Top 5 Terms You Need To Know When Talking About Naturopathic Medicine

Learning about a new paradigm of medicine involves learning new terms, and when talking to your friends and family, other health care providers, or decision-makers in your area, it’s important to understand some of the most common terms you’ll be using.

  1. Naturopathic Doctor or Naturopathic Physician (ND or NMD): “Naturopathic doctors are educated and trained in accredited naturopathic medical colleges. They diagnose, prevent, and treat acute and chronic illnesses to 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. Their Therapeutic Order™ identifies the natural order in which all therapies should be applied to provide the greatest benefit with the least potential for damage” (AANP). While many naturopathic doctors are trained in primary care, like conventional medical doctors (MDs), some choose to specialize or focus their practices. Specialty associations currently exist for Endocrinology, Environmental Medicine, Gastroenterology, Parenteral Therapies, Pediatrics, Primary Care Physicians, Psychiatry, and Oncology.

    • For more information on the difference between a licensed/registered naturopathic doctor and an unlicensable naturopath, please read our FAQ here.

  2. Licensed or Registered: These are the terms that are used to distinguish a provider that is regulated by their respective board in their state of practice. “In these jurisdictions, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from accredited four-year residential naturopathic medical programs and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license or registration… Licensed and registered naturopathic doctors must fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually and have a specific scope of practice as defined by their state's law.” (Source: AANP). “‘Board Certification’ implies additional education and testing beyond this degree of entry-level qualification. Therefore, passing the NPLEX Examinations does not mean [a naturopathic doctor is]… ‘board-certified’” (Source: NABNE).

  3. Naturopathic Medical Student (NMS): This is the term used to describe a student actively studying and training to become a licensable naturopathic doctor at one of the CNME-accredited naturopathic medical schools. Naturopathic medical students study biomedical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, and pharmacology, etc. Their medical education incorporates the latest advances in science as well as natural approaches to illness prevention and management. We do not use the term “ND candidate" as it provides an opportunity for confusion on whether or not the degree leads to clinical practice.

    • For more information on beginning a career in naturopathic medicine, visit the AANMC’s website.

  4. Accredited Naturopathic Medical School: One of the four-year, campus-based (“in-residence”) doctoral programs in naturopathic medicine (ND programs) that qualify graduates for licensure in the U.S. and Canada. The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) is “recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for the purpose of accrediting ND programs, and … [their] educational standards provide the basis for licensing/regulating naturopathic physicians in the U.S. and Canada.” (Source: CNME).

    • For more information on the accreditation of naturopathic medical schools and who ensures the quality of naturopathic medical education and training, read more at this FAQ.

  5. NPLEX / Licensing Exams: In order to practice naturopathic medicine and to obtain a license in a regulated state, naturopathic doctors must pass a two-step licensing exam called the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX) administered and managed by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE).

    • For more information on the education, training, and licensing of naturopathic doctors, read our FAQ here.

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