About Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of medicine that emphasizes the treatment of disease through the stimulation, enhancement and support of a person's inherent healing capacity. NDs are:

Fully licensed primary care physicians
The highest trained primary care physicians in the broadest range of natural medicines
Trained in conventional diagnostics, pharmacology, minor surgery, as well as therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy and naturopathic manipulative therapy.

Education

There are currently 5 accredited schools in North America that provide training for Naturopathic Physicians. These are:

Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences in Seattle, WA;
National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, OR;
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Scottsdale, AZ;
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, ON, Canada
Bridgeport University College of Naturopathic Medicine in Bridgeport, CT.

These schools all offer 4-year post-graduate degrees in Naturopathic Medicine. Graduates of these institutions are qualified to sit for the national licensing exams. Currently, 13 states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors. In these states, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from a four-year, residential naturopathic medical school and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license.

Licensed naturopathic physicians must fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually, and will have a specific scope of practice defined by their state's law. The states that currently have licensing laws for naturopathic physicians are:

Alaska
Arizona
California
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Idaho
Kansas
Maine
Montana
New Hampshire
Oregon
Utah
Vermont
Washington
US Territories: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

There are licensing laws currently pending in many others.

Naturopathic Physicians are fundamentally educated as primary care family physicians with a specialty in natural healing. They utilize the full range of medical and naturopathic therapies including appropriate referral to other health professionals, or drug prescribing as needed, with an emphasis on prevention and treatment of acute and chronic disease using a holistic, integrated approach.