Application for Admission Procedure

2011 intake, 4-year ND program: BINM will begin accepting and reviewing applications for the 2011 intake starting August 9, 2010.  For more information on applying for this competition please contact the Director of Admissions: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

2012 intake, 6-year ND program: continuous application, interview & enrollment period until all 36 seats are filled, for the intake starting January 2012.  This competition is now open. For more information on applying for this competition please contact the Director of Admissions: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Please note: In order for your application to be processed, BINM requires all of the steps below to be completed and submitted to the Admissions Office. The following items MUST be included with the application form; application fee, personal essay, curriculum vitae, proof of enrollment and study plan (if applicable) and student budget worksheet. Official transcripts, and referee forms/reference letters are to arrive directly from the issuing institution and individual referees. In addition, if a student has outstanding prerequisites to complete at the time of application, proof of enrollment and/or a study plan must be included with the application (see step 6 below, for details).

Important: A candidate's application will not be evaluated for an interview until official transcripts, showing a minimum of 60% or 'C', for at least 3.0 credits (half-year course) in one of the required chemistry courses and 3.0 credits (half-year course) in one of the required biology courses has been received by the Admissions Committee.

A complete application for both the 4-year and the 6-year ND programs consists of the following:

1.         Application forms (Download a fillable PDF version):

4-year program Application Form
6-year program Application Form

2.         Personal Essay: A personal essay, typewritten or word-processed, double-spaced,  with the applicant's name on each page, addressing the following points/questions:

o                 A brief autobiographical sketch on how your life experiences apply to the principles of naturopathic medicine

o                 An explanation on why you have selected the Boucher Institute for your post-graduate studies;

o                 A discussion on how your approach to life reflects naturopathic philosophy.

3.         Curriculum Vitae: A current CV, with details relevant to becoming a student of naturopathic medicine. Please include examples of volunteerism, travel experiences, work experience, awards and recognition, scholarships received, seminars attended, continuing education completed, club and association membership, sports and recreation, hobbies, examples of sustainable living/health and environmental awareness etc.

4.         Referee Forms and Reference Letters: Select three personal references (and no more than three) to complete a referee form and a written reference letter addressed to the Admissions Committee. These are to be from people, other than a relative, who have known the applicant for at least three years, and at least one of the references should be from a member of a regulated profession (e.g. ND, lawyer, dentist, etc.). The letter must include the applicant's name, the number of years the person has known the applicant and in what capacity, and the writer's name and title along with their free comments about the applicant's character and their potential for being a naturopathic physician.  These documents must be sent directly from the referee to BINM Admissions.

Referee Forms: (Download fillable PDF version) 
4-year program Referee Form
6-year program Referee Form

5.         Post-secondary Transcripts: Official transcripts from all post-secondary educational institutions the applicant has attended must be sent directly from the Registrar's office of the issuing institution to the BINM Admissions Committee. See the International Students section for information regarding foreign transcripts.  It is strongly recommended that applicants who are submitting an evaluation from either ICES or WES also submit an official course description (on the institution's letterhead) from the post-secondary institution(s).  If the language of instruction was not English, please have the description officially translated and certified and submit both the original descriptions and the tranlations to BINM. 

6.         Proof of Enrollment/Study Plan: Proof of enrollment for all courses that are currently in progress (typically a receipt for the registered course, a confirmation of registration notice/letter/email or official transcripts indicating that the course is in progress) and/or a study plan stating the applicant's plans to complete the prerequisite courses if not yet registered, must be provided at the time of application for admission (the study plan must include course name, number, institution, start date, end date and brief course description/overview as well as link to the official course website).  For information on suggested courses/institutions to complete the prerequisites, please see the 'Frequently Asked Questions' section of this websiite, found under 'Future Students'.

Important: All of the specified prerequisite courses must be successfully completed no later than one month prior to matriculation into the naturopathic program and the applicant must show proof this is possible at the time of application through his/her study plan. BINM must receive your official transcripts for all prerequisites and proof of degree completion in order to matriculate.

