Education & Training
Naturopathic physicians undergo training that is similar in structure and scope to that of medical and osteopathic physicians. Naturopathic medical colleges are four-year graduate schools with rigorous admissions requirements comparable to other medical schools. The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) degree is awarded after classroom, clinic and practical study.
Naturopathic physicians are trained in medical sciences including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, cardiology, neurology, radiology, minor surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, embryology, pediatrics, psychology, pharmacology, minor surgery, dermatology, and clinical and physical diagnosis.
The training also includes extensive study of naturopathic philosophy and therapeutics including therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, ayurvedic medicine, hydrotherapy, manipulative therapy, and counseling. Because coursework in natural therapeutics is added to a standard medical curriculum, naturopathic doctors often receive significantly more hours of classroom education in these areas than the graduates of many leading medical schools, including Yale, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins.
Comparison of ND and MD training and scope
Like many states and provinces, Washington's laws require graduates of naturopathic medical schools to pass rigorous board examinations in order to qualify for licensure. Washington NDs must also complete 20 hours per year of continuing education training in order to maintain their license.
Naturopathic Medical Schools
The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) presides over the accreditation process of four-year, graduate-level programs in naturopathic medicine. Students and graduates of programs accredited or pre-accredited (candidacy) by CNME are eligible to apply for the naturopathic licensing examinations administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE).
The American Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) was established in February 2001, to propel and foster the naturopathic medical profession by actively supporting the academic efforts of accredited and recognized schools of naturopathic medicine. The following is a list of the naturopathic schools in the U.S. and Canada that are recognized by the CNME and the AANMC.
Accredited Programs
In the U.S.
Bastyr University
Naturopathic Medicine Program
14500 Juanita Drive, N.E.
Kenmore,Washington 98028-4966
425.823.1300
425.823.6222 fax
College of Naturopathic Medicine
University of Bridgeport
60 Lafayette Street
Bridgeport, Connecticut 06601
203.576.4109
203.576.4107 fax
http://www.bridgeport.edu/pages/3240.asp
National College of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Medicine Program
049 S.W. Porter
Portland, Oregon 97201
503.499.4343
503.499.0022 fax
National University of Health Sciences
200 East Roosevelt Road
Lombard, IL 60148
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences
2140 E. Broadway Road
Tempe, Arizona 85282
480.858.9100
480.858.0222 fax
In Canada
Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine
200-668 Carnarvon Street
New Westminster, BC V3M 5Y6
604.777.9981
604.777.9982 fax
The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine
1255 Sheppard Avenue East
North York, Ontario M2K 1E2
Canada
416.498.1255
416.498.1576 fax
Certified Residency Programs
CNME also certifies postdoctoral programs in naturopathic medicine. Among these programs are naturopathic residencies that provide licensed naturopathic physicians with postgraduate training in naturopathic family care and other specialties.
Naturopathic Medicine Residency Program
Bastyr University
Bastyr Center for Natural Health
1307 N. 45th Street
Seattle, Washington 98103
206.834.4124
206.834.4107 fax
Family Practice Residency Program
National College of Naturopathic Medicine
049 S.W. Porter
Portland, Oregon 97201
503.499.4343
503.499.0022 fax
The following links all contain information on Residency programs that are fairly well established. Currently only a few programs (Bastyr and NCNM) are fully accredited by the CNME. You may find valuable opportunities by following the other links below. Please note, we are not responsible for how current or accurate the information is on these sites.
- SCNM (Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine Residency Program)
- University of Bridgeport Naturopathic Residency Program
- Cancer Treatment Centers of America
- 2002 Article by Tori Hudson ND
- Naturopathic Residency.org
- Integrative Therepeutics Residency
