Naturopathic Regulation in Canada, the UK, Australia and Elsewhere

This page is information, not medical advice, and it does not recommend any practitioner. Where a place is not covered here, we did not verify its rules; ask the local health authority. Everything below was read on 2026-10-22 and laws change.

Canada: provincial regulation

In Canada, health professions are regulated by province or territory. The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) lists Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, North West Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan as places that regulate naturopathic doctors (NDs). [1] The exam board NABNE lists regulators or associations for several of these, such as the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta and the Nova Scotia Chiropractic and Naturopathic Regulator. [2] NABNE also says that, because of recent changes in Canada, you should contact the provincial regulator for current exam requirements. [3]

Ontario. The College of Naturopaths of Ontario says that licensed naturopaths there complete at least three years of university-level training, including pre-medical courses, and four years at an accredited naturopathic medical program. [4] It says "ND," "naturopathic doctor" and "naturopath" are protected titles, and that anyone using a protected title without belonging to the College is engaged in unauthorised practice. [4] It reports that naturopaths there offer services including acupuncture, drawing blood, and dispensing and prescribing drugs. [4] It also publishes a public register of registered naturopaths. [4]

British Columbia. The College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC regulates chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopathic physicians, and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists in the province. [5] Its site has a public registry. [5]

United Kingdom: a voluntary register

In the UK, the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) says it was set up with government support to provide a voluntary register of health practitioners. [6] Its register is approved as an Accredited Register by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care. [6] The Authority says Accredited Registers are for practitioners who are not regulated by law. [7] CNHC lists naturopathy among eighteen professions it registers. [8] It also says the government has recommended that people looking for a practitioner who is not regulated by law consult one on an accredited register. [9] These are CNHC's own statements. We did not read a UK government source on whether the title "naturopath" is protected, so that is not described in the sources we read.

CNHC states that registered practitioners are properly qualified and insured and accountable to it for complaints. [10] Treat that as CNHC's description of its scheme. CNHC also says it is not a membership organisation but a voluntary regulator. [9]

Australia: no national registration

A consumer health site says that in Australia there is currently no law governing who can use the description "naturopath" and that naturopaths do not have to be registered. [11] Ahpra, the national regulator of registered health practitioners, gives naturopaths as an example of people working in healthcare who are not registered health practitioners. [12] A voluntary register exists. The Australian Register of Naturopaths and Herbalists (ARONAH) says the professions are not currently regulated under the national scheme, and that it has built its own framework. [13] ARONAH reported on 11 March 2026 that it had lodged a formal submission seeking statutory registration. [14] We did not find a government decision. ARONAH states that the minimum level of training to become a naturopath in Australia is a bachelor's degree; other sources note that anyone can use the word, so this describes ARONAH's standard rather than a legal requirement. [15][11]

At a glance

Elsewhere in the world

Researchers surveyed 65 naturopathic organizations in 29 countries between 2016 and 2019 (a 29% response rate among 228 invited). They found that education and regulation of the profession vary widely, and that full access to controlled acts and to health insurance rebates was reported more often where naturopathy is regulated. [16] Some authors have ties to ARONAH and the World Naturopathic Federation, bodies that support regulation. [16] The survey does not say which country is better or worse.

The World Health Organization's 2010 benchmarks describe training, not law. For a Type I naturopathy programme aimed at people with no prior health training, WHO suggests a minimum of two years full-time study of no fewer than 1500 hours, including no less than 400 hours of supervised clinical training. [17] These are WHO reference points for countries designing training; they are not binding on any country. For a world overview, see naturopathy around the world.

Using this page

Look up the regulator or register in your own place, as described in how to verify a credential. Compare US rules on the United States page, and see coordinating complementary and medical care for working with your doctor.