Frequently Asked
Questions

How are Naturopathic Doctors trained?

Naturopathic Doctors must meet the pre-medical requirements at an accredited university before attending Naturopathic Medical school.

Naturopathic Medical school is a full-time four-year program where students are taught the medical sciences as well as naturopathic modalities. Students also partake in a two-year practicum where they see patients at clinics operated by the school. There are only two accredited naturopathic medical schools in Canada – the Boucher Campus of CCNM (formerly Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine) (BC) and the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) (ON).

How do you know your Naturopathic Doctor is properly trained and licensed?

Your Naturopathic Doctor must have graduated from an accredited Naturopathic Medical school, passed the North American board exams and the provincial board and jurisprudence exams, and be registered and in good standing with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC), College of Naturopaths of Ontario, or other provincial regulatory college.

Can Naturopathic Doctors in BC prescribe medication?

Legislation permits BC Naturopathic doctors to prescribe medication, provided they complete the prescriptive authority course, pass the licensing examination, and maintain prescriptive authority by completing the Continuing Education requirements. Naturopathic doctors can only prescribe medications that are within their scope of practice. Given that Naturopathic Doctors are considered Primary Care doctors in BC, we have a broad scope of prescriptive authority.

Are Naturopathic medicine visits covered by MSP (Medical Services Plan), OHIP, or an extended medical coverage plan?

Naturopathic Medicine visits are not covered by MSP or OHIP, but limited coverage is available to those on Premium Assistance. If you qualify for Premium Assistance, confirm with your ND if they will see Premium Assistance patients prior to making an appointment.

Most extended medical plans will cover a portion of your Naturopathic visit, and some plans will cover certain testing if it is ordered by a Naturopathic Doctor. Check with your extended medical insurance provider first as every plan is different.

What other practitioners do you recommend for adjunctive care?

Here is a list of practitioners who we work with and trust:

Nurse Practitioner

Jamie Batsch, NP (ON)

Sandra Dudziak, PhD, NP, MSc, IIWCC, BScN, RN (EC) (ON)

Andrena McDonald, NP (ON)

Chiropractic Care
MVMTLAB Sports Performance Clinic

Registered Massage Therapy
Marsha Clarke RMT

Dentistry
Dr. Melissa Skinner B.Sc, DMD

Trusted Naturopathic Colleagues
Dr. Meghan Haggarty ND (Calgary, AB)
Dr. Marie Matheson ND  and the team at BioHeal (Ottawa, ON)