Retention and Registration Status of Naturopathic Doctors from Accredited Naturopathic Educational Programs in Canada – A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Objective: This cross-sectional analysis describes the entry to practice and continuing registration of cohorts from the two accredited naturopathic medical educational programs in Canada. Methods: Cohorts from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM)-Toronto and CCNM-Boucher were included and analyzed based on jurisdiction of registration, time between graduation and registration, current registration status, and the percentage achieving advanced training and certification. Results: A total of 565 graduates from CCNM-Toronto and 296 graduates from CCNM-Boucher were analyzed. 53.3% (n=459) were registered with the naturopathic regulator in Ontario, 34.0% (n=293) with the naturopathic regulator in British Columbia, 9.1% (n=78) with other regulators or professional associations in Canada and 3.6% (n=31) internationally. 47.3% (n=360) acquired registration within 5 to 7 months of graduation and 23.1% (n=176) within 8 to 11 months. The registration status of 74.8% (n=644) was listed as active. Of the naturopathic doctors (NDs) working in jurisdictions where these certifications are optional, 69.0% (n=392) had their prescribing certification and 49.8% (n=302) had their Intravenous and Injection Therapies (IVIT) certification. Conclusion: This cross-sectional analysis indicated that 2 to 3 years following graduation, the NDs sampled have a similar or higher retention rate as other healthcare professionals. The majority of graduates are registered to practice in the same province as the naturopathic program they attended. A higher percentage of NDs practicing in British Columbia than in Ontario have additional training and certification in prescribing and intravenous therapies, which may be a reflection of the broader scope of practice in that province.