Naturopathy is regulated in Ontario under the Regulated Health Professions Act, the same statute that governs physicians and nurses.
Regulation · Ontario · Explained
What a Naturopathic Doctor is in Ontario
Dr. Victoria Posavad, ND
Dr. George Makrides, ND
Dr. Yehia Al-Hashmi, ND
Naturopathic Doctors accepting new patients across OntarioIn Ontario the title is regulated, the training is defined, and the scope has limits written into law. Most of what gets argued about online is really a question about one province's rules, so this page answers it for this one.
Not sure if naturopathic medicine is for you?
A regulated profession
A protected title
Only someone registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario may call themselves a Naturopathic Doctor here.
A defined scope
Ontario Naturopathic Doctors can order specified lab tests. They are not physicians and cannot replace one.
01The short answer
Is a naturopath a real doctor?
It depends entirely on where you are asking, which is why the question produces such contradictory answers. In Ontario, here is what is actually true.
And where the limits are- 01They are regulated health professionals, not physicians. Naturopathy is one of the professions governed by Ontario's Regulated Health Professions Act. A Naturopathic Doctor is not a medical doctor and the two qualifications are not interchangeable.
- 02The title is protected in Ontario. Using it without registration with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario is an offence. That is not true in every province, which is where most of the confusion comes from.
- 03Registration requires a four-year accredited programme. Entry normally follows a prior undergraduate degree, and registration requires passing the North American board examinations plus an Ontario jurisprudence examination.
- 04Every registrant is publicly listed. The College keeps a public register showing registration status and any findings. You can look up any Naturopathic Doctor before booking, and it is worth doing.
- 05They can order and interpret specified lab tests. This is what allows naturopathic care to investigate rather than only advise, and it is a defined list rather than an open one.
- 06They cannot do a great deal. No hospital admitting privileges, no surgery, no diagnostic imaging orders, and a narrowly defined prescribing authority. Care runs alongside your physician, not instead of them.
4yr
Ontario
Registration in Ontario requires graduation from an accredited four-year naturopathic programme, which normally follows a prior undergraduate degree, plus the North American board examinations and an Ontario jurisprudence examination.
Source: College of Naturopaths of Ontario registration requirements.
02Training and regulation
What CONO registration actually requires.
Regulation is the whole of the answer to whether the title means anything, so it is worth setting out rather than asserting.
A protected title is only useful if you check it. The register is public for exactly that reason.
Naturopathy became a regulated health profession in Ontario under the Naturopathy Act, brought into force in 2015, which placed it under the same Regulated Health Professions Act framework as medicine, nursing and pharmacy. The College of Naturopaths of Ontario is the regulator. Its job is not to promote the profession but to hold a register, set standards of practice, and handle complaints.
Registration requires graduation from an accredited four-year naturopathic programme, which in practice follows a prior undergraduate degree. Candidates sit the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations, the North American board examinations covering basic and clinical sciences, and an Ontario-specific jurisprudence examination on the law governing practice here. Registrants carry professional liability insurance and must complete continuing education to stay on the register.
None of that makes a Naturopathic Doctor a physician, and the College is explicit that it should not be represented as such. What it does mean is that the person you see is accountable to a regulator, that their status is publicly verifiable, and that there is somewhere to complain if something goes wrong.
Verify before you book
- 01Search the public register at cono.ca
- 02Check the registration is current, not expired or suspended
- 03Note the registration number and compare it to the one on your receipt
- 04Insurers commonly require that number before they reimburse a claim
03Your roadmap
What seeing a Naturopathic Doctor involves
Scope is set in law, but the shape of the care is fairly ordinary. Here is what actually happens.
- 01A free 10-minute callTell a Naturopathic Doctor what's going on and hear, honestly, whether this is right for you.
- 02Your initial appointmentA full hour: what brought you here, when it started, what you have already tried, and a review of any results you already have.Book your first appointment
- 03Targeted lab work, where neededOntario Naturopathic Doctors can order a defined list of laboratory tests. Some can run through your family doctor under OHIP. The rest are passed through at cost and quoted first.
- 04Your personalized care planDiet, supplements, lifestyle and the other tools within the naturopathic scope of practice, written down and explained rather than handed over.
- 05Ongoing monitoringShort check-ins to see what is working and adjust what is not, alongside whatever care your physician is already providing.
04Who you'll see
Our Naturopathic Care Team
Every one of them is registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario, and they're here to help you reach your health goals with a plan built around you, not a template. We'll match you with the right Naturopathic Doctor for what's going on, or you can ask for someone specific.
Dr. Victoria Posavad
Naturopathic DoctorCONO 4468
Dr. George Makrides
Naturopathic DoctorCONO 4322
Dr. Yehia Al-Hashmi
Naturopathic DoctorCONO 4267
05Cost and coverage
Prices
Now accepting direct billing via Telus eClaims.
Free 10-minute call
A Naturopathic Doctor hears what's going on, tells you whether this is a fit, and checks your coverage.
