Naturopathic medical training is similar to conventional medical training. A licensed naturopathic physician (NMD or ND) attends a four-year accredited graduate level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as a medical doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic medicine (DO). The NMD course of study includes approximately 4,500 hours of academic and clinical training including anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, cardiology, dermatology, neurology, gynecology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, psychology, minor surgery, and physical and clinical diagnosis.
However, an NMD also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic physician is required to complete training in naturopathic therapeutics, including therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine,homeopathy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and naturopathic spinal manipulative therapy.
In licensed states, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from a four-year, naturopathic medical school and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license.
Like an MD or DO, licensed naturopathic physicians must fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually, and will have a specific scope of practice defined by their state’s law.