Naturopathic Medicine Council of Canada (NMCC)
Details on the education and
examination requirements for naturopathic doctors and reasons why
naturopathic medicine can play a vital role in the healthcare
system.
The
Naturopathic Medicine
Council of Canada (NMCC) is the nation's oldest and largest
Canadien
Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Founded in 1991, NMCC is a nonprofit, scientific, educational, organization, dedicated to exploring new
frontiers of mind, body, medicine and health. NMCC has a nondiscriminatory
policy, with membership open to individuals with Doctor of Naturopathy (N.D.) or
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (N.M.D.), as well as other health care fields.
Some of our members hold other medical degrees: M.D., D.O., D.D.S., O.M.D.,
H.M.D., and D.C. All of our members have a strong commitment to the philosophy,
art and science, of natural therapeutics. They subscribe to the motto "Doctor do
no harm".
Interest in alternative medicine has grown significantly over the
last decade, creating a demand for alternative practitioners. Three
elements must be present to ensure that these healthcare
professionals do not pose a threat to public health:
-
Practitioners must be educated at medical colleges that have
been accredited by an agency recognized by the
Alternative Medicine
Examiners Council of Canada (AMECC);
-
Practitioners must be examined by a national examining board
that sets high standards for eligibility and provides
standardized test administration; board examinations must be
developed in accordance with national testing standards; and
-
Practitioners must be licensed, required to take continuing
education, and subject to peer review.
One naturopathic medical college in Canada is currently accredited
by the
Canadian Council of
Naturopathic Examiners (CCNE).
The CCNE is the only naturopathic accrediting body recognized by the
Alternative
Medicine Examiners Council of Canada (AMECC).
The education of naturopathic doctors (NDs)
follows a path similar to that of medical doctors (MDs). Applicants
enter naturopathic medical school after receiving a baccalaureate
degree (usually pre-med) from a four-year college. Students
complete two years of post-graduate basic science coursework then
have two to three years of didactic and clinical training, including
time spent in supervised patient care.
The
Canadian Council of Naturopathic Examiners (CCNE) uses the CCNEX
to examine all naturopathic physicians who want to be licensed in
provinces that license NDs. The
Canadian Council of Naturopathic Examiners (CCNEX) are
criterion-referenced examinations. Five Part I - Basic Science
Examinations cover anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology,
immunology, and pathology. The Part I Examinations are taken after
the second year of training. Eleven Part II - Clinical Science
Examinations cover diagnosis using physical examination and lab
testing, emergency and medical procedures, as well as naturopathic
treatment modalities (botanical medicine, homeopathy, clinical
nutrition, physical medicine, counseling & health psychology). The
CCNEX examinations are developed according to all the guidelines set
forth in the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing.
After graduation from the accredited naturopathic medical college
and passage of Part II - Clinical Science Examinations, candidates
apply to one of the jurisdictions that have laws that enable
licensed naturopathic physicians to serve their communities as
providers of primary care medicine in Canada. Licensed
NDs are required to obtain continuing
education and are subject to peer review.
-
Naturopathic medicine can play a vital, cost-effective role in the
healthcare system:
-
Naturopathic physicians are primary care providers who treat
patients for a variety of conditions, using therapies that are
non-invasive, safe, and effective. More patients are
demanding these kinds of treatment options, and the cost of
naturopathic care is minimal when compared to the skyrocketing
costs of drugs.
-
Because naturopathic medicine places significant emphasis on
prevention (not merely on screening for pre-existing
conditions), it can help stem the increasing incidence of
chronic disease. For a small expenditure now, significant costs
can be prevented later.
-
Naturopathic medicine provides vital adjunctive care when a
patient is being treated by a medical doctor for a serious
condition. For example, naturopathic medicine can help
alleviate the severe side effects of chemotherapy and can
provide support for better healing. A study done recently
showed that this valuable care accounts for only 2% of the cost
of cancer treatment.
-
NDs
can meet the growing shortage of healthcare providers in rural
areas. Efforts are under way to allow naturopathic doctors to
be granted the same kinds of loan repayment options to encourage
participation in rural, veteran’s, and Indian health programs
that are available for MDs, DOs,
DCs, and other eligible providers.
-
A patient who is rushed through appointments and feels that
her/his doctor does not listen is more likely to file a lawsuit
in the case of a mistake than is a patient who feels a
respectful partnership with her/his physician.
NDs spend a great deal of time
listening to their patients, attending to their emotional,
mental, and spiritual needs as well as to their physical
symptoms. Cases of malpractice are extremely rare in the
naturopathic profession.
