing and evidence of professional practise is also required.  Click here for more information about Step 2.
  IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid a refusal of your application for registration, please wait to complete Step 2 until you have successfully completed all required entry-to-practise exams and are eligible for registration. 
  
• Step 3: Issuance of a Certificate of Registration—This final step is completed after your Application for Registration has been fully evaluated by the College and a decision has been made regarding issuance of a certificate of registration. This step requires payment of the annual registration fee, submission of proof of Professional Liability Insurance (PLI) and the submission of a photo with the online Photo Submission Form for the public register.  Click here for more information about Step 3.

To learn more about the process and requirements, watch the video below: