What’s the difference between a ‘holistic practitioner’ & “Naturopathic doctor”?
Natuorpathic doctors are required to attain a Bachelor’s degree before applying for “a four year professional, in-residence doctoral program accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME)” (Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors). At the accredited schools (eg. Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine), naturopathic students “complete more than 4,100 contact hours of instruction, including at least 1,200 hours of supervised, hands-on clinical training. Upon completion of the program naturopathic medical graduates must also pass the North American standardized board exams. Only then, are they a fully qualified Naturopathic Doctor or Doctor of Naturopathy with the ND designation after their name.” (Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors)
Licensing:
Naturopathic doctors in Ontario, Canada are required to be certified by the College of Naturopaths of Ontario. “As of July 1, 2015, all NDs practising in the province became regulated by the College of Naturopaths of Ontario” (College of Naturopaths of Ontario, 2020). In Ontario, “ND, Naturopathic Doctor and Naturopath are protected titles. This means that only people who have demonstrated the education and qualification to practice can use the title” (College of Naturopaths of Ontario, 2020).
All licensed naturopathic doctors are required to be in good standing with The Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors, College of Naturopaths of Ontario and Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors.
