Naturopathic Physicians – Applicants

A license applicant must satisfy the following requirement before submitting a license application: 

1. Graduation from a naturopathic medical school accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) and recognized by the College. See Recognized Education Programs on Table 3, page 130 of the College Bylaws.
2. 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.
3. Successful completion of the College’s Jurisprudence Examination. Examinations from other jurisdictions are not accepted in place of this College’s examinations. Satisfying license application requirement.
4. Successful completion of CANRA-QE administered by the Canadian Alliance of Naturopathic Regulatory Authorities (CANRA). National Qualifications Examination | CANRA. 

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: 

(i) the Licence Applicant’s authority to practice a Health Profession has not been revoked, suspended, limited, restricted, or subject to conditions in that jurisdiction at any time, or specifying particulars of any such revocation, suspension, limitation, restriction, or conditions; 

(ii) the Licence Applicant is not the subject of a current proceeding, including any investigation, inquiry, review or appeal, that could result in the Applicant’s authority to practice a Health Profession being revoked, suspended, limited, restricted, or subject to conditions in that jurisdiction, or specifying particulars of any such current proceeding; and 

(iii) no proceeding of the type described in subparagraph (j)(ii) was not initiated or completed because the Licence Applicant voluntarily relinquished their authority to practice a Health Profession; 

11. information confirming the Licence Applicant’s English language proficiency in a form satisfactory to, or in accordance with, the English Language Proficiency policy established by the Registrar. Details of this requirement are currently being finalized and will be published soon. 

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 

Applicants who currently hold practising naturopathic medicine LICENCE in another Canadian Jurisdiction

Eligibility:   

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  

3. 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 

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.  

CANRA-Qualifying examinations 

The College is pleased to announce that the Canadian Alliance of Naturopathic Regulatory Authorities (CANRA) has introduced a new national entry-to-practice examination for the Naturopathic profession effective Fall 2026.  See press release June 2026. 

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is the practical examination component of the CANRA-QE and will replace the College’s Oral Practical Examination as the clinical competency assessment for applicants seeking licence in British Columbia.  

Please refer to the Candidate examination handbook for more information. 

CANRA Qualifying Examinations – Entry-to-Practice OSCE Candidate Handbook at National Qualifications Examination | CANRA. 

Candidates wishing to sit for the Fall 2026 CANRA-QE must complete the following steps: 

1. Submit an examination application in the Licensee/Applicant Portal 

2. Meet all eligibility requirements established by the College 

3. Register for the CANRA-QE OSCE in exam booking 

4. Payment of the examination fee will be collected by CANRA 

Licence applicants must successfully complete the CCHPBC’s Jurisprudence and CANRA’s Qualifying Examinations – Objective Structured Clinical Examination (QE-OSCE).

Practising naturopathic physicians in other regulated Canadian jurisdictions seeking registration with the College are only required to take the Jurisprudence Examination.

The College uses NABNE’s NPLEX exams – NPLEX I & NPLEX II & Minor Surgery.

Additional registration requirements can be found in the “Naturopathic Medicine Applicants” section above.

OCT 2026 CANRA qualifying EXAMINATION 

CANRA-QE Exam Administration: October 18, 2026 

Location: Vancouver, BC 

Registration Opens: July 13, 2026 

Deadline for Registration: July 24, 2026 (Due by 12:00 pm PT) 

Deadline to Apply for Accommodation: July 24, 2026 (Due by 12:00 pm PT) 

Applications and Guidelines

On March 25th, the College notified applicants of an upcoming phased transition to a new applicant portal. This new applicant portal, hosted by Alinity, will be the single platform for application submissions, document uploads, updates to contact information, and for tracking requests and communications with the College. The first stage of the transition is now complete, and applicants may now login to the Applicant Portal to apply for exams and subsequently a licence.

Examination Accommodations

Candidates with a disability who require an examination accommodation must submit a request for consideration (in writing, signed, dated, and enclosed with supporting documentation) via the licensee/applicant portal.  

Applying for Full Licence

Candidates planning to apply for a licence with the College should review the licence application requirement.

How to Submit an Application for an Initial Licence 

Release of Exam Results to Another Jurisdiction

To request that your examination results be sent to another jurisdiction, please email registration@cchpbc.ca.

Results will be sent to the requested jurisdiction within 5-10 days.

Questions

If you have questions or concerns regarding examinations, please contact the College by phone or by email at applications@cchpbc.ca.

Questions regarding the CANRA-Qualifying Exam, please contact CANRA directly.