What Type of Training do Naturopathic Doctors Receive?

What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Underlying Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
What Type of Training do Naturopathic Doctors Receive?
Download Articles (PDF)

Present day licensed naturopathic doctors are trained in a 4-year post-graduate naturopathic medical school.  Naturopathic medical schools require a 4-year bachelor's degree with all the pre-med requirements for admission.  Many naturopathic doctors also do residencies after graduation.

Naturopathic doctors study all the same basic biomedical sciences and diagnostic sciences that are taught in conventional medical schools.  They are trained to use a number of diagnostic and treatment techniques some of which include:

• Lab diagnostics (both conventional and non-conventional)
• Physical diagnosis techniques
• Imaging studies
• Counseling:  lifestyle, nutritional and psychological
• Natural medicines such as: nutritional supplements, botanical medicines, and homeopathic medicines
• Physical medicine techniques such as: hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulative therapy, physiotherapy modalities, exercise therapy and acupuncture
• Family practice modalities such as:  natural childbirth, minor surgery, and bio-identical hormones
• Pharmacological agents:  Prescription rights for naturopathic doctors currently vary from state to state.  In New Hampshire naturopathic doctors prescribe naturally derived compounds such as some antibiotics and hormones.