Naturopathic Residency Opportunities

All naturopathic medicine students at NUHS complete one full year as an intern in our on-campus integrative medical clinic as part of their ND degree program.  After graduation, some NDs wish to deepen their clinical experience by participating in a postgraduate residency program.

What is a Residency?

Residency programs often offer focused clinical work in a medical specialty, honing expertise in treating a specific set of health conditions. Other residencies focus on research, or can widen the number and types of patients a practitioner sees. Residencies in smaller settings can also offer hands-on practice management experience.

ND graduates interested in completing a residency have options through several programs approved by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). Some residencies are offered through accredited naturopathic medicine schools, while some are in hospital settings or private clinics. View a complete list of CNME approved programs. There is a universal application process for CNME residencies.

Naturopathic Residencies for NUHS Graduates

Although the University does not offer naturopathic residencies on its campus at this time, ND graduates from NUHS are being accepted to some of the more prestigious residencies available nationwide.

John Birdsall, ND (’13)
Dr. John Birdsall completed a naturopathic oncology resident at Cancer Treatment Centers of America’s Midwestern Regional Medical Center in Zion, Illinois. He feels the on-campus integrative medical clinic at NUHS uniquely prepared him to work successfully with MDs and other CTCA providers. Hear his story in this video.

Nicholas Morgan, ND (’11)
Nicholas Morgan, ND entered a CNME approved residency at an integrative arthritis care clinic in Lansing, Michigan, after his graduation. This rheumatology sub-specialty requires an in-depth understanding of how to integrate naturopathic care with existing allopathic treatment, as well as applying radiology skills – both of which are emphasized within National University’s ND program.

Samantha Hoang, ND (’11)
Dr. Samantha Hoang’s ND degree from NUHS prepared her for her residency in integrative medicine at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Oklahoma City. There, she collaborated with and learned from other naturopathic doctors, medical oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, and dieticians. Read more about Dr. Hoang.

Applying for a Residency

There is a universal application process for each of the residency opportunities. To qualify as an applicant for the CNME approved residency programs, applicants shall possess, by the start of the program, the following:

• A naturopathic doctor degree from a college or university that has been accredited, or has been granted accreditation status, by the Council for Naturopathic Medical Education.
• Successful completion of the NPLEX I & II and the ability to secure a license or its equivalent to practice naturopathic medicine for the appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
• Applicants must pass appropriate add-on boards for the state they intend to be licensed in. Failure to pass all board examinations, as required by each state for licensure will effectively disqualify applicants from consideration for this program and will nullify any offers made prior to receipt of examination results.
• Ability to present appropriate documents that verify the applicant’s legal right to work in the United States.

Please review the official Universal Application for CNME-Approved Naturopathic Residencies for the application process, application deadlines, applicant matching and other specifics.