Applicants

Initiating PLAR

The Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) program with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (the College), requires completion of the following steps.

1. Proof of identity

Completion of the online Application for Pre-Registration and submission of a copy of valid, government-issued photo identification, as detailed in the PLAR Applicant Handbook.

2. Proof of formal education

To be eligible for PLAR, you must have a minimum of an undergraduate degree in a healthcare-related discipline reasonably related to naturopathy from a Canadian University or its equivalent from an accredited academic institution.

If you completed your education outside of Canada, an assessment of your degree(s) by a credential evaluation agency that is a member of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACES) is required. These currently include the following agencies:

Results of the formal education assessment must be sent directly to the College from the credential evaluation agency.

If you completed your education in Canada, please arrange to have your university send your transcripts directly to the College by mail. If your university is unable to send a transcript directly, we will accept a certified copy of the transcript by mail.

If transcripts and official university documents are in a language other than English or French, translation by a certified translator, i.e., an individual who is a member in good standing of a professional translation association in Canada or abroad, is required. Their certification must be confirmed by a seal or stamp that shows the translator’s membership number. All stamps and seals that are not in English or French must also be translated.

To find a certified translator, visit the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO) or contact the ATIO at Tel: 1-800-234-5030 or by email at info@atio.on.ca.

If transcripts cannot be obtained due to exceptional circumstances, please contact us at applications@collegeofnaturopaths.on.ca for information about acceptable alternate documentation.

3. Proof of language proficiency

If your primary language is not English or French, and your relevant education was not conducted in either language, a College-approved language proficiency test in either English or French is required, as noted in the College’s Language Proficiency Policy. The College requires a language proficiency test to be obtained from one of the following institutions.

  • The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – Level 7 (General) required on all skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking). In Ontario: www.ieltscanada.ca. International: www.ielt.org.
  • Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF)  (For demonstrating French proficiency only) – minimum 462 in reading, minimum 472 in writing, minimum 462 in listening and a minimum 494 in speaking.

Please contact the language testing agency directly for the costs associated with testing.

4. Submit a completed Document of Education and Experience Form

The Document of Education and Experience is a form for PLAR candidates to submit information regarding their education and experience in naturopathy for the paper-based assessment component of the PLAR process. 

Important note: If you live outside of Canada, you can complete the above processes before moving here. We strongly recommend, however, that applicants outside of Canada obtain official copies of all the documents needed before arriving in Canada to prevent any delays.