How are naturopathic doctors trained, educated, and licensed?
Accredited naturopathic medical schools are four-year, in-residence, hands-on medical programs consisting of a minimum of 4,100 hours of class and clinical training. Students are taught biomedical sciences, disease prevention and clinical techniques, and the latest advances in science in combination with natural approaches to therapy. For at least the final two years of their medical program, naturopathic medical students intern in a clinical setting under the supervision of licensed professionals. Given the importance of hands-on, clinical experience for naturopathic medical students, the accrediting body for naturopathic medical colleges does not recognize degrees from online programs of study.
What is the difference between a licensed naturopathic doctor and an unlicensed naturopath?
In some states with laws regulating naturopathic doctors, the use of the term “naturopath” or “naturopathic physician” by anyone other than a licensed naturopathic doctor is prohibited. However, not all states regulate naturopathic doctors, and not all states that do protect the term “naturopath.” Unlicensed naturopaths can have varying levels of education and experience, often from a purely online or correspondence format. Such education is not accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and does not qualify students to take the NPLEX examination or apply for licensure in any regulated jurisdiction in North America.
What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct practice of medicine that emphasizes prevention and the self-healing process to treat each person holistically and improve outcomes while lowering health care costs. ND’s diagnose, prevent and treat acute and chronic illness, restore and establish optimal health by supporting the person's inherent self-healing process. Rather than just suppressing symptoms, naturopathic doctors work to identify underlying causes of illness and develop personalized treatment plans to address them.
What is the difference between an ND and MD?
The general educational structure for naturopathic doctors is comparable to that of conventional medical doctors (MDs) and osteopathic doctors (DOs). In all three medical programs, the first year emphasizes biomedical sciences such as anatomy and biochemistry. Second year classes focus on the diagnostic sciences, including areas such as evidence-based medicine and physiological assessment. All programs progressively increase students’ problem-based learning and integrated coursework, enabling students to learn how different concepts affect one another.
Do ND’s accept health insurance in California?
Under the current health insurance system, most patients in California do not have covered access to a naturopathic doctor. We believe insurance companies have a responsibility to provide this coverage for the following reasons:
There is a current shortage of primary care providers in California and nationally;
Patients deserve the freedom to choose their type of provider;
Naturopathic doctors offer a unique and comprehensive style of preventative medicine;
Naturopathic care reduces the overall cost of health care;
Under current federal law outlined in the Affordable Care Act, it is illegal to discriminate against licensed naturopathic doctors.
Naturopathic doctors are trained and licensed as primary care providers. They complete four years of doctoral-level training, including two years of biomedical sciences and two years of clinical sciences and rotations.
As a side note, you can use your HSA (Health Savings Account) to cover both services and recommended supplements from an ND.