Licensing & Training

People might be surprised to discover that Naturopathic medicine, while rooted in traditional remedies with long historical use, is heavily backed by rigorous scientific methods. Treatments involving clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Diet and Lifestyle Therapy have consistently shown clinical improvement, cementing their place in complementary health care.

Naturopathic medical schools are accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) after which they are eligible for membership in the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC). There are seven accredited schools in North America, including two here in Canada. These government-appointed boards require candidates to pass comprehensive examinations before licensing them to practice.

Below, you will find more information on how exactly we are trained in this profound and effective model of primary health care.

Training and Education

Licensed Naturopathic Doctors require a minimum of eight years post-secondary education. The process by which prospective students gain acceptance to an accredited Naturopathic medical school is similar to that of conventional programs. Here, students must obtain the prerequisites necessary for application (usually 4 years) and undergo an extensive interview process. The diploma, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, requires four additional years of graduate level study in the medical sciences. These include:

Anatomy
Physiology
Biochemistry
Microbiology
Pathology
Pharmacology

Immunology
Physical and Clinical Diagnosis
Differential Diagnosis
Laboratory Diagnosis
Radiology

Students also receive intensive training in Naturopathic modalities such as:

Clinical Nutrition
Botanical Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Homeopathy

Hydrotherapy
Naturopathic Manipulation
Diet and Lifestyle Counseling

Training for a diploma in Naturopathic Medicine also includes over 1500 hours of clinical training in outpatient settings.

Licensing

After acquiring the diploma of Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, candidates must pass a national level board examination in order to become licensed practitioner. In order to maintain an active license with the Saskatchewan Association of Naturopathic Practitioners, a Naturopathic Doctor must have malpractice insurance and complete a number of continuing education hours to keep up with advancements in medical and Naturopathic therapeutics.

Make sure your Naturopathic Doctor is licensed and registered with the Saskatchewan Association of Naturopathic Practitioners.

Title Protection

The titles Naturopathic Doctor, Naturopath, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, are regulated titles under the Naturopathy Act as overseen by the Saskatchewan Association of Naturopathic Practitioners (www.sanp.ca). These titles are not be confused with other titles like Natural Medical Doctor, Natural Doctor, Doctor of Natural Medicine, Holistic Practitioner, or Holistic Doctor. These are NOT regulated by the SANP. For insurance purposes, Naturopathic treatments must be administered by a licensed Naturopathic Doctor. Make sure your Naturopath is registered and make sure to ask for their registration number.

Did you know?

In 1983, the World Health Organization recommended the integration of Naturopathic Medicine into conventional health care systems.

Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide, Future Medicine Publishing, 1993, 360

In 1994, Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences, a Naturopathic medical school, was awarded almost $1 million in research funds from the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Alternative Medicine to research alternative therapies for patients with HIV and AIDS.

Bastyr University press release, October 4, 1994

Graduates of accredited Naturopathic medical colleges are required to have more hours of study in basic sciences and clinical sciences than graduates of Yale or Stanford medical schools.

Naturopathic and Major Medical Schools, Comparative Curricula.” Document from the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

The “anti-cancer” diet recognized by the National Cancer Institute was first published in a Naturopathic medical textbook in the 1940s.

Twenty Questions About Naturopathic Medicine”, Document from the American Association of Naturopathic Medicine

Graduates of accredited Naturopathic medical colleges receive more formal training in therapeutic nutrition than MDs, osteopathic physicians, or registered dietitians.

“Naturopathic and Major Medical Schools: Comparative Curricula”, Document from the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

The government of Germany now requires conventional doctors and pharmacists to receive training in Naturopathic techniques because of their cost-effectiveness.

William Collinge. The American Holistic Health Association Complete Guide to Alternative Medicine, Warner Books, 1996, 125

Today, there are over two thousand licensed practicing Naturopathic Doctors (N.D.s) in the United States and Canada.

NIH, Alternative Medicine: Expanding Medical Horizons, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1993, 88.8, American Association of Naturopathic Physicians brochure

As of August 1996, 12 states in the US and five provinces of Canada now license Naturopathic Doctors as primary-care physicians. It was projected that all 50 states would license Naturopathic Doctors by the year 2010.

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians brochure

The County Council in Seattle, Washington, established the nation’s first government-subsidized Naturopathic medical clinic.

astyr University press release, February 27, 1995

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