Open Access FAQ

As part of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors’ (CAND) commitment to transparency, accessibility, and the advancement of naturopathic medicine, CAND Journal (CANDJ) transitioned to a Diamond Open Access publishing model effective June 1, 2025. This means all articles are freely available to read, download, and share—without fees for authors or readers. To support clarity and compliance with open access practices, this FAQ outlines what authors, readers, and interested parties need to know about CANDJ's licensing, copyright, and reuse policies. For more information, refer to CANDJ’s Open Access Policy, Copyright and Licensing Policy, Permissions and Licensing, and Copyright and Author Rights.

What is open access publishing?

Open access publishing means that scholarly content is made freely available online to all readers, without subscription or paywall barriers. CANDJ adopted this model to promote greater accessibility, transparency, and the broad dissemination of research.

What kind of open access model does CANDJ follow?

CANDJ operates under a Diamond Open Access model. This means:

  • No fees for readers: All articles are freely available online immediately upon publication.
  • No fees for authors: There are no article processing charges (APCs) or submission fees.

CANDJ is committed to making high-quality research accessible to all while removing financial barriers for authors and institutions.

When did CANDJ become an open access journal?

CANDJ adopted an open access model effective June 1, 2025. All articles published on or after this date are freely accessible online immediately upon publication. Learn more about the Journal’s Open Access Policy.

Who holds the copyright for articles published in CANDJ?

Authors retain full copyright of their work. However, by submitting to CANDJ, authors grant CAND (the Publisher) a License to Publish and certain rights for distribution and commercial use management. Learn more about Copyright and Author Rights.

What license does CANDJ use for published articles?

The default license for all articles is the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. This allows others to share and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, as long as proper attribution is provided, and changes are noted.

Can authors choose a different license?

Yes. Authors whose funders or institutions require commercial reuse permissions may request the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits both commercial and non-commercial use with attribution. This request must be made during submission, agreed to in writing, and finalized before layout. See Copyright and Author Rights for more information.

How can I request a CC BY license for my article?

Include your licensing request in the Comments to the Editor when submitting your manuscript. CANDJ staff will follow up to confirm the request in writing. The license must be finalized before the article is sent to layout. See Copyright and Author Rights for more information.

Do Creative Commons licenses apply to articles published before June 1, 2025?

No. The open access policy and Creative Commons licensing only apply to articles published on or after June 1, 2025. Articles published prior to this date are freely accessible, but remain under traditional copyright, with all rights reserved by CAND. To request permission to reuse content from earlier issues, please contact candj@cand.ca. See Permissions and Licensing for more information.

Can I reuse my own article after publication?

Yes. Authors are free to reuse their published work for non-commercial purposes under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license. This includes:

  • Posting on personal or institutional websites
  • Including in theses, books, or teaching materials
  • Sharing with colleagues or at conferences

If published under CC BY 4.0, reuse is permitted for both commercial and non-commercial purposes.

Can others use my article for commercial purposes?

Not without permission. All commercial reuse rights are exclusively managed by the Publisher (CAND). Requests for commercial use must be submitted to candj@cand.ca. See Permissions and Licensing for more information.

How do I properly attribute a CANDJ article?

If you reuse or share content published in CANDJ, you must provide appropriate attribution as required by the CC BY-NC 4.0 and CC BY 4.0 license. A proper citation includes:

  • Author(s)
  • Article title
  • Source
  • DOI to the original article
  • License (state and link to the license)
  • Modifications (if applicable)

Examples, include:

Unmodified Work:

“[Article Title]” by [Author(s)], published in CAND Journal (https://doi.org/xxx), licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. No changes were made.

Adapted Work:

Adapted from “[Article Title]” by [Author(s)], CAND Journal (https://doi.org/xxx), licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. Modified for [explanation, e.g., length, language, classroom use].

Translated Work:

Translated from “[Article Title]” by [Author], CAND Journal (https://doi.org/xxx), licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. Translation by [Your Name].