Naturopaths use a variety of natural and conventional therapies to cure sickness and address aspects affecting a patient’s health, such as physiology, structure, psychology, environment, lifestyle, and social and spiritual difficulties. They frequently create individualized care regimens for the patients that include an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention.
They occasionally have to collaborate with other qualified healthcare professionals.
NDs develop a treatment plan based on plant-based medicine, homoeopathy, acupuncture, oriental medicine, lifestyle counselling, or physical therapies after determining the origins of a patient’s symptoms (such as massage, chiropractic adjustment or, hydrotherapy).
Average Hourly
$17.00
Range Hourly
$13 – $48.54
Average Yearly
$33,150
Range Yearly
$25,350 – $94,650
Practitioners of Natural Healing (3232); Other Professional Occupations In Health Diagnosing And Treating (3125)
Acupressure therapist; Acupuncturist; Aromatherapist; Auriculotherapist; Ayurvedic practitioner; Certified iridologist; Certified reflexologist; Certified rolfer; Certified rolfing movement teacher; Chartered herbalist; Chinese medicine doctor (CMD); Chinese medicine practitioner; Clinical hypnotherapist; Doctor of acupuncture; Doctor of Chinese medicine; Doctor of homeopathic therapeutics; Doctor of homeopathy; Doctor of Oriental medicine; Herb practitioner; Herbal practitioner; Herbal specialist; Herbalist; Herbologist; Herbology practitioner; Herborist; Holistic practitioner; Homeopath; Homeopathic physician; Homeopathic practitioner; Homeopathist; Hypnotherapist; Iridologist; Medical Qi gong practitioner; Naturopathic practitioner; Oriental medical practitioner; Osteopathic manual practitioner; Osteopathic manual therapist; Reflexologist; Registered acupuncture practitioner; Remedial herbalist; Remedial herbologist; Rolfer; Rolfing movement teacher; Shaman; Shiatsu therapist; Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner;
A university degree in pre-medical science is required.
Completion of a university program in naturopathic medicine, obtained abroad or
A four-year program in naturopathic medicine from a private institute is required.
A licence is required in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
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The employment outlook is good to fair in most provinces. More information is available here
Depends on the employment area government, hospitals, research, food industry. This depends also on the level of experience.
One to two years of relevant experience including one year of internship.
There are 2 accredited Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine programs in Canada:
- Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster, British Columbia
- Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto
The entrance requirement is a bachelor’s degree with a competitive average in general biology, physiology, organic chemistry (with lab), biochemistry, psychology and the humanities.
Naturopathic doctors must be comfortable with people, excelling at both verbal and written communication. Most importantly, Naturopaths must have a genuine desire to meet and exceed the needs of their clients.
Passionate about nature and natural treatment and care sources; Leadership skill; Strong communication ability; good organizational and time management skills; good people skills, ability to work independently; team-oriented; inquisitive; willingness to learn; flexible
The majority of NDs practise in private or multi-purpose clinics. They labour on their feet for a portion of the day, assessing and treating patients. Additionally, they spend time at a desk completing paperwork and speaking with patients.
The majority of naturopathic doctors (NDs) establish private offices or work in clinics alongside other medical professionals. Others work in marketing, government, education, research and development, or consulting.
In order to practice as a naturopathic doctor, one must have graduated from an approved naturopathic medical program, successfully passed the standardized North American licensing exams, a practical exam, and the provincial jurisprudence examination. Additionally, one must have been granted a practice permit from the provincial regulatory bodies such as College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta (CNDA) Registrar in Alberta.
Training for a career as a naturopathic doctor (ND) requires a bachelor’s degree with pre-med sciences followed by 4 years in an accredited Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program. To practise, graduates must write and pass the North American standardized Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exams (NPLEX). They must also pass exams in their jurisdiction.