Table 5 Characteristics of global regulation of naturopathic practitioners
NATUROPATHIC REGISTRATION/LICENSING CHARACTERISTICS | Total (n=33)a | No regulation (n=28)b | Title protection (n=18)b | Defined scope of practice (n=27)b | Other regulation (n=7)b | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | |
Profession entry requirement to be registered | ||||||||||
 Direct entry based on qualification completion only | 6 | 18.2 | 1 | 3.6 | 1 | 5.6 | 5 | 18.5 | 1 | 14.3 |
 Direct entry based on qualification from a naturopathic education institution | 10 | 30.3 | 1 | 3.6 | 4 | 22.2 | 6 | 22.2 | 4 | 57.1 |
 Entry based on completion from naturopathic institution plus board examination | 19 | 57.6 | 2 | 7.1 | 13 | 72.2 | 19 | 70.3 | 1 | 14.3 |
 Entry based on success in board examination without any specific qualifications | 2 | 6.1 | 1 | 3.6 | 2 | 11.1 | 1 | 3.7 | 1 | 14.3 |
 Other | 4 | 12.1 | 1 | 3.6 | 2 | 11.1 | 3 | 11.1 | 1 | 14.3 |
Organization that administers board examination for naturopathic regulation | ||||||||||
 Government Department or Agency | 2 | 6.1 | 1 | 3.6 | 2 | 11.1 | 2 | 7.4 | 0 | 0.0 |
 Delegated Authority on Behalf of Government | 3 | 9.1 | 1 | 3.6 | 3 | 16.7 | 3 | 11.1 | 1 | 14.3 |
 Independent Academic Accreditation Agency | 2 | 6.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5.6 | 2 | 7.4 | 0 | 0.0 |
 Naturopathic Educational Institution | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
 Naturopathic Organization Independent of Naturopathic Institution | 7 | 21.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 5 | 27.8 | 7 | 25.9 | 0 | 0.0 |
 Other | 5 | 15.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 11.1 | 5 | 18.5 | 0 | 0.0 |
Requirements to sit board naturopathic registration/licensing examination | ||||||||||
 No Entry Requirements | 1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 3.7 | 0 | 0.0 |
 Entry Based on Experience or Equivalence Qualifications | 2 | 6.1 | 1 | 3.6 | 2 | 11.1 | 2 | 7.4 | 0 | 0.0 |
 Direct Entry Based on Qualification (no Institutional Accreditation required) | 1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5.6 | 1 | 3.7 | 0 | 0.0 |
 Direct Entry Based on an Accredited Institution only | 14 | 42.4 | 1 | 3.6 | 9 | 50.0 | 14 | 51.9 | 1 | 14.3 |
Organization responsible for naturopathic registration/licensing approval | ||||||||||
 Government official (e.g. Minister of Health) | 14 | 42.4 | 3 | 10.7 | 8 | 44.4 | 11 | 40.7 | 4 | 57.1 |
 A committee or board | 2 | 6.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 7.4 | 0 | 0.0 |
 An existing regulatory body for other health professions | 4 | 12.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 11.1 | 4 | 14.8 | 0 | 0.0 |
 An existing regulatory body for naturopathy | 7 | 21.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 5 | 27.8 | 6 | 22.2 | 1 | 14.3 |
 Other | 6 | 18.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 16.7 | 4 | 14.8 | 2 | 28.6 |
Presence of naturopathy specific regulatory board | ||||||||||
 Yes | 21 | 63.6 | 2 | 7.1 | 13 | 72.2 | 19 | 70.4 | 4 | 57.1 |
 No | 11 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | 22.2 | 7 | 25.9 | 3 | 42.9 |
 Unsure | 1 | 3.0 | 1 | 3.6 | 1 | 5.6 | 1 | 3.7 | 0 | 0.0 |
Characteristics of regulatory board for naturopathy | ||||||||||
 Standalone organization with no government affiliation | 6 | 18.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 11.1 | 4 | 14.8 | 2 | 28.6 |
 Independent organization affiliated with government | 9 | 27.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 16.7 | 8 | 29.6 | 2 | 28.6 |
 Independent organization affiliated with a professional association | 2 | 6.1 | 2 | 7.1 | 2 | 11.1 | 2 | 7.4 | 1 | 14.3 |
 Government department | 13 | 39.4 | 1 | 3.6 | 10 | 55.6 | 12 | 44.4 | 1 | 14.3 |
 Professional association | 2 | 6.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 14.3 |
Naturopathic regulation sole purpose of regulatory organization | ||||||||||
 Yes | 18 | 54.5 | 2 | 7.1 | 9 | 50.0 | 15 | 55.6 | 5 | 71.4 |
 No | 10 | 30.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 7 | 38.9 | 9 | 33.3 | 1 | 14.3 |
 Unsure | 4 | 12.1 | 1 | 3.6 | 2 | 11.1 | 2 | 7.4 | 1 | 14.3 |
Composition of committee of regulatory board | ||||||||||
 Naturopaths/Naturopathic practitioners | 24 | 72.7 | 3 | 10.7 | 15 | 83.3 | 22 | 81.5 | 4 | 57.1 |
 Public/community representatives | 20 | 60.6 | 2 | 7.1 | 13 | 72.2 | 19 | 70.4 | 2 | 28.6 |
 Public servants | 3 | 9.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 11.1 | 2 | 7.4 | 1 | 14.3 |
 Government officials | 13 | 39.4 | 1 | 3.6 | 8 | 44.4 | 12 | 44.4 | 2 | 28.6 |
 Independent representatives of other health professions | 9 | 27.3 | 3 | 10.7 | 7 | 38.9 | 8 | 29.6 | 2 | 28.6 |
 Representatives of other health professional bodies (e.g. professional associations) | 7 | 21.2 | 1 | 3.6 | 3 | 16.7 | 6 | 22.2 | 1 | 14.3 |
 Representatives of naturopathic professional associations | 13 | 39.4 | 2 | 7.1 | 7 | 38.9 | 9 | 33.3 | 6 | 85.7 |
 Representatives of naturopathic educational institutions | 8 | 24.2 | 2 | 7.1 | 3 | 16.7 | 6 | 22.2 | 4 | 57.1 |