What is an N.D.?

An N.D., or Naturopathic physician, is someone who has received a doctorate in Naturopathic medicine. N.D. programs are four-year programs of postgraduate education in which both extensive coursework and training in direct patient care are completed. The prerequisite requirements for an N.D. program are the standard premedical coursework of biology, chemistry, physics, and organic chemistry. There are four accredited naturopathic medical schools in the U.S., and two in Canada.

During the first two years of education, the N.D. candidate gains proficiency in all the standard medical sciences: anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, histology, pharmacology, clinical and physical diagnosis, laboratory test administration and interpretation, and microbiology. The scope and intensity of this education is similar to an M.D. candidate's experience. There is, however, a special focus on the scientific aspects of optimal physiological functioning, since this is what N.D.s aim to achieve on behalf of their patients.

The final two years of training are focused on care of patients under the direct supervision of licensed physicians, as well as gaining knowledge of natural therapeutics such as clinical nutrition and vitamin and mineral supplementation (144 hours), botanical medicine (96 hours), homeopathy (144 hours), manipulation therapies (192 hours), minor surgery (60 hours), and counseling (96 hours). Coursework in neurology, diagnostic imaging, EENT, environmental medicine, dermatology, geriatrics, exercise physiology, dermatology, gynecology, urology, endocrinology, natural childbirth, proctology, oncology, gastroenterology, pediatrics, and emergency medicine is also completed. All students complete an extensive preceptorship requirement and two full years of patient care prior to graduation.

Board certification and licensure is granted after required coursework and patient contacts are completed, and two sets of board exams are passed. At this time, N.D.s are licensed to practice as primary care physicians (PCPs) in 13 states. As PCPs, they order all lab tests, have pharmaceutical prescription rights (this varies by state), and treat patients with a wide variety of medical concerns. In licensed states, N.D.s enjoy the largest scope of practice of any medical professional. An emphasis on facilitating long-term lifestyle changes, patient education, and the use of natural curative therapies distinguishes the N.D. from other types of physicians. The overall goal of the N.D. is to invoke patients' inherent healing capacities in order to facilitate a lifetime of health, vitality, balance, and growth on every possible level.

* These are the current course requirements at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine and are only representative of potential requirements at other institutions.