Licensing guide · British Columbia

How to Become a Naturopathic Doctor in British Columbia

Last checked 4 sources checkedNOC 31209

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC to work as a naturopathic doctor in British Columbia or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
physician, doctor, Dr.
Show the source
“Applicants must obtain full practising registration with the College before practising naturopathic medicine or using the restricted titles “physician,” “doctor,” or “Dr.” in BC.”

From cchpbc.ca/whats-changing-for-naturopathic-medicine-applicants-new-n..., checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees

Your roadmap

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

Trained in Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $363
  • 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
  • 2 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $17,342.25

  1. Graduate from a naturopathic medical school accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education and recognized by the College.

    Source
    “Graduation from a naturopathic medical school accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) and recognized by the College.”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

  2. Successfully complete the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners, covering biomedical science, core clinical science, and the clinical elective in minor surgery.

    Source
    “Successful completion of the following Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX) administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE): - *a) – Biomedical Science*: includes Anatomy, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, Physiology; - *b) – Core Clinical Science*: includes Botanical Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Public Health, Lab Diagnosis and Diagnostic Imaging, Nutrition, Pharmacology, Physical and Clinical Diagnosis, Physical Medicine, Psychology; - *c) – Clinical Elective*: Minor Surgery.”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

  3. Successfully complete the CANRA-QE administered by the Canadian Alliance of Naturopathic Regulatory Authorities, whose practical component is the Objective Structured Clinical Examination.

    • Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE): $3,500 (Fee set by Canadian Alliance of Naturopathic Regulatory Authorities (CANRA))
      Source
      “Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) – $3,500 Fee set by Canadian Alliance of Naturopathic Regulatory Authorities (CANRA).”
      cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/nd-fees
    Source
    “Successful completion of CANRA-QE administered by the Canadian Alliance of Naturopathic Regulatory Authorities (CANRA).”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

  4. Successfully complete the College's Jurisprudence Examination; examinations from other jurisdictions are not accepted in its place.

    Source
    “Successful completion of the College’s Jurisprudence Examination. Examinations from other jurisdictions are not accepted in place of this College’s examinations.”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

  5. Submit a licence application providing identity and contact information, evidence of meeting the eligibility standards, declarations of good character, liability insurance confirmation, criminal record check authorization, first aid certification, graduation documentation, exam results, regulator information, payment of outstanding amounts, and the applicable fees.

    Source
    “Naturopathic Physicians who wish to apply for a licence in BC must provide the following requirements (CCHPBC Bylaws 6.0, 6.8):  1\. Information confirming Licence Applicant’s identity and legal name  2\. Business contact information (including phone number and email address)  3\. Information demonstrating the Licence Applicant meets Eligibility Standards for Naturopathic Medicine: Full licence class, including conditions and requirements found in Schedule 4: Part 3 Naturopathic Medicine.  4\. Declaration or other information demonstrating the Licence Applicant is of good character and will practise Naturopathic Medicine in an ethical manner  5\. Confirmation of compliance, with requirement to have professional liability protection or liability insurance coverage in an amount of at least $5,000,000 per claim or occurrence   6\. Criminal Record Check Authorization, and, in the case of a Licence Applicant who has practised a Health Profession in another jurisdiction, an authorization for a Criminal Record Check in that jurisdiction and/or a criminal record report  7\. Current first aid certification as required for Naturopathic Medicine class of Licence in accordance with Schedule 4: Part 3 Naturopathic Medicine.  8\. Original documentation, notarized copy, or other evidence satisfactory to the Registrar of graduation from a Recognized Education Program for the Licence applied for as specified in Schedule 4: Part 4 Naturopathic Medicine confirming graduation no more than three years prior to the date of Application;  9\. proof of successful completion of the jurisprudence Examination and any other Examinations required and approved by the Licence Committee;  10\. information, in a form satisfactory to the Registrar, dated within 60 days from the date of the Application, from the Extra jurisdictional Regulator in each jurisdiction in which the Licence Applicant is or was, at any time, registered or licensed for the practice of a Health Profession, confirming that: Regulator in each jurisdiction in which the Licence Applicant is or was, at any time, licensed for the practice of a Health Profession, confirming that:  12\. payment of any outstanding amount owed or owing by the Licence Applicant to the College, including without limitation any amount accrued or accruing to a Former Regulatory College prior to its amalgamation with the College;   13\. the applicable Fees set out in Schedule “2” and   14\. additional information or records that the License Applicant is ordered to provide”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $363

One-time fees listed for Trained in Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $225 62%
Exams $138 38%
One-time total $363 100%

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

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

Annual fees: $17,342.25 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • Listed one-time fees: $363
  • 2 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $17,342.25

  1. Hold licensure as the equivalent of a Licensee in good standing in the other jurisdiction and not be subject to any practice limitations, restrictions, or conditions there.

    Source
    “1\. holds licensure as the equivalent of a Licensee in good standing in the other jurisdiction   2\. is not subject to any practice limitations, restrictions, or conditions in the other jurisdiction; and”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

  2. Complete the College's Jurisprudence Examination, as applicants already practising in another regulated Canadian jurisdiction are only required to take it.

    Source
    “Practising naturopathic physicians in other regulated Canadian jurisdictions seeking registration with the College are only required to take the Jurisprudence Examination.”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

  3. Provide all requirements under full licence, with the exception of the eligibility standards information, the graduation documentation, and, subject to English language proficiency requirements in the current jurisdiction, possibly the ELP information.

