How can I be sure that my naturopathic doctor has the right credentials?
Once licensed, there are ongoing requirements for continuing education that must be met.
Find out where they were educated and what their education consisted of. For example, in Ontario, naturopathic doctors must complete a minimum of 3 years of pre-requisite university education. This is followed by 4 years at an accredited college of natural medicine where they receive extensive training (over 4500 hours) in medical sciences (pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, laboratory diagnosis, etc.) and naturopathic therapies (acupuncture, nutrition, botanical medicine, and others), along with over 1500 hours of supervised clinical practice. Graduates must then successfully complete 2 series of Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations in order to obtain their license to practice in Canada. In order to practice in Ontario, yet another set of written and practical exams must be successfully completed. Once licensed, there are ongoing requirements for continuing education that must be met.
In Ontario, the practice of naturopathic medicine is regulated and there is a licensing body that ensures the protection of the public by setting standards for both training and professional practice.
