Naturopathic Physicians – Resources

Profession Practice Standards

The Practice Standard Framework document outlines three types of standards which fall under the title of Standards of Practice.

Professional Standards

The Professional Standards document describes the responsibilities of naturopathic physicians in providing care to the public in B.C.

Naturopathic Doctors Scope of Practice: Standards, Limits and Conditions

This document contains information regarding Naturopathic Doctors’ (NDs) scope of practice as set out in the Naturopathic Physicians Regulation (Regulation) under the Health Professions Act. Additional scope of practice information is included in the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC) Bylaws and Standards of Practice.

Practice Standard: Certifications

This standard sets out the requirements and restrictions that apply to the certifications of the designated profession of Naturopathic Medicine.

Scope of Practice for Naturopathic Physicians: Standards, Limits and Conditions for Prescribing, Dispensing and Compounding Drugs

This document includes the standards, with limits and conditions, specific to the scope of naturopathic physician practice for prescribing, dispensing and compounding medications.

Guideline: Chaperones

This document outlines the College’s guidelines regarding chaperones.

Guideline: Laboratory Testing Referrals

This document outlines the College’s guidelines regarding requisitioning laboratory tests and interprofessional practice.

Guideline: Leaving or Transferring Practice – Ownership, Storage, and Access to Clinical Records

This document is the College’s guideline on closing, leaving, or transferring practice. It covers topics related to ownership, storage, and access to clinical records.

Guideline: Online Dispensaries

This document outlines the College’s guideline on online dispensaries.

Practice Standard: Diagnostic Testing

The Practice Standard: Diagnostic Testing covers primary diagnostic procedures and non-diagnostic procedures.

Practice Standard: Immunization

The Practice Standard: Immunization clarifies the College’s position on naturopathic physicians’ responsibilities regarding communications about immunization.

Practice Standard: Laboratory Referrals

This document sets out the standards for laboratory and other diagnostic testing referral.

Practice Standard: Injection Techniques

This document sets out the standards for injection techniques.

Practice Standard: Prescribing Practices – Countersigning Extra-Provincial Prescriptions

This document sets out the standards for prescribing practices and countersigning extra-provincial prescriptions.

Practice Standard: Telemedicine

This document sets out the standards for telemedicine.

Practice Standard: Health Care Records and Receipts

This document sets out the standards for health care records and receipts.

Practice Standard: Informed Consent

This standard sets out the requirements of registrants with respect to the informed consent by a patient.

Practice Standard: Treating in Groups

This standard sets out the requirements of registrants who engage in treating patients in a group setting.

Practice Standard: Indigenous Cultural Safety, Humility and Anti-Racism

Eleven health profession regulatory colleges adopted a common joint Cultural Safety and Humility and Indigenous-specific anti-racism practice standard for registrants. This practice standard supports the College’s joint apology and commitment to action.

Practice Standard: Novel Infections & Diseases

This standard is to set out the requirements and restrictions for the discussion and treatment of patient presenting with novel viruses and diseases.

Practice Standard: Orders, Delegation & Assignment

This standard sets out the requirements for registrants with respect to writing patient-specific orders for regulated health professionals, assignment to unregulated health professionals and accepting orders or delegations from other health professionals.

Practice Standard: Advertising and Communication with Public

This standard sets out the College’s requirements and limits for registrant advertising.

Practice Standard: Use of Title

This standard sets out the requirements and restrictions that apply to use of titles by registrants.

Practice Standard: Supervision of Restricted and Non-Restricted Activities

This standard sets out the requirements and restrictions for the supervision of restricted and non-restricted activities.

Preceptorship Policy

This policy defines the qualifications and responsibilities of preceptors and preceptees.

Continuing Education (CE) Policy for Naturopathic Doctors: Supervised practice/Preceptorship

This policy provides information regarding supervised practice and the allocation of CE hours for both the mentor/preceptor and mentee/preceptee.

Professional Boundaries

Naturopathic doctors in BC are governed by the following Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics

Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics

Quality Assurance Program

The Quality Assurance Program for naturopathic doctors is made up of 3 parts:

Continuing Education
Self and Peer Reviews
Practice Assessments

Please click here for more information about the Quality Assurance Program requirements.

Continuing Education

As part of their quality assurance program, licensed naturopathic physicians are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education over each two (2) year CE period. The current CE period ends on Dec 31, 2025. You can update your CE directly on ROSS > “Continuing education (CE)” tab > “Activities”.

For the complete CE requirements, please review the Quality Assurance Program for Naturopathic Doctors document.

Information for CE Course Providers

Eligible Categories

Please note that the College only reviews and approves Category F & G courses. Registrants may use their best professional judgement and the criteria provided in the above sections when submitting CE hours for the remaining categories.

Application Process

Course providers may fill out and submit the Continuing Education Courses Application form to the College to have their content considered for approval for these CE categories. Once approved, courses will be added to the list of approved courses posted in the ROSS in the “Forms & Resources” folder.