Credentials
Education
To obtain the degree Doctor of Naturopathic medicine, all candidates must have a four year undergraduate degree, with pre-med being the preferred course of study. After being accepted into the program, students then embark on an intensive four year doctoral program that will ultimately prepare them for state board licensing exams (both basic science and clinical) and the chance to become a licensed naturopathic physician.
Overview of Four years
First year begins with the basic sciences and learning what the body is made up of, and how it functions normally without disease. Anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry are a few examples of the classes that are taken. Naturopathic hydrotherapy, philosophy, and botanicals are also introduced during this time.
After learning the basis of how the body functions during first year, students then learn what happens when disease enters the body. Pathology, laboratory diagnosis, clinical physical diagnosis, and nutrition are studied, as well as pharmacology, botanical medicine, and homeopathy. After second year, students can begin their clinical training and are required to take a clinic entrance exam to begin working in the clinic.
During third year, clinical training is continued, and courses such as gynecology, naturopathic manipulation, physiotherapy, are taken, as well as more courses in homeopathy and nutrition. Case review and discussion is emphasized as well. After third year, an oral exam called the primary entrance exam is taken and must be passed in order for the student to advance to primary status during their last year.
Fourth year mainly focuses on clinical training. Students are focusing on seeing patients in the clinic and are being supervised by licensed physicians. Coursework such as geriatrics, genetics, oncology, and medical ethics are taken. The student then has one final oral exit exam to pass before being allowed to graduate.
Licensure
Candidates for licensure must graduate from a four year accredited naturopathic medical school. Currently, there are four schools in the United States: National College of Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM), Bastyr University, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM), and University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine, and one school in Canada – Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.
In the United States, the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) is the accrediting agency for the naturopathic medical schools.
In Oregon, all Naturopathic Physicians are licensed through the Oregon Board of Naturopathic ExaminersOBNE).
All candidates for licensure must pass the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX). The exam is administered in two distinct stages. The first stage is the basic sciences, and the second state in the clinical examination.
Currently, there are fourteen states that license naturopathic physicians. These states are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Colombia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, US Territories: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.
If the state you live in is not listed here and to increase the number of jurisdictions that license naturopathic physicians, write to your congressman now!
All licensed naturopathic physicians are required to fulfill yearly continuing education requirements. To learn more about any of the above schools or licensing boards, please visit their websites or go to the website for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP).
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