A naturopathic doctor (ND) is a practitioner who has completed a four-year graduate program at a naturopathic medical school accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). In states that license NDs, they must also pass national board exams and hold a state license (NCCIH). NDs use approaches such as diet and lifestyle changes, herbs and supplements, and counseling. What an ND may legally do depends on the state. About 23 states license or register NDs; New York and most other states don't, and three states ban the practice.
A traditional naturopath is different. Traditional naturopaths train in non-accredited programs and are not eligible for a license. If a practitioner just says "naturopath," ask which one they are.
Licensed ND vs traditional naturopath
NCCIH, the federal research center for complementary health, separates licensed naturopathic doctors from traditional naturopaths. The two are often confused.
| Naturopathic doctor (ND or NMD) | Traditional naturopath | |
|---|---|---|
| Training | Four-year doctoral program at a CNME-accredited school | Non-accredited programs of varying length and content |
| Board exams | Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX) | None required |
| State license | Available in licensing states | Not eligible for a license |
| Diagnosis | Licensed NDs can diagnose and treat, within state scope | Not licensed to diagnose |
| Titles | Protected titles in licensing states; rules vary | May use "naturopath" in unlicensed states if they don't claim a state license |
Sources: NCCIH; California Board of Naturopathic Medicine, 2026; Connecticut Office of Legislative Research, 2023; CNME Handbook, 2025.
What about a "naturopathy practitioner" or "naturopathic practitioner"? Those phrases don't signal a license. In California, for example, the state board says unlicensed people may use "traditional naturopath" and "naturopathic practitioner," and that most of its enforcement cases involve unlicensed activity (CBNM 2026).
How naturopathic doctors are trained
- Entry: a bachelor's degree, or at least three-quarters of the credits for one. No MCAT is required.
- School: a four-year doctoral program. Seven schools in North America were CNME-accredited as of mid-2025. CNME does not accredit fully online programs (CNME).
- Hours: at least four academic years and 4,100 clock hours in total, including at least 1,200 hours of clinical training, under CNME's accreditation standards (CNME Handbook, 2025).
- Exams: NPLEX Part I covers basic sciences and Part II covers clinical diagnosis and treatment. NPLEX has been the national licensing exam since 1986.
- Residency: optional in most places. Utah requires 12 months of residency for a license (Utah Code 58-71-302).
The degree is a Doctor of Naturopathy or Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. It is not a medical degree (MD or DO), and the training and residency differ. For the full comparison, see whether a naturopathic doctor is a real doctor.
What a naturopathic doctor can and can't do
The short answer: it depends on the state. Where NDs are licensed, they can diagnose, which may include taking a medical history, a physical exam, lab tests and diagnostic imaging, and they can treat patients within the state's scope of practice (NCCIH).
| State status | States | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed | 20 states: AK, AZ, CA, CT, HI, ID, KS, ME, MD, MA, MT, NH, NM, ND, OR, RI, UT, VT, WA, WI. Also DC and Puerto Rico. | A license is required to practice or to use protected ND titles. Scope and prescribing differ by state. |
| Registered | 3 states: CO, MN, PA | Only registered NDs may use ND titles. We could not find a published count of Pennsylvania registrations, so its program may not be operating. |
| Not regulated | 24 states, including New York, New Jersey and Texas | No ND license exists, so anyone calling themselves an ND there holds no state ND license. |
| Banned | 3 states: FL, SC, TN | Practicing naturopathy is illegal. In Florida, unlicensed practice is a third-degree felony. |
Sources: AANP Regulated States; Wyoming Legislative Service Office, July 2025; Florida Statutes 462.17; S.C. Code 40-31; Tenn. Code 63-6-205. Counts differ by source: the AMA says at least 24 states and DC regulate naturopathy (AMA, 2024). For details by state, see which states license naturopathic doctors.
Prescribing
About 15 of the states that license or register NDs give them some prescriptive authority, and the range is wide (Connecticut OLR, 2023):
- Arizona NDs may prescribe most drug classes, including Schedule III–V controlled substances (A.R.S. 32-1501).
- Oregon NDs registered with the DEA may prescribe drugs on the state formulary, including some Schedule II drugs (OAR 850-060-0215).
- California NDs may prescribe hormones, and epinephrine for anaphylaxis, on their own (BPC 3640.7), but other drugs only under a procedure supervised by a physician (BPC 3640.5). California's naturopathic practice act now runs to January 1, 2031, after SB 1303, signed in September 2026, amended its repeal date in BPC 3686 (SB 1303).
