What is a naturopathic doctor?

Naturopathic Doctors treat their patients and their conditions in a holistic manner.  Focusing on the cause of the illness, rather than its symptoms, naturopaths work to establish a treatment plan with the patient that restores balance and well being.  Treatments may involve nutritional and/or lifestyle counseling, nutritional supplements, botanicals, hydrotherapy (water therapy), homeopathy, manipulation, massage therapy, and, when necessary, prescription medicines.

Naturopathic training

Naturopathic doctors undergo a similar training process as medical doctors.  The doctor attends a four year undergraduate program before applying to an accredited naturopathic medical school.  The graduate program is a rigorous 4 years of study.

During the program, the student takes classes in basic sciences such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology and pathology. The student also takes several naturopathic classes including nutrition, botanicals, manipulations, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, etc.

 The student enters clinic as soon as the first year and for the next 4 years, treats patients under the supervision of licensed naturopathic doctors.

Naturopathic Licensing in the US and in Canada

With regards to licensing, naturopathic doctors are required to sit for two sets of board examinations. The first board examination takes place after the 2nd year and the next one is at the end of the doctorate. 

During the first board examination, the student is tested in the basic sciences such as anatomy, physiology, immunology, microbiology, pathology and biochemistry. 

The newly graduated doctor is then required to sit for the naturopathic clinical board of 3 days duration. It include ten examinations such as: clinical and physical diagnosis, nutrition, pharmacology, minor surgery, homeopathy, laboratory diagnosis and diagnostic imaging, botanicals, minor surgery, psychological assessment and emergency medicine.

Naturopathic doctors are licensed as health care physicians in 14 states and 2 territories.  They are licensed in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Kansas, Idaho, Oregon, California, Washington, Montana, Hawaii, Alaska, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Islands. Licensing is currently pending in several states.

 British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia are provinces currently licensed in Canada.  Licensing is pending in Alberta and New Brunswick.