A naturopathic doctor (ND) is a type of practitioner. Licensed NDs graduate from a four-year naturopathic medical program, and 23 states license or register them. Functional medicine is an approach, not a license. MDs, DOs, NDs, nurse practitioners and other licensed clinicians can practice it, and each one's own license sets what they're allowed to do. So the useful question isn't "naturopath or functional medicine?" but "what license does this person hold, and what does it let them do in my state?"
Naturopath vs functional medicine doctor at a glance
| Naturopathic doctor (ND) | Functional medicine practitioner | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A profession with its own degree and, in some states, its own license | A clinical approach that IFM describes as treating the "root causes" of disease |
| Core training | Four-year doctoral program at a CNME-accredited naturopathic school | The clinician's own degree (MD, DO, ND, NP, PA, DC, RD and others), plus functional medicine courses |
| License | Licensed or registered in 23 states, DC and Puerto Rico. No license in New York. Banned in Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee. | No functional medicine license exists. Scope comes from the underlying license. |
| Main credential | ND or NMD degree; NPLEX board exams in licensing states | FMCP or FMCP-M, issued by the International Board of Functional Medicine Certification (optional) |
| Can they prescribe? | Depends on the state. Some licensing states allow it; Connecticut, for example, doesn't. | Depends on the license. An MD or DO can; certification doesn't add prescribing rights to any license. |
| Medicare | Doesn't cover ND visits | Covers MD and DO physician services, but some practices don't bill Medicare (for example, Parsley Health and Jill Carnahan's practice) |
| Cost examples | First visit about $150 to $400 nationally (vendor estimate) | Initial consults $1,500 to $3,800 at one Colorado practice; memberships $1,500 to $3,300 a year at Parsley Health (own sites, checked Oct 2026) |
Sources for each row are in the sections below.
Training
Naturopathic doctors
Licensed NDs complete a doctoral program at a school accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). CNME's standards require at least four academic years and 4,100 clock hours, including at least 1,200 hours of clinical training (CNME Handbook of Accreditation, September 2025). Graduates take the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX) to get licensed (CBNM 2026 report). A residency is optional in most places; Utah requires 12 months.
Not everyone who uses the word "naturopath" has this training. Traditional naturopaths train in non-accredited programs and aren't eligible for a license (NCCIH). For more on the degree, see what a naturopathic doctor is and does.
Functional medicine practitioners
There's no functional medicine degree. Training sits on top of a clinician's existing education. To earn the Institute for Functional Medicine's certification, a candidate needs (IFM eligibility, checked October 2026):
- at least a master's degree in an eligible healthcare field;
- an active, permanent healthcare license (student, residency and temporary licenses don't count);
- at least 100 hours of accredited functional medicine training, rising to 150 hours from January 2027;
- a passing score on a computer-based exam, with renewal every six years.
IFM says its own core curriculum is the only program that meets all of its training requirements. Training from companies whose main business is selling health products doesn't count toward certification.
Licensing: a license vs an approach
NDs. Twenty states license naturopathic doctors and three (Colorado, Minnesota and Pennsylvania) register them, plus DC and Puerto Rico. The rest don't regulate NDs, and Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee ban naturopathic practice. See states where naturopathic doctors are licensed for the full list.
Functional medicine. It isn't a licensed specialty. IFM states that its certification doesn't widen or narrow anyone's scope of licensure, and gives no added legal or specialty status (IFM). A chiropractor, dietitian or nurse with a functional medicine credential can do exactly what their own license allows, and no more.
Who can hold a functional medicine credential
The certification is now run by the International Board of Functional Medicine Certification (IBFMC) and has two versions (IFM eligibility):
- FMCP-M: for MDs, DOs, NDs, nurse practitioners and physician associates.
- FMCP: for other licensed professionals, including acupuncturists, chiropractors, dentists, dietitians and other nutrition professionals, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, registered nurses and licensed mental health professionals.
The older title "IFM Certified Practitioner" (IFMCP) is being phased out. IFM asks IFMCP holders to transition to the new credentials (IFM, how to get certified). Either way, the credential tells you about training, not about what the person is licensed to do.
If you're in New York
New York doesn't license naturopathic doctors. A 2026 licensing bill notes that, because the state doesn't regulate NDs, anyone there may use the title (S8714, in committee). A New York ND can't diagnose or prescribe under an ND license, because there isn't one. Under state advertising law, anyone who uses the title "doctor" to advertise health services must disclose their licensed profession, or, if no state license applies, their degree field and the school that granted it (N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 350-b). Whether you're seeing a naturopath or a functional medicine practitioner in New York, ask which license they hold (MD, DO, NP, PA or another) and check it with NYSED license verification.