- North Dakota NDs may prescribe prescription drugs only with a board endorsement, which requires a collaborative agreement with a supervising physician and a pharmacology exam. They can't prescribe controlled substances other than testosterone (NDCC 43-58-08 and 43-58-08.1).
- Minnesota's registered NDs may prescribe nonprescription drugs, but not legend (prescription) drugs or controlled substances (Minn. Stat. 147E.05). Massachusetts NDs likewise may not prescribe, dispense or administer prescription drugs or controlled substances (Massachusetts board guidance, 2024).
- Wisconsin's limited-scope NDs may do physical exams, order clinical lab tests, and provide counseling and supplements. Prescribing of legend drugs is not listed in their scope (Wis. Stat. 466.01(6)(a)).
- Connecticut and Alaska license NDs but give them no prescriptive authority. Rhode Island's law says its doctors of naturopathy are not licensed to prescribe drugs (R.I. Gen. Laws 5-36.1-18).
For the full table, see which states let naturopathic doctors prescribe.
Other limits
- Titles. Only 9 states and DC allow the title "naturopathic physician." Several licensing states bar NDs from calling themselves physicians (Wyoming LSO, 2025).
- Primary care. Whether an ND can serve as a primary care provider varies by state; there is no national rule. New Mexico, for example, limits NDs to primary care in collaboration with a physician (NM Practice Act).
- Medicare. Original Medicare does not recognize NDs as physicians, so it doesn't pay for their services (42 U.S.C. 1395x). See what naturopaths cost and what insurance covers.
- New York. New York does not license NDs; naturopathy is not on the state's list of licensed professions. A 2026 bill to create a license (S8714) was referred to committee with no further action (NY Senate). A New York practitioner who calls themselves an ND holds no New York ND license. If they also hold another license (MD, DO, NP, acupuncturist), you can look it up with the NYSED license verification tool.
What happens at a first visit
Visit length and fees vary by practice. Ask the practice for its first-visit length and fee in writing before you book.
A licensed ND's assessment may include:
- A medical history. Bring a list of your medications and supplements.
- A physical exam.
- Lab tests, ordered or reviewed. See which lab tests naturopathic doctors can order.
- A treatment plan, which may include referral to a conventional provider when appropriate.
Source for the first three items: NCCIH, which also lists diagnostic imaging. The treatment plan and referral step describe general practice. Some states add rules. In Colorado, a registered ND must give each patient a written statement before the first exam, signed by both, that says among other things that the ND is not a medical doctor and is registered rather than licensed (C.R.S. 12-250-106(3)(b)), plus a separate written disclosure whose signed acknowledgment the ND keeps for seven years (C.R.S. 12-250-112).
Questions worth asking at or before the first visit:
- Are you licensed, and in which state? If my state doesn't license NDs, what training do you have?
- Will you share your notes with my primary care doctor?
- Which tests do you recommend, why, and what will they cost?
- Do you sell supplements in the office, and can I buy them elsewhere?
- How many visits do you expect, and is there a package or program fee?
Tell every provider you see about all the treatments and supplements you use, so they can make decisions together (NCCIH).
What people commonly see naturopathic doctors for
National survey data show that 0.2% of U.S. adults used naturopathy in 2002 and 1.3% in 2022 (NCCIH). Published research on naturopathic care has mostly looked at chronic conditions. A 2019 review found 33 studies, covering conditions such as heart disease, musculoskeletal pain, type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), depression and anxiety (Myers and Vigar, 2019). That shows where NDs are often consulted. It does not show that naturopathic care works for each condition. The authors concluded it was effective for several of them, but the review counted case series with as few as five patients, which weakens that conclusion. For what the evidence does and doesn't support, see what naturopathy is and what the evidence says and whether naturopathy is legitimate.
Common treatment approaches include diet and lifestyle changes, herbs and supplements, and counseling.
When to see a medical doctor instead
- Emergencies, and any new, severe or fast-worsening symptoms.
- Conditions that need a prescription drug an ND can't prescribe in your state, which in New York means any prescription.
- Diagnosed serious conditions such as cancer or diabetes on medication. Keep your medical team involved.
- Before stopping or changing any prescribed medication.
Next steps
- Check whether your state licenses naturopathic doctors.
- Read how to find and vet a naturopathic doctor.
- Compare practices in our naturopathic doctor directory, or browse naturopathic doctors in New York.
Last reviewed: October 2026