A family doctor (MD) and a naturopathic doctor (ND) in Ontario answer different questions. The family doctor is your primary care provider: covered by OHIP, able to prescribe any medication, and responsible for ruling out red-flag conditions. The naturopathic doctor offers complementary care focused on nutrition, lifestyle, targeted lab work, and natural therapies, paid out of pocket or through extended health benefits. Most patients see both.
This guide covers how the two roles differ in training, scope, cost, and day-to-day work, and how they fit together.
Training and regulation
Both are regulated health professions in Ontario, but their training paths differ.
Family doctor (MD):
- Three to four year undergraduate degree.
- Four year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at a Canadian medical school.
- Two to three year family medicine residency.
- Licensed and regulated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).
- Required to pass the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) and certification through the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
Naturopathic doctor (ND):
- Three to four year undergraduate degree with science prerequisites.
- Four year, full-time program at a naturopathic medical school accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME).
- Licensed and regulated by the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO) under the Naturopathy Act, 2007.
- Required to pass the Ontario Biomedical Examination, the Ontario Clinical Sciences Examination, the Ontario Clinical (Practical) Examinations, and the Ontario Jurisprudence Examination.
Both must complete continuing education and carry professional liability insurance each year.
What each can do
The scopes overlap in some places (history, physical exam, lab interpretation, lifestyle counselling) and diverge sharply in others.
| Function | Family doctor (MD) | Naturopathic doctor (ND) |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnose conditions | Yes | Yes, within scope |
| Order bloodwork | Yes, OHIP-covered | Yes, paid out of pocket |
| Prescribe pharmaceuticals | Yes, full formulary | Limited list under the Naturopathy Act |
| Perform minor procedures | Yes | No |
| Refer to specialists | Yes, within OHIP | Refers to MD for OHIP referrals |
| Surgery | No (refers to surgeon) | No |
| Emergency care | First point of contact | Refers to MD or emergency department |
| Acupuncture | Rarely | Yes, with CONO authorization |
| Botanical and supplement prescribing | Rarely | Yes, with training |
| Detailed nutrition and lifestyle counselling | Limited by time | Core part of practice |
| Visit length | Typically 10 to 15 minutes | 30 to 75 minutes |
The two roles overlap on the diagnostic and physical exam side. They diverge on prescribing authority, OHIP coverage, and the depth of nutrition and lifestyle work.
Prescribing authority
An MD in Ontario can prescribe any medication on the federal drug schedule. An ND in Ontario can prescribe a defined list of substances under the Naturopathy Act, including some bioidentical hormones (for example, progesterone, estradiol, DHEA), select prescription items, and certain controlled substances after completing additional training and CONO authorization. NDs do not prescribe most pharmaceutical drugs, antibiotics, or controlled medications beyond the authorized list.
In practice, this means:
- Acute infections, blood pressure medication, antidepressants, contraception, insulin, or anything else requiring a standard pharmaceutical prescription: your family doctor.
- Bioidentical progesterone for luteal phase support, low-dose desiccated thyroid, or targeted prescription items within scope: your ND, when clinically appropriate and within authorization.
Cost and coverage
This is one of the clearest dividing lines:
- MD visits and any bloodwork ordered by your MD or NP are covered by OHIP. You pay nothing at the point of care.
- ND visits and any bloodwork ordered by an ND are not covered by OHIP. Visits are paid out of pocket or through extended health benefits, often $220 to $300 for an initial visit and $90 to $165 for a follow-up.
For details on visit pricing and what insurance does and does not cover, see the cost of a naturopath in Ontario and is a naturopath covered in Ontario.
Visit length and what gets covered in the room
A standard MD visit in Ontario is 10 to 15 minutes. That is enough time to manage one or two presenting concerns, review a prescription, or order a lab. It is not enough time to take a full history of sleep, diet, stress, menstrual cycle, energy patterns, and supplements alongside the presenting concern.
A first ND visit is 60 to 75 minutes. Follow-ups are 30 to 45 minutes. The longer appointment is the structural reason NDs can spend time on lifestyle and lab interpretation in a way that MD time pressure usually does not allow. It is not about training or interest on the MD’s side; it is about visit length and reimbursement structure.
When to see your family doctor first
Some situations call for your MD as the first stop:
- New, severe, or progressively worsening symptoms.
- Signs of acute infection (fever, severe pain, breathing difficulty).
- Suspected mental health condition requiring medication management.
- Anything requiring imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, MRI).
- Any concern where ruling out a serious condition is the first priority.
- Prescription refills and medication management.
An ND will refer you to your MD if any of these come up during a visit.
When an ND fits well alongside your family doctor
A naturopath tends to be a good fit when:
- You have ongoing symptoms but standard labs come back “normal.”
- You want help with the daily inputs (nutrition, sleep, stress, movement) that affect a chronic concern.
- You want longer appointments and time to review a fuller lab workup.
- You want a second perspective on a chronic concern, alongside your family doctor.
- You are working on hormone, thyroid, fertility, digestive, or fatigue concerns where targeted lab work and dietary changes meaningfully shape the plan.
How the two roles work together
The cleanest model for most patients:
- Your family doctor handles primary care, prescriptions, OHIP-covered investigations, and any specialist referrals.
- Your naturopath handles longer-form work on nutrition, sleep, stress, supplementation, targeted lab interpretation, and supportive natural therapies.
A good ND keeps your MD informed where relevant, especially when labs reveal something that requires conventional management, and refers back when something falls outside scope. A good MD is open to information their patient brings from an ND visit, even when their own time does not permit a full lifestyle workup.
You do not need to choose between the two roles. The question is what each is best positioned to do, and then using both.
Booking with Dr. Mariah, ND
Dr. Mariah, ND sees patients at WOMB Woodstock and InsideU Woodstock, and virtually anywhere in Ontario. Areas of clinical focus include hormone health, fertility support, thyroid, gut health, and fatigue. See the services page for more detail, or read what to expect at your first naturopath visit before booking.
When you are ready, reserve a consultation.