Prescribing and lab tests
NDs: prescribing depends entirely on the state. Some licensing states let NDs prescribe a defined list of drugs. Connecticut's naturopathy law contains no grant of prescriptive authority for prescription drugs (Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 373). Lab ordering is also set by state law. See what naturopathic doctors can prescribe, state by state and whether naturopaths can order lab tests.
Functional medicine practitioners: an MD or DO prescribes and orders tests under a medical license. For anyone else, it depends on that person's own license and state. Functional medicine certification doesn't add either power.
Cost and insurance
Few practices of either kind publish prices, so the figures below are examples, not market rates.
| Naturopathic doctor | Functional medicine | |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | About $150 to $400 nationally (Fullscript, a supplement vendor, undated). One Manhattan ND charges $375 for a 90-minute new-patient visit (East Village Physical Medicine, checked Oct 2026). | $1,500 to $3,800 for initial consults at one Colorado practice (Jill Carnahan, checked Oct 2026). Parsley Health publishes membership, not visit, prices. |
| Programs and memberships | Some practices sell packages; we found no typical price | $1,500 up front (Parsley Health insurance members) to $3,300 a year ($275 a month self-pay) at Parsley Health, checked Oct 2026. See functional medicine costs and sources. |
| Private insurance | Depends on the plan and state. The Manhattan ND above doesn't take insurance. | Membership fees generally aren't covered. Visits may be, depending on the clinician's license and network. |
| Medicare | No. NDs aren't on Medicare's list of physicians (42 U.S.C. § 1395x(r)). | Covers MD and DO physician services, but some practices don't bill Medicare. Parsley Health doesn't, and Jill Carnahan has opted out. |
| HSA or FSA | Visits and lab fees for diagnosing or treating a condition usually qualify (IRS Publication 502). | Same rules. Supplements qualify only when recommended for a condition a physician has diagnosed (Publication 502). The IRS hasn't addressed membership fees directly, and it generally doesn't count payments for care given well after the end of the year. Ask your plan administrator before prepaying. |
More detail: how much a naturopath costs and what insurance covers, and functional medicine cost and insurance.
What the evidence says
Neither approach has strong evidence as a whole. NCCIH doesn't assess whether naturopathy works (NCCIH). For functional medicine, the best-known study, from Cleveland Clinic in 2019, was observational: patients reported more improvement in physical health at six months than matched primary care patients, but the difference at 12 months wasn't significant (Beidelschies et al., JAMA Network Open). See is functional medicine legit? and what the evidence says about naturopathy.
Which suits which situation
- If you want one clinician who can prescribe, order standard tests and bill insurance or Medicare: look for an MD or DO who practices functional or integrative medicine, and ask whether they bill your plan.
- If you live in a state that licenses NDs and want naturopathic care: a licensed ND is the regulated option. Check the license with the state board and ask what your state lets NDs prescribe.
- If you live in New York or another state with no ND license: the title alone tells you little. Check for an underlying license on the state's verification site.
- If you take prescription medicine for a diagnosed condition: keep your prescribing doctor involved, and don't stop or change a medicine on anyone else's advice without checking with the prescriber.
- If cost is a concern: ask for per-visit prices instead of a prepaid program, and ask which tests insurance is likely to cover.
Questions to ask either one
- What license do you hold, in which state, and can I check it online?
- Do you hold a functional medicine credential (FMCP or FMCP-M)? Who issued it?
- Can you prescribe medicine and order lab tests under your license here?
- What does the first visit cost, and what does each follow-up cost?
- Which tests do you usually order, what do they cost, and which are optional?
- Do you sell supplements in the office? Can I buy the same products elsewhere?
- Will you share results with my primary care doctor?
What to do next
- Browse functional medicine doctors and naturopathic doctors near you, and check the license each one lists.
- Looking for an MD- or DO-led option? See integrative medicine doctors and how integrative and functional medicine differ.
- For vetting tips, read how to find and vet a naturopathic doctor.
When to see a medical doctor: for new, severe or quickly worsening symptoms, see a medical doctor or urgent care first. Either kind of practitioner should refer you on if something needs urgent or specialist care.
Last reviewed: October 2026