    Source
    “Provides all requirements under full licence, with the exception of:  - Information demonstrating the Licence Applicant meets Eligibility Standards for Naturopathic Medicine: Full licence class, including conditions and requirements found in Schedule 4: Part 3 Naturopathic Medicine.  - Original documentation, notarized copy, or other evidence satisfactory to the Registrar of graduation from a Recognized Education Program for the Licence applied for as specified in Schedule 4: Part 3 Naturopathic Medicine confirming graduation no more than three years prior to the date of Application;  - Subject to English language proficiency (ELP) requirements required in current jurisdiction, applicant may not need to provide information regarding ELP requirement”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

  4. Submit the application, which will be reviewed by staff from the CCHPBC licensure team, with outstanding requirements communicated via email.

    Source
    “All applications submitted will be reviewed by staff from the CCHPBC licensure team. All outstanding requirements will be communicated via email. Please ensure your contact information is current on file.”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $363

One-time fees listed for Licensed in another province, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $225 62%
Exams $138 38%
One-time total $363 100%

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

Annual fees: $17,342.25 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

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.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • The applicant must have graduated from a naturopathic medical school accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education and recognized by the College.

    Source
    “Graduation from a naturopathic medical school accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) and recognized by the College.”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

  • The applicant must provide evidence of graduation from a Recognized Education Program confirming graduation no more than three years prior to the date of application.

    Source
    “Original documentation, notarized copy, or other evidence satisfactory to the Registrar of graduation from a Recognized Education Program for the Licence applied for as specified in Schedule 4: Part 4 Naturopathic Medicine confirming graduation no more than three years prior to the date of Application;”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

Police check

  • The applicant must provide a Criminal Record Check Authorization, and if they have practised a health profession in another jurisdiction, an authorization for a criminal record check in that jurisdiction and/or a criminal record report.

    Source
    “Criminal Record Check Authorization, and, in the case of a Licence Applicant who has practised a Health Profession in another jurisdiction, an authorization for a Criminal Record Check in that jurisdiction and/or a criminal record report”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

Insurance

  • The applicant must confirm compliance with the requirement to have professional liability protection or liability insurance coverage of at least $5,000,000 per claim or occurrence.

    Source
    “Confirmation of compliance, with requirement to have professional liability protection or liability insurance coverage in an amount of at least $5,000,000 per claim or occurrence”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

Good character

  • The applicant must provide a declaration or other information demonstrating they are of good character and will practise naturopathic medicine in an ethical manner.

    Source
    “Declaration or other information demonstrating the Licence Applicant is of good character and will practise Naturopathic Medicine in an ethical manner”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

Other

  • The applicant must hold current first aid certification as required for the naturopathic medicine class of licence.

    Source
    “Current first aid certification as required for Naturopathic Medicine class of Licence in accordance with Schedule 4: Part 3 Naturopathic Medicine.”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

  • The applicant must pay any outstanding amount owed to the College, including amounts accrued to a former regulatory college prior to amalgamation.

    Source
    “payment of any outstanding amount owed or owing by the Licence Applicant to the College, including without limitation any amount accrued or accruing to a Former Regulatory College prior to its amalgamation with the College;”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

  • An applicant licensed in another Canadian jurisdiction must hold licensure as the equivalent of a Licensee in good standing in that jurisdiction.

    Source
    “holds licensure as the equivalent of a Licensee in good standing in the other jurisdiction”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

  • An applicant licensed in another Canadian jurisdiction must not be subject to any practice limitations, restrictions, or conditions in that jurisdiction.

    Source
    “is not subject to any practice limitations, restrictions, or conditions in the other jurisdiction; and”
    cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

Applicants already practising naturopathic medicine in another regulated Canadian jurisdiction are only required to take the College's Jurisprudence Examination and do not need to retake the entry-to-practice examinations or a clinical competency assessment.

Source
“Practising naturopathic physicians in other regulated Canadian jurisdictions seeking registration with the College are only required to take the Jurisprudence Examination.”
cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with CCHPBC

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with CCHPBC

Exams

Language tests

No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with CCHPBC

Exemptions: Subject to English language proficiency requirements required in the current jurisdiction, an applicant licensed in another Canadian jurisdiction may not need to provide information regarding the ELP requirement.

Source
“Subject to English language proficiency (ELP) requirements required in current jurisdiction, applicant may not need to provide information regarding ELP requirement”
cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with CCHPBC

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with CCHPBC

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 British Columbia and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
British Columbia $37,929 $71,500 $124,000 Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada $32,867 $56,800 $123,000 —

Wages by region and job outlook in British Columbia

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.

  • Alberta Licence required
  • Saskatchewan Licence required
  • Manitoba Licence required
  • Ontario Licence required
  • Quebec Not confirmed yet
  • New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
  • Nova Scotia Licence required
  • Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
  • Yukon Not confirmed yet
  • Northwest Territories Licence required
  • Nunavut Not confirmed yet

Compare naturopathic doctor licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. What’s Changing for Naturopathic Medicine Applicants: New National CANRA Examination - CCHPBC cchpbc.ca/whats-changing-for-naturopathic-medicine-applicants-new-n... · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Naturopathic Physicians - Applicants - CCHPBC cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/applicants · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Fees: Naturopathic Medicine - CCHPBC cchpbc.ca/for-professionals/naturopathic-doctors/nd-fees · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. The College of Complementary Health Professionals is updating its fee structure in the 2025-2026 fiscal year - CCHPBC cchpbc.ca/the-college-of-complementary-health-professionals-is-upda... · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

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

Yes. Registration with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC is required to practise in British Columbia, and to use the title physician, doctor or Dr.

Which exams are required?

Jurisprudence Examination, CANRA-QE, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

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