7.         Application Fee: A non-refundable fee of $150.00 CDN made payable to BINM as a bank money order, bank draft or personal cheque must be enclosed with the application form.

8.         Student Budget Worksheet: students must complete this form and submit with their application to help show preparedness for the financial obligations of a four-year, full time, or six-year, part time, post-graduate program. 

Student Budget Worksheets: (Download fillable PDF version)
4-year program Student Budget Worksheet
6-year program Student Budget Worksheet 

Interview/Completion of Application: Once all of your documents are received, and if you are selected for an in-person interview, an interview fee of $150.00 CDN will be due on the day of your assessment interview. Please note, not all applicants are offered an interview, and not all applicants who are interviewed are offered a seat in the program.

Interviews typically take place on Thursday mornings and are approximately one hour.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to select an in-person interview, but interviews by Skype are also acceptable, but on a limited basis only.

Academic and personal achievements, which demonstrate an ability to commit to and be effective within a professional training program, will be in the applicant's favour. Applicants are asked to follow the instructions on the application form carefully to ensure processing without delay.

Please note: All applicants who have been offered a seat must provide a clear criminal records check with their signed enrollment contact. Additionally, proof of vaccination for hepatitis B or a signed waiver if vaccination is declined and a valid and current First Aid C ticket are needed prior to entry into the clinical component of the program, at the end the second year of studies.

Once the application process is complete, the BINM Admissions Committee will meet to review the applications of all interviewed applicants and make recommendations to the President.  Not all qualified applicants are offered a seat in the program. If you are offered a seat, in order to reserve your place among the limited seats available, you must return a signed contract by the date specified on your offer of acceptance letter, together with payment of the registration fee ($100 CDN) and confirmation of tuition enrolment deposit. Outstanding documentation required prior to matriculation will be noted on the back of your offer of acceptance letter and it is the applicant's responsibility to complete all outstanding prerequisites and meet all admissions requirements prior to matriculation.

International Students

International students may be accepted into the program if they meet the entrance requirements. For credentials earned outside of the USA and Canada a "comprehensive evaluation" must be completed from ICES  or from WES.

International applicants must prove that they are legally permitted to study in Canada and must hold a valid and current passport and study permit for as long as they are classified as an international student throughout the duration of the program. In addition, international applicants must prove that they are able to finance both their education and living expenses during their entire studies, as according to current Citizenship and Immigration Canada rules, work is not permitted while studying at BINM. For more information see: www.cic.gc.ca. The Boucher Institute makes no representation that any state or country outside of Canada will accept our diploma. Students are responsible for ensuring their own licensure through the jurisdiction in which they wish to ultimately practice naturopathic medicine.

Special Needs Students

The Institute may from time to time accept special needs students whose disabilities or impairments are considered to be of such nature that they will not prevent the safe and effective practice of naturopathic medicine. It is the sole responsibility of any special needs student attending the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine to provide for all specialized equipment and any additional services they may require to complete their training. This includes arranging for and taking financial responsibility for any equipment or services required to manage every aspect of the Naturopathic Medicine Program curriculum and clinical practicum. Special needs students are expected to complete every component of the program to the same performance standard that is applied to all other students. All special needs students are expected to provide for sufficient equipment and additional services as needed to ensure that their theoretical and manual skills meet BINM standards. While all instructional areas of the school are wheelchair accessible, the Institute does not have the resources to provide additional services, equipment, or privileges to special needs students or their attendants at this time.

Transfer Credits from CNME-accredited Naturopathic Medicine Programs

At this time we are accepting transfer applications from students who have successfully completed the basic sciences at a CNME– accredited or candidate college and are eligible to write the NPLEX Part 1, provided there are seats available in the BINM program. Transfer applicants must meet the same entrance requirements as all other BINM students and follow the same application procedure, as outlined above. Transfer applicants must apply for transfer credits on a course by course basis. Transfer applicants who are recommended by the Admissions Committee may be offered a seat in the program if there are seats available. Upon successful completion of the application process, the applicant must meet with the Dean of Academics and/or the Dean of Clinical Studies to determine if the courses taken meet the BINM criteria for transfer credits and/or clinic competencies. A fee is required for the transfer credit evaluation process. A comprehensive examination covering course content may be required.

