CCNM - Help Us Grow

How to Apply

Admission requirements may be subject to change at any time without notice. For current information, please contact the Student Services Department, ext. 245.

Application forms may be downloaded at www.ccnm.edu/download.html.

Please direct all inquiries to:

Student Services Department
The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine
1255 Sheppard Ave. East
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2K 1E2
Tel: 416-498-1255/1-866-241-2266 ext. 245
Fax: 416-498-13197
E-mail: info@ccnm.edu

Priority Application Dates

Program	Application Deadlines
Spring/Summer	November 30, 2006
Naturopathic College Preparatory Program (NCPP)

Naturopathic Doctor (ND) Program,	January 31, 2007
September intake
Summer/Fall	March 30, 2007
Naturopathic College Preparatory Program (NCPP)

Naturopathic Doctor (ND) Program,	May 31, 2007
January intake

Note:

1. Possession of the published minimum admission requirements does not guarantee an offer of admission. In addition to the admission requirements, the College will admit only those candidates who, in the judgment of the College, are of good character, are capable of completing the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program in its entirety, and show promise of becoming a worthy member of the naturopathic profession.

2. Applications may be accepted beyond priority application dates, subject to availability, in which case the application is subject to a $50 late fee in addition to the $150 application fee.

3. As of August 2006, the annual tuition fees are as follows: Canadian students $17,239 CAD; international students $20,648 CAD. If an applicant is offered admission, a deposit of 10 per cent of the current annual tuition fee is required to confirm acceptance of the offer ($1,724 for Canadian students and $2,065 for international students). The deposit will be applied to the first-year tuition fees. (Note: If an applicant withdraws their application prior to the start of their first year, the deposit will be refunded less a $100 administration fee.)

Failure by the applicant to comply with instructions or to meet deposit deadlines may result in cancellation of the application.

Requirements for admission

The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine is committed to excellence in naturopathic education and to the success of our graduates. All candidates for admission are evaluated based on their academic history as well as their motivation for becoming a naturopathic doctor, leadership skills, problem solving and critical-thinking skills, and specific personal qualities and characteristics.

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission to the ND program, applicants must have completed a minimum of three years (equivalent to 15 full courses or 90 credit hours) toward a baccalaureate degree. For September admission, courses must be completed by August 31 of the year of application. For January admission, courses must be completed by December 31 of the year of application.

Competitive applications should have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 on a four-point scale (equivalent to B+). A lower grade point average may be acceptable depending on the applicant's academic history, interview, essay, references and autobiographical sketch.

Credit will not be given for the completion of prerequisites unless a grade of C-minus (60 per cent) or better is earned.

Required Courses	Credit hours	Units
General Biology*	6	1.0
Biochemistry	3	0.5
General Chemistry (with lab)	6	1.0
Organic Chemistry (with lab)	3	0.5
Introductory Psychology	6	1.0
Humanities**	6	1.0

* The biology requirement may be fulfilled by either a one-year general biology course or by two semesters of courses such as anatomy, botany, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, physiology or zoology.

** Examples: Sociology, Anthropology, Women's Studies, Philosophy, Literature Studies, or similar courses. Coursework must include an essay-writing component.

Applicants lacking some or all of the above prerequisite courses may be eligible for admission into the Naturopathic College Preparatory Program (NCPP).

Note: It is recommended that applicants complete courses in some or all of the following areas to prepare for the College curriculum: anatomy, environmental science, genetics, human physiology, microbiology, physics, sociology, statistics, humanities and English composition.

Personal statement/essay

Applicants are required to complete a personal statement/essay. Details of the personal statement /essay are outlined in the application package. It is important that the specific instructions provided for completion of the essay questions are followed.

Confidential references

The application package contains two confidential reference forms. These forms must be completed by independent referees and mailed by the referee directly to CCNM. The confidential reference forms must arrive by the published application deadline. It is recommended that the applicant receive references from a naturopathic doctor, a professor, or an employer. References from relatives will not be considered. No more than two references will be considered.

Autobiographical sketch

The application package contains an autobiographical sketch form. Applicants are asked to list, in chronological order, a brief description of their most significant activities for the past 10 years (e.g., occupations, details of education, honours and awards, extracurricular activities, volunteer work). Applicants may also submit a current resume to support their autobiographical sketch. (Note: A resume may be submitted in addition to but not as a replacement for an autobiographical sketch.)

Personal interview

The purpose of this interview is to assess an applicant's ability to successfully complete the program and become an effective naturopathic doctor. Applicants will be chosen for interviews based on their academic performance.

Interviews are conducted at CCNM in Toronto for applicants who are able to travel to the campus. For applicants unable to come to the campus, interviews will be conducted by telephone. Applicants will be contacted to make interview arrangements.

The personal interview lasts approximately 30 minutes. The interview team usually consists of a naturopathic doctor, a senior naturopathic student and/or a CCNM faculty/staff member. In making the overall assessment of the applicant, the interview team considers the following criteria: motivation, familiarity with naturopathic medicine and CCNM, analytical skills, financial awareness, self-directed learning experience, ethics, communication and leadership skills.

