Naturopathic Education

• Naturopathic medical colleges are four-year, post-graduate level medical schools with admissions requirements comparable to those of conventional medical schools.

• Naturopathic Physicians are trained in the same medical sciences that conventional physicians are trained in; including: anatomy, cardiology, biochemistry, neurology, physiology, pediatrics, pathology, dermatology, microbiology, obstetrics, immunology, gynecology, radiology, pharmacology, minor surgery, lab, physical diagnosis, etc.

• Throughout the naturopathic program, there is didactic and clinical training in naturopathic therapeutics; including: therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, bio-identical hormone therapy, pharmacology and minor surgery.

• Naturopathic philosophy is woven into both the didactic and clinical portions of the program

• As part of their clinical training, naturopathic physicians work in various medical clinics seeing patients while supervised by licensed physicians.  In addition, they are required to perform minor surgery, physical examinations, women’s wellness exams, IV therapy, IM therapy, and many other clinical hands on applications.

• The passage of rigorous professional board exams is required to become licensed as a naturopathic physician.

• Both the Department of Education and the Carnegie Institute classify the ND degree as a first-professional degree under Doctorate-Professional (clinical), on par with MD and DO degrees.

• There are currently 6 accredited naturopathic medical schools in the US.  These schools are Bastyr University- Washington, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, National College of Naturopathic Medicine, University of Bridgeport, National University of Health Sciences, and Bastyr University- San Diego