Licensing guide · Alberta

How to Become a Naturopathic Doctor in Alberta

Last checked 3 sources checkedNOC 31209

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta to work as a naturopathic doctor in Alberta or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Under Alberta’s Health Professions Act [pdf], Health Professions Restricted Activity Regulation [pdf], and Naturopaths Profession Regulation [pdf], registration with the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta (CNDA) is mandatory.”

From alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/naturopathic-doctor, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees
  • Practice Permit fee: $2,068 (for a new graduate applicant in their 1st year of practice the fee is $1241+GST)
    Source
    “Once an application is approved, an annual Practice Permit fee of $2068+GST (or $1241+GST for a new graduate applicant in their 1st year of practice).”
    cnda.net/labour

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 6 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $2,068 (for a new graduate applicant in their 1st year of practice the fee is $1241+GST)
  • Listed time: 0.9 to 1.4 months (only 1 of 6 steps state a time)

  1. The applicant must successfully complete a four-year program of studies in naturopathic medicine approved by the Council.

    Source
    “successfully complete a 4-year program of studies in naturopathic medicine approved by the Council”
    cnda.net/practice-permit-information

  2. The applicant must successfully complete the CANRA-QE OSCE, or an accepted practical examination passed within two years before the CNDA receives a completed application.

    Source
    “successfully complete the CANRA-QE Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Previous successful completion of the College of Complimentary Health Professionals of BC oral practical examination or the College of Naturopaths of Ontario clinical examination (practical) will be accepted in place of the CANRA-QE OSCE if passed within two years before the CNDA receives a completed application”
    cnda.net/practice-permit-information

  3. The applicant must successfully pass the CNDA's jurisprudence examination.

    Source
    “successfully pass the CNDA's jurisprudence examination”
    cnda.net/practice-permit-information

  4. The applicant must satisfy one of the recency conditions, such as completing the education and exam requirements within the two years prior to the application, or having 1200 hours of professional services within the three years prior while registered in good standing.

    Source
    “satisfy one of the following conditions: (i) within the two years prior to the Registrar receiving a completed application, have completed (a), (b) and (c) above; (ii) within the three years prior to the Registrar receiving a completed application, have completed 1200 hours of professional services while the applicant was a registered member in good standing of a regulatory college of naturopathic medicine”
    cnda.net/practice-permit-information

  5. The applicant completes the online application form by signing up and submits a complete application, which is the only time applications are reviewed.

    Source
    “Please click here to be directed to our online application form and then select "Please Sign Up" to begin the application process. Practice Permit applications are only reviewed once complete.”
    cnda.net/practice-permit-information

  6. Once a complete application is received and approved, it can take 4 to 6 weeks for a practice permit to be issued.

    Time: 4 to 6 weeks
    Time source
    “Once a complete application is received, it can take 4 to 6 weeks for a practice permit to be issued provided the application is approved.”
    cnda.net/practice-permit-information
    Source
    “Once a complete application is received, it can take 4 to 6 weeks for a practice permit to be issued provided the application is approved.”
    cnda.net/practice-permit-information

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CNDA

6 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

  • Practice Permit fee: $2,068 (for a new graduate applicant in their 1st year of practice the fee is $1241+GST)
    Source
    “Once an application is approved, an annual Practice Permit fee of $2068+GST (or $1241+GST for a new graduate applicant in their 1st year of practice).”
    cnda.net/labour

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
  • 6 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $2,068 (for a new graduate applicant in their 1st year of practice the fee is $1241+GST)
  • Listed time: 1.3 months (only 3 of 7 steps state a time)

  1. The applicant clicks the link to create an Applicant account with the CNDA and selects "Please Sign Up" to begin.

    Source
    “Click here to create an Applicant account with the CNDA. Select “Please Sign Up” to begin the process.”
    cnda.net/labour

  2. The applicant opens the General Register application form, checks off "yes" for the Labour Mobility Applicant Declaration, and fills out the form in full.