Health statement

All applicants offered admission to CCNM must submit documentation signed by a primary health-care practitioner attesting to their general health status and the results of a tuberculin test conducted within the last six months.

Admission decision

The decision whether or not to admit an applicant is based most heavily on the applicant's undergraduate grade point average. Additional criteria may include the applicant's academic history, essay, references, autobiographical sketch and interview.

Proficiency in the English language

As CCNM curriculum is delivered in the English language, all applicants are expected to demonstrate sufficient facility in the English language to fully participate in the learning process. Please contact the Student Services Department for further information.

International applicants and international documentation

An applicant will be considered an international student if they are not a Canadian citizen or do not have permanent resident/landed immigrant status. Most foreign students will need a study permit to study in Canada.

For more information visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.html

Non-Canadians seeking admission to CCNM – Admission Requirements

Educational requirements must meet Canadian equivalency. Contact the Student Services Department for details.
Compliance with the Canadian Department of Employment and Immigration regulations governing the entrance of foreign students. Applicants are advised to contact their nearest Canadian government representative.

Applicants wanting to practise outside Canada should contact the local naturopathic medicine licensing body to inquire about requirements for licensing in that jurisdiction.

Evaluation of international transcripts

Students who have completed their university study at an institution outside of North America must have their transcripts evaluated and translated (if necessary) on a course-by-course basis by World Education Services. For details visit www.wes.org.

Toronto - canada@wes.org
(416) 972-0070 or 1-866-343-0070

New York City - info@wes.org
(212) 966-6311

Admissions Policies

Accommodating student disabilities

In accordance with the spirit and principles of the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, CCNM will accommodate students with disabilities in a manner designed to provide such students with equal opportunities as enjoyed by other students.

At the request of a student, accommodations will be provided with respect to documented disabilities, permanent or temporary, that affect the student's ability to function in an academic setting.

CCNM will endeavour to offer the most appropriate accommodation in a manner that respects the dignity of the student, meets individual needs, best promotes inclusion, maximizes confidentiality and does not compromise program standards.

Examples of accommodation

The appropriate accommodation for a student with a disability will be determined on an individual basis. The following list includes many of the possible accommodations available to students:

Extra time for tests/exams
Exams transcribed onto audio cassette
Enlarged copies of exams
Dictation of test/exam answers to a scribe
Extra time to submit assignments
Separate room to write tests/exams
Permission to tape record lectures
Support services for advice on learning strategies and individual counselling

How to apply

In order to ensure prompt and appropriate accommodation, students are requested to advise the Student Services Department in a timely manner of any disability requiring accommodation. Such students must provide sufficient documentation to verify the disability and the functional impact of the disability on the student's academic performance that necessitates accommodation, and be thorough enough to support the accommodations being recommended. This documentation must come from a practitioner certified to provide opinions on the specific disability. The College reserves the right to request that, at the College's expense, the student be seen by a specialist chosen by the College. Please note that permission for a member of the Student Services Department to consult with or exchange information with the practitioner providing the documentation is frequently required in order to devise the appropriate accommodation. The Student Services Department will also assist students in accessing grants and subsidies from external sources to offset the cost of accommodation.

Note for applicants

Applicants to CCNM who suffer from a disability that may hinder or prevent them from performing specific naturopathic modalities are strongly advised to consult the naturopathic licensing board in the province or state in which they intend to be licensed.

Accommodations provided by CCNM may, or may not, be acceptable to a given licensing board or examining body.

Transfer credits

CCNM considers applications for transfer credits from applicants who have completed a year or more of academic credit in a CNME-accredited or candidate for accreditation institution.

Transfer students must meet the same entrance requirements as all other CCNM students, and must provide an official letter of recommendation from the transferring institution. Before acceptance becomes official, the instructor must assess the student's knowledge and the Dean, Academics must approve the transfer credits. No more than two years of transfer credits will be awarded. Transfer credits are awarded on a course-by-course basis.

The criteria for each transfer credit are as follows:

1. Courses must be equivalent or better in the number of classroom hours.

2. Courses must have equivalent prerequisite requirements.

3. A passing grade of 70 per cent must have been obtained.

4. Each course must be substantially equivalent in content to the CCNM course it replaces. A comprehensive examination covering the course curriculum of the course being transferred may be required. If an examination is required, a minimum passing grade of 70 per cent must be obtained.

Advanced standing

Non-transfer students may apply for advanced standing in certain CCNM courses. A review of the current policy is in progress. Please contact Student Services for further information.

Deferred enrolment

Candidates accepted for admission may defer enrolment for a one-year period. The candidate must direct the request in writing to the Office of the Registrar.

If deferral is granted, the applicant must pay the applicable 10 per cent tuition deposit within the stated time, as described in the acceptance letter. This deposit will be applied to the following year's tuition. (Note: If the applicant withdraws their application after being granted deferred enrolment, the tuition deposit will be refunded less a $500 administrative fee.)

If deferral is granted, any subsequent changes to the admission requirements must be satisfied by the student.