Naturopathic medicine is a medical practice that deals with treating chronic conditions with natural therapies. With its origins dating as far as the 1700s, traditional naturopathy emphasizes the age-old ideology that nature is the most effective healer, hence the focus on disease prevention and treatment through natural medicine that facilitates the body’s innate ability to heal.
The processes of naturopathic diagnosis and treatment are based on research evidence from several medical disciplines, including phytotherapy, psychology, conventional medicine, clinical nutrition, pharmacognosy, and European complementary medicine. Thus, naturopathic doctors combine scientific, empirical, and natural laws to diagnose and treat illness.
That said, naturopathic medicine has grown rapidly in the last couple of years to become one of the most preferred forms of medical therapy. In turn, this growth has led to an increase in the demand for naturopathic doctors. With that in mind, we discuss the different types of naturopathic training programs throughout this article for individuals considering that career path. Not to waste too much time, let’s get started:
How to Become a Naturopathic Doctor
Naturopathic doctors typically attend four-year, in-residence medical schools with a study curriculum covering 4100 hours of clinical training. Generally, naturopathic training programs consist of the standard medical curriculum alongside classes in disciplines, such as acupuncture, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, physical medicine, and homeopathic medicine.
Also, the final two years of the program typically involve a clinical internship with a licensed naturopathic doctor supervising the entire process. During this period, students get to experience naturopathic medicine hands-on as a profession.
That said, it is crucial to note that the Council on naturopathic Medical Education – the body responsible for accrediting colleges that offer naturopathic certification programs – does not recognize online universities that train graduates in naturopathic medicine due to the practical nature of the discipline. The council believes that students cannot gain the hands-on experience required to practice and succeed as naturopathic doctors if they learn online.
Academic Prerequisites
Accredited naturopathic medical schools have several requirements for prospective students before offering them admission. For example, students must first complete three years of pre-medical training and possess a bachelor’s degree or higher from a recognized academic institution.
Naturopathic universities also require prospective students to have earned satisfactory grades in college courses, such as algebra, English, physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, anatomy, and the humanities. Some academic institutions also have selected coursework that students must have taken and passed before allowing them to study.
Statistics and botany are examples of some of those courses. Furthermore, students who wish to study naturopathic medicine must possess some vital skills, such as communication, integrative and quantitative abilities, motor function, and intellectual-conceptive abilities.
Additional Requirements
Aside from satisfactory grades in the required courses, there are other standard requirements to meet across naturopathic medical schools in the US before students can gain admission into naturopathic training programs. For example, Universities in America require applicants to fill out an application and submit letters of recommendation, transcripts, and an essay. Please note that some schools may demand more than one letter of recommendation.
Furthermore, other institutions may request a resumé and an interview. Before applying to any accredited naturopathic medical school in the US, you should carry out due diligence to find out the admission requirements.
Naturopathic Residencies
Some academic institutions across states in the US require students to undergo a post-doctoral residency for one year before they qualify for a license after graduation. Residency programs often take place in community clinics, family practices, and teaching clinics. Generally, students encounter different patients and medical conditions, depending on where they undergo their residencies.
However, it’s important to note that opportunities for residency programs are in short supply, and applicants often compete fiercely for the limited openings available across the different universities.
Accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools
Currently, there are six academic institutions accredited to offer naturopathic training programs in the United States. Briefly, here’s a list of these universities:
- Bastyr University (Washington and California Campus)Â
- National University of Health Sciences (Lombard, Illinois)Â
- National University of Natural Medicine (Portland, Oregon)Â
- Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences (Tempe, Arizona)Â
- University of Bridgeport School of Naturopathic Medicine (Bridgeport, Connecticut)Â
- Universidad Ana G. Méndez (Gurabo, Puerto Rico)
Students who graduate from any of these institutions are eligible for licensure. You can find more information on naturopath training programs and certifications at AcademyEpic.com
Accreditation of Naturopathic Medical Schools
As stated earlier, the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) is the regulatory body responsible for accrediting naturopathic medical schools across North America. Generally, the universities voluntarily apply for accreditation, and the council grants their request if the school meets the required standards.
Also, only accredited institutions can offer financial aid to students. Furthermore, graduates of naturopathic programs can only take licensing exams if they graduated from an accredited institution. As such, you should find out if your preferred institution has CNME accreditation before applying to study there.
Naturopathic Training Programs Tuition CostsÂ
Tuition fees are one of the critical considerations when choosing a university. In the United States, tuition for naturopathic training programs across the different academic institutions can be as high as $33,000. However, you should note that this doesn’t cover other expenses, such as books and accommodation.
Fortunately, Some naturopathic medical schools in the US offer financial aid like grants and scholarships to students. You should find out if your preferred institution has any of these options available for applicants.
Conclusion
Naturopathic medicine has grown to become one of the most preferred forms of medical therapy across the US in the last couple of years due to public demand for more natural public treating methods. As such, there’s an increased need for naturopathic doctors now more than ever.
If you plan on studying naturopathic medicine in the US, this guide should help to prepare you for your journey. We’ve discussed application requirements and accredited institutions throughout this article.
We’d recommend that you consider applying to any of these medical schools, as CNME-licensed universities offer specific benefits to students, such as financial aid and qualifications for professional licensing exams.
Feature photo by mark Williams
