Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
This group includes health professionals who diagnose and treat the diseases and injuries of patients and who are not elsewhere classified, such as:
- Doctors of podiatric medicine
- Chiropodists and podiatrists
- Naturopathic physicians
- Osteopaths
Job Titles
Duties
Doctors of podiatric medicine:
- Diagnose diseases, deformities and injuries of the human foot and explain diagnoses to patients
- Treat patients using braces, casts, shields, orthotic devices, physical therapy or prescribed medications
- May also perform surgery on the bones of the forefoot and the subcutaneous soft tissues of the foot
Chiropodists and diploma or first-degree trained podiatrists:
- Diagnose diseases, deformities and injuries of the human foot
- Treat patients using braces, casts, shields, orthotic devices, physical therapy and subcutaneous soft-tissue foot surgery
Naturopathic doctors:
- Conduct comprehensive health assessments and physical examinations, including pelvic exams and pap smears
- Order, interpret, and apply laboratory and diagnostic test results
- Formulate diagnoses and differential diagnoses
- Develop individualized, evidence-informed treatment plans that may incorporate treatments such as reflexology, herbal medicine or acupressure
- Prescribe within regulated pharmaceutical scope in B.C.
- Provide lifestyle, nutrition, and preventive health counselling
- Manage chronic diseases and complex multi-system conditions
- Coordinate care with other health professionals
- Maintain detailed clinical records and meet regulatory standards
- Educate patients and support long-term behaviour change
- Perform in-office procedures including injection therapies (hyaluronic acid injections, corticosteroids, prolotherapy) often with ultrasound guidance
- Provide integrative, alternative, and/or holistic primary care
Osteopaths or osteopathic physicians:
- Diagnose disorders and injuries of the musculo-skeletal, circulatory and nervous systems
- Treat patients with manipulative therapy, medications or surgery
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
910% Employed Full Time
36%Work within this group generally takes place in private practices, clinics and hospitals. Many professionals within this group work are self-employed in private practices or work as part of larger teams in multidisciplinary, specialty or integrative clinics.
As with other medical professions, this work environment may expose workers to infectious microbes that can cause illness. Work in this group may also expose workers to ionizing radiation such as x-rays and radioactive substances or non-ionizing radiation such as radio frequencies and infrared, ultraviolet or visible light that may pose health risks. Medical equipment and instruments can also cause injuries.
Virtual clinics and telemedicine are gaining in popularity and mitigate these risks.
Career Pathways
Professionals in this group typically start as associate clinicians in established clinics or as independent practitioners under mentorship from a more experienced practitioner.
With experience both in their field and in associated skills such as management, business administration, and/or teaching, they can move on to other roles such as:
- Clinic supervisor
- Medical director
- Clinic owner
- Educator
- Roles in research, policy, or regulation
Building expertise in related fields of medicine can also enable branching into interdisciplinary care and open additional research and management possibilities.
Osteopaths have two licensing pathways in B.C. One limits the practice to osteopathic manipulative medicine, while the other provides full scope of practice and can lead to licensing as a general practitioner.
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Doctors of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.)
- A four-year doctoral degree program in podiatric medicine, normally following completion of a bachelor's degree program
- A medical residency is required in Alberta and British Columbia
- A doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.) degree is required to practise podiatry in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia
Chiropodists and podiatrists
- These terms are often used interchangeably, though the term “podiatrist” is becoming more common; neither term necessarily refers to doctors of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.)
- A three-year diploma program in chiropody (DCh) obtained in Canada or a first-degree program in podiatric medicine (D.Pod.M.) obtained abroad (United Kingdom) is usually required
- A licence is required in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia
Naturopathic doctors
- Complete undergraduate university studies
- Graduation from a CNME-accredited four-year naturopathic medical program with extensive biomedical and clinical training is required; equivalents from abroad may be transferred
- Pass national licensing examinations and register with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of B.C.
- Maintain continuing professional development and professional liability insurance
Osteopaths
- A bachelor's degree is required for admission to a doctor of osteopathy program
- A four-year program in osteopathic medicine leading to a doctor of osteopathy degree and a one-year medical residency are required, and are usually obtained in the United States
- A licence is required in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, which usually requires an exam
For many occupations within this group, additional related skills are often recommended, either as part of an existing program or as subjects of continuing education:
- Business and practice management training
- Trauma-informed care
- Cultural safety and humility education
- Interprofessional collaboration training
- Research literacy and evidence appraisal skills
Professionals who are certified for an occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
Contact the British Columbia Podiatric Medical Association and/or the College of Naturopathic Physicians of BC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
910Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 15 | 1.7% |
| Kootenay | 55 | 6.1% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 535 | 59.1% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 1.1% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 145 | 16.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 145 | 16.0% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2025-2035)
490Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2025-2035)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 2.2% |
| Kootenay | 40 | 2.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 290 | 2.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 70 | 2.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 70 | 2.4% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2025-2035) |
|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 490 |
Insights from Industry
The naturopathic physician is evolving toward greater integration with standard healthcare and emphasis on collaborative and team-based care. Over time, regulatory oversight and associated compliance burden has increased, as has patient demand for preventative care and care related to chronic health conditions. Virtual and hybrid care models have also increased in popularity.
Access challenges persist in rural and underserved regions, creating opportunities for new professionals within this group.
Rising regulatory costs, business and practice startup barriers, and broader health system pressures affect retention over time within both the educational system and the workforce.
Resources
-
BC Naturopathic Doctors (BCND)www.bcnd.ca
-
British Columbia Podiatric Medical Association – Careerswww.bcpodiatrists.ca/careers
-
Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND)www.cand.ca
-
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM)www.ccnm.edu
-
Canadian Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA)www.podiatrycanada.org
-
College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC)cchpbc.ca
-
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC)www.cpsbc.ca