At BINM, the basic sciences are offered simultaneously as an integrative course, and not taught separately as at other CNME – accredited institutions. The Biomedicine course within the Biomedical Sciences program integrates the following courses in its content and is taught over the first two years. The course includes contributions from physiology, biochemistry, pathology, histology, embryology, neuroanatomy, pharmacology and laboratory diagnosis.

Procedure for a Transfer Applicant

1.         Applicant must contact BINM Admissions Office to ensure there is space available in the academic cohort into which the applicant wishes to transfer.

2.         Applicant must complete full application process.

3.         Applicant must complete an ‘application to transfer credits’ form and submit with non-refundable fee of $150 (for transcript and credit evaluation).  Please contact the Admissions Department directly to receive this application form at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

4.         Original transcripts and form kept in applicant file and photocopy of each provided for Dean of Academics and/or Dean of Clinical Studies.

5.         Dean(s) review application for transfer credits. Upon successful completion of the application process, the applicant must meet the Dean(s) to review credit transfer application.

6.         Dean(s) return form to Admissions and credit (if awarded) is entered into applicant file.

7.         Applicant is informed of decision.

Review and download the Application for Credit Transfer Form. For additional information, contact our Admissions Office, by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or by phone at: 604-777-9981.

Advanced Standing from Other Professions

Advanced standing is available to applicants other than transfer applicants depending on the availability of seats. Credit for courses is assessed on a course by course basis. Applicants with professional licenses (post-graduate degrees only) in other health care professions (such as chiropractic, dentistry, medical doctors) are welcome to apply for advanced standing. All applicants who seek advanced standing in specific BINM courses must first complete the BINM application procedure (as outlined above), apply for advanced standing and then meet with the Dean of Academics. Each applicant will be analyzed on a case by case basis, and may be required to pass a comprehensive examination covering course content. No more than two years advanced standing is granted and there is no waiver of clinic credits, clinic practicum hours, or clinic competencies. Only those courses taken from “recognized post-secondary institutions” in Canada and the USA, graduate university courses, and ICES or from WES evaluation of foreign university and graduate level courses may be considered for advanced standing credit. Advanced Standing applicants must have one of the following:

1.         A valid MD, DO, or DC degree and show they have passed the USMLE Step I, NBCE or COMLEX Part I Examinations less than ten years prior to enrollment in BINM;

2.         A current medical license and show they have been in continuous medical practice, in medical research, enrolled in medical school, or in teaching in a medical school in the time between passing the USMLE Step I, COMLEX, or NBCE Part I Examinations and applying for admission with BINM;

3.         An academic record in good standing with another CNME-approved college at the time of application.

International applicants: Applicants who obtained their MD, DO or DC degree in a country other than Canada or the US, must provide the equivalent documentation and information from the country in which they obtained their degree and/or license as outlined in steps 1 and 2 above. For credentials earned outside of the USA and Canada a "comprehensive evaluation" must be completed from ICES or from WES.

Procedure for an Advanced Standing Applicant

1.         Applicant must contact BINM Admissions Office to ensure there is space available in the academic cohort into which the applicant wishes to transfer

2.         Applicant must complete full application process

3.         Applicant must complete an ‘application for advanced standing’ form and submit with non-refundable fee of $150 (for transcript and credit evaluation).  Please contact the Admissions Department directly to receive this application form at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

4.         Original transcripts, and form kept in applicant file and photocopy of each provided for Dean of Academics and/or Dean of Clinical Studies.

5.         Dean(s) review application for advanced standing. Dean(s) meet with applicant to review advanced standing application.

6.         Dean(s) return form to Admissions and credit (if awarded) is entered into applicant file.

7.         Applicant is informed of decision.

 

For additional information, please download our current Academic Calendar or contact our Admissions Office, by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at: 604-777-9981.