The
Naturopathic Medicine
Council of Canada (NMCC) now recommends
colleges and medicinal
products through the following logos. The Colleges must meet NMCC standards of
education. The products must be produced bio and have
been clinically tested for their proven therapeutic properties.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
During the first 2 ½ - 3 years of medical school, the education of
naturopathic doctors (NDs) follows a
path similar to that of medical doctors (MDs). Students in both
allopathic and naturopathic medical colleges receive extensive
training in the biomedical sciences, and in physical, clinical, and
lab diagnosis. Both receive training in emergency procedures,
public health, and principles of pharmacology. The naturopathic
colleges use standard medical texts for this phase of the training.
The paths of naturopathic medical education and allopathic medical
education diverge after this point. MDs learn how to prescribe
drugs and perform or refer for surgery. NDs
learn how to use herbs, clinical nutrition, physical medicine (e.g.,
hydrotherapy, soft tissue massage, osseous manipulation, etc.),
homeopathy, and mind-body medicine.
Four keys differences distinguish the naturopathic approach from the
approach used by allopathic doctors (MDs):
-
Emphasis on prevention
-
Search for and treatment of the cause of illness (as compared to
an approach that treats the symptoms of the illness)
-
Individualized treatment (e.g. two patients being treated for
the same pathology may have completely different treatment
protocols)
-
A goal of removing obstacles to the body’s own innate healing
processes (as compared to the idea that “cure” must come from
external sources)
Naturopathic License
Requirements
Naturopathic
Doctor: Initial License Requirements
-
Submit a naturopathic license
application & pay the required license fee;
-
Possess a good moral and professional reputation;
-
Be
physically and mentally fit to practice naturopathic medicine;
-
Graduate from a naturopathic medical college that is
accredited by the Council or another such accrediting agency
recognized by the federal government; or graduate from a
foreign country naturopathic medical college that possesses
equivalent qualifications; and
-
Successfully complete the Canadian Council of Naturopathic
Examiners (CCNE) examinations.
The Naturopathic Medicine Council of Canada (NMCC)'s
mission is to ensure the high quality of naturopathic medical
education in Canada through the voluntary accreditation of
four-year, graduate-level programs in naturopathic medicine.
Students and graduates of programs accredited or pre-accredited
(candidacy) by NMCC are eligible to apply for the naturopathic
licensing examinations administered by the Canadian Council of
Naturopathic Examiners (CCNE).
Founded in 1991,
theCanadian Council of Naturopathic Examiners (CCNE) is
accepted as the programmatic accrediting agency for naturopathic
medical education by the naturopathic colleges and programs in
Canada, by the Canadian national naturopathic professional
syndicates, and by NMCC. CCNE advocates for high standards in
naturopathic education, and its grant of accreditation to a college
or program indicates prospective students and the public may have
confidence in the college or program. The CCNE is the national
accrediting agency for programs leading to the Doctor of
Naturopathic Medicine (N.D. or N.M.D.) or Doctor of Naturopathy
(N.D.) degree in Canada.
An accreditation handbook,
containing CCNE standards, policies, procedures, and governing
documents, is available for $20, prepaid. A free PDF version is
available by e-mail upon request. The PDF file may be opened and
printed with Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free download.
CCNE also certifies
postdoctoral programs in naturopathic medicine. Among these programs
are naturopathic residencies that provide licensed naturopathic
physicians with postgraduate training in naturopathic family care
and other specialties. A manual containing
CCNE's standards for residency programs may be ordered for
$15, prepaid. A free PDF version is available by e-mail.
CCNE is a member of the
Alternative Medicine
Examiners Council of Canada (AMECC)
and abides by the CPMDQ Code of Good Practice.
The accredited and candidate
naturopathic medicine programs, as well as the certified residency
programs, are listed on the links page. After accessing the links
page, click the name of the program or its logo to go to the Website
for the college or university that offers the program.
For
frequently asked questions, click "FAQs" on the menu.
CCNEs
next meeting will be held April 8 & 9, 2006, Montreal, Québec,
NEWS BLOC 2:
Silvia Cademartori.
HOMEOPATHY: the prestigious medical journal Lancet, reports in
its issue today that homeopathy doesn't work. Homeopathy has been around for
hundreds of years, and it is considered "alternative" medicine in Canada.
Lancet, based on a study, questions the effects of homeopathy compared to a
placebo. CBC's Dave Bronstetter spoke with Dr. Peter Veniez, president of the
Quebec Union of Professional Naturopaths.
Canada.
