Doctor of Naturopathic Licensure Information
In many areas of the United States and Canada, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from a four-year, residential naturopathic medical school and pass an extensive board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license or registration.
What Does It Mean to Be a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor?
In order to be licensed as a primary care, general practice physician by a jurisdiction which requires licensing, one must:
- Graduate from a four-year, professional-level program at a federally accredited naturopathic medical school, such as National University of Health Sciences.
- Study a curriculum which includes current medical science and traditional naturopathic theory.
- Pass the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam (NPLEX). This rigorous national board exam covers basic sciences, diagnostic and therapeutic subjects, and clinical sciences.
Regulations regarding scope of practice vary among licensed and unlicensed states and provinces. Legal provisions still allow naturopathic doctors to consult with patients, making recommendations and suggestions based on prior diagnosis, in several of the yet unlicensed regions.
Map of States and Provinces with Regulations for Naturopathic Doctors
Source: Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges
ND Licensure in the United States
States currently offering licensure and registration to naturopathic physicians include:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- U.S. Territories: Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
ND Licensure in Canada
Provinces currently offering regulation and registration to naturopathic physicians include:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- Saskatchewan
What are the Benefits of Licensure for Naturopathic Physicians?
Naturopathic doctors already practice and work with medical doctors at health facilities around the country. Licensure laws will create more employment opportunities for students who choose to study naturopathic medicine. Regulations have a positive effect on the entire medical community by ensuring public safety in relation to alternative therapies and by reducing healthcare costs via prevention.
