Graduate Competencies
The graduate of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine’s (CCNM) naturopathic medicine program is a primary-care professional who draws upon the art and science of natural healing in a patient-centred model of medicine. Utilizing naturopathic principles, naturopathic doctors employ evidence-informed approaches to facilitate patient wellness and promote the body’s ability to restore and maintain optimal health. With a focus on whole-person wellness, naturopathic doctors diagnose and manage the treatment of patients with acute and chronic conditions. They are leaders who value relationships, effective communication, and lifelong learning.
Naturopathic Medical Expert
Medical Assessment and Diagnosis:
  • Relates biomedical sciences to clinical care.
  • Elicits a medical and biopsychosocial history.
  • Gathers information from objective investigations.
  • Critically applies naturopathic clinical theories and philosophy in assessing and managing patient care by considering risk/benefit, evidence, holism and patient values.
  • Formulates an accurate diagnosis.
Patient Management
  • Prescribes a patient-centred management plan consistent with the diagnosis/es, available evidence, intended clinical outcomes, best practices and patient needs.
  • Demonstrates effective short and long-term case management skills.
  • Attains informed patient consent concerning therapies and wellness options to the treatment plan, including risks, benefits and alternatives to recommended therapies
Health Professional
  • Maintains legal and ethical standards in all forms of public and professional interactions.
  • Demonstrates respect and integrity in professional interactions.
  • Demonstrates awareness of their strengths and limitations in expertise, and refers patients when appropriate.
  • Commits to personal and professional growth.
Communicator and Collaborator
  • Establishes a therapeutic relationship with patients.
  • Communicates effectively to optimize patient relationships and patient care.
  • Applies effective, context-specific and culturally appropriate and respectful communication strategies that encourage understanding between the naturopathic doctor, their patients, their colleagues, and their health-care team.
  • Collaborates as a member of the patient's health-care team in order to enhance care to patients.
Health Scholar
  • Demonstrates evidence-informed practices.
  • Displays a commitment to reflective practice.
  • Engages in continuing education and professional development.
Naturopathic Manager
  • Conducts their naturopathic business practice ethically while maintaining a career growth mindset.
  • Develops collaborative, interprofessional relationships that optimize patient care outcomes.
  • Practices cost-effective health-care through evidence-informed management, preventive strategies and lifestyle management, with an aim at alleviating the overall health care burden.
Health Advocate and Leader
  • Advocates within the health-care system and to the community at large for health promotion and illness prevention.
  • Demonstrates leadership by positively influencing individuals and communities.
  • Influences community or population health through advocacy, education, research, community initiatives and other efforts to address the personal, economic, environmental and social determinants of health and shape public and professional health-care policy.
  • Influences and promotes the essential role of naturopathic medicine to individuals, policymakers, and the public at large.