$0
First appointment
60 minutes. History, review of existing results, testing decisions, a starter plan in writing. Book your first appointment.
$24960 minutes
Follow-up
30 minutes to review results and adjust the plan. A 60-minute extended follow-up when your Naturopathic Doctor recommends more time.
$9930 min · $199 for 60
Lab testing
Targeted from your initial conversation and personalized to help identify the potential root cause of your fatigue. Passed through at the lab's price.
At cost
Have extended health benefits?
We bill your insurer directly through TELUS eClaims. If your plan isn't on the network, an insurance-ready receipt lands in your inbox after every visit, with the CONO registration number and treatment code your insurer asks for.
Manulife·Canada Life·Desjardins·Industrial Alliance·30+ more
06Scope and limits
What a Naturopathic Doctor cannot do in Ontario.
Scope is set in law rather than by the practitioner. Knowing where it ends is the most useful thing on this page.
Outside the scope entirely
- Surgery of any kind
- Ordering diagnostic imaging such as X-ray, CT or MRI
- Hospital admitting privileges
- Certifying a medical note that requires a physician's signature
Where any of these is the right next step, a Naturopathic Doctor's job is to say so and to refer.
Limited, not absent
- Laboratory testing, which is a defined list rather than anything a physician could order
- Prescribing, which is narrowly defined and does not resemble a physician's authority
- Communicating a diagnosis, which is permitted within the naturopathic scope of practice
These are real powers with real boundaries, and the boundaries are published by the College rather than decided in the room.
Where care runs alongside your physician
For anything already being actively managed, naturopathic care sits beside your existing medical care rather than replacing it. Nobody here will tell you to stop a prescribed medication. Where something needs your physician's involvement, you will be told.
Still not sure this is for you?
Ten minutes with a Naturopathic Doctor, no charge, to hear whether naturopathic care is a reasonable fit for what you are dealing with. If it is not, they will say so.
07Common questions
What people ask about naturopathic doctors in Ontario.
Is a naturopathic doctor a real doctor?
In Ontario a Naturopathic Doctor is a regulated health professional with a protected title, registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario under the Regulated Health Professions Act. They are not medical doctors, and the two qualifications are different in training, scope and authority. Both are real; they are not the same thing.
What is the difference between a naturopath and a naturopathic doctor in Ontario?
In Ontario, the titles Naturopathic Doctor and Naturopath are both restricted to people registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario. Someone practising without that registration cannot lawfully use either title here. In provinces without regulation, anyone can call themselves a naturopath, which is the source of most of the confusion.
How long does it take to become a Naturopathic Doctor?
An accredited naturopathic programme runs four years and normally follows a prior undergraduate degree, so roughly seven to eight years of post-secondary study. Registration in Ontario additionally requires the North American board examinations and an Ontario jurisprudence examination.
Can a Naturopathic Doctor order blood tests in Ontario?
Yes, within a defined list of laboratory tests set under the Naturopathy Act. That authority is what allows naturopathic care in Ontario to investigate a problem rather than only give advice. They cannot order diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, CT or MRI.
Can a Naturopathic Doctor prescribe medication?
Only within a narrow, specifically defined authority that does not resemble a physician's prescribing rights. For anything outside it, the right step is your physician, and a Naturopathic Doctor should tell you so.
Is naturopathic care covered by OHIP?
No. OHIP does not cover naturopathic visits, naturopathic lab work, or supplements. Most Ontario extended health benefit plans do cover naturopathic visits under paramedical benefits, with an annual maximum set by your employer's plan.
How do I check if a naturopath is registered in Ontario?
The College of Naturopaths of Ontario keeps a public register at cono.ca showing every registrant, their registration status, and any findings against them. Check it before you book. The registration number also appears on receipts, which insurers commonly require.
Do I need a referral to see a Naturopathic Doctor?
No. Naturopathic Doctors are primary contact practitioners in Ontario, so you can book directly. Some extended health plans ask for a physician's note before reimbursing, which is worth confirming with your insurer.
08Read next
More to explore.
- Virtual careSeeing a Naturopathic Doctor online in OntarioGuide
- ProcessHow a first appointment actually runsGuide
- CostWhat a naturopath costs in OntarioPrices
- InsuranceAre naturopaths covered by insurance in Ontario?8 min read
- TeamThe Naturopathic Doctors you would seeProfiles
- ExplainedNatural healing, holistic and alternative medicine in OntarioGuide
Medical notice
This page is general education, not medical advice, and it is not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. It does not create a practitioner-patient relationship. Nothing here is a promise of an outcome. Anything on this page that applies to you should be discussed with a Naturopathic Doctor or your physician, who can look at your history and your results.
Fitra Health connects Ontario residents with Naturopathic Doctors registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario. Care is virtual and available across Ontario. Naturopathic Doctors are regulated health professionals; they do not replace your family doctor or emergency care.
Your next step
Start with the quiz, or just talk to someone.
Two minutes for an honest read on whether naturopathic care fits what you are dealing with. Or skip it and book a free 10-minute call with a Naturopathic Doctor.