    Source
    “Open the General Register application form and under the Applicant Information section check off “yes” for the Labour Mobility Applicant Declaration. You must check this off to ensure you are filling out the correct application. Continue on to fill out the form in full.”
    cnda.net/labour

  3. The applicant completes the CNDA Jurisprudence Exam online as part of the application process.

    Source
    “Complete the CNDA Jurisprudence Exam. The exam is completed online as part of the application process.”
    cnda.net/labour
    • Application Fee: $275 (due on submission of the online application form)
      Source
      “An application fee of $275+GST, which is due on submission of the online application form.”
      cnda.net/labour
    Source
    “Pay the Application Fee.”
    cnda.net/labour

  5. On receipt of the LMA application, the CNDA will notify the applicant within 10 business days that the application has been received.

    Time: 10 days
    Time source
    “On receipt of an LMA application for registration the CNDA will notify the Applicant within 10 business days that the application has been received.”
    cnda.net/labour
    Source
    “On receipt of an LMA application for registration the CNDA will notify the Applicant within 10 business days that the application has been received.”
    cnda.net/labour

  6. The CNDA will schedule the application for review and make a decision within 20 business days of receiving the complete application.

    Time: 20 days
    Time source
    “The CNDA will schedule the application for review and make a decision within 20 business days of receiving the *complete* application (all required documentation has arrived).”
    cnda.net/labour
    Source
    “The CNDA will schedule the application for review and make a decision within 20 business days of receiving the *complete* application (all required documentation has arrived).”
    cnda.net/labour

  7. Within 10 business days of making a decision, the CNDA will notify the applicant of the results, including any right to an internal review or appeal.

    Time: 10 days
    Time source
    “Within 10 business days of making a decision the CNDA will notify the LMA applicant of the results, including any right to an internal review or appeal.”
    cnda.net/labour
    Source
    “Within 10 business days of making a decision the CNDA will notify the LMA applicant of the results, including any right to an internal review or appeal.”
    cnda.net/labour

Listed fees for this route

1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

6 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

  • Practice Permit fee: $2,068 (for a new graduate applicant in their 1st year of practice the fee is $1241+GST)
    Source
    “Once an application is approved, an annual Practice Permit fee of $2068+GST (or $1241+GST for a new graduate applicant in their 1st year of practice).”
    cnda.net/labour

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

  • Review of registration decision fee: $275 (charged for a review of a registration decision)
    Source
    “In Accordance with the Bylaws, the College charges a fee of $275+GST for a review of a registration decision.”
    cnda.net/labour

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • The applicant must successfully complete a 4-year program of studies in naturopathic medicine approved by the Council.

    Source
    “successfully complete a 4-year program of studies in naturopathic medicine approved by the Council”
    cnda.net/practice-permit-information

Police check

  • The applicant must provide an original current criminal record check from an authorized source, completed through MyBackCheck.

    Source
    “Original current criminal record check from an authorized source. Applicants will be sent an online invitation to complete the criminal record check through MyBackCheck.”
    cnda.net/practice-permit-information

Insurance

Good character

Other

  • The applicant must provide proof of identity and proof of Canadian citizenship or lawful admittance to work in Canada.

    Source
    “Proof of identify and proof of Canadian citizenship or lawful admittance to work in Canada.”
    cnda.net/practice-permit-information

Already licensed in another province?

Not stated by the regulator Check with CNDA

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with CNDA

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with CNDA

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with CNDA

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with CNDA

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 31209, Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating. Wages for 2021 in Canadian dollars a year; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Alberta and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Alberta $32,867 $64,000 $139,000 Good (4 of 5)
Canada $32,867 $56,800 $123,000 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Alberta

Wages in every province and territory

Naturopathic doctors in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 6 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare naturopathic doctor licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Naturopathic Doctor: Certifications in Alberta - alis alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/naturopathic-doctor · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Practice Permit Information — College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta cnda.net/practice-permit-information · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Labour Mobility Applicants — College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta cnda.net/labour · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a naturopathic doctor in Alberta?

Yes. Registration with the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta is required to practise in Alberta.

Which exams are required?

NPLEX Part I - Biomedical Science Examination, NPLEX Part II - Core Clinical Sciences Examination, CANRA-QE Written Examinations, CANRA-QE Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

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