| Spa Wellness Articles :: Program Descriptions & Career Overviews :: Naturopathic Medicine Studies - Naturopathic Medicine Programs |
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| Naturopathic Medicine Studies - Naturopathic Medicine Programs |
| by Robyn Tellefsen |
Naturopathic Medicine involves holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy, with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and overall wellness. Naturopathic physicians work to help the body heal itself through a variety of natural healing techniques, such as food and herb therapy, homeopathy, massage, oriental medicine, and psychotherapy.
What You'll Learn
In the first two years of study, naturopathic medical school curriculum covers basic and clinical sciences, including anatomy, biochemistry, histology, human pathology, human physiology, immunology, macrobiology, microbiology, neuroscience, and pharmacology. The last two years of a naturopathic medicine program consist of clinical internships.
Degree Types
Four-year graduate-level naturopathic medical school programs lead to the doctor of naturopathy (N.D.) or doctor of naturopathic medicine (N.M.D.) degree. Licensed naturopathic physicians may also enroll in postdoctoral programs such as residencies that provide postgraduate training in naturopathic family care and other specialties.
Career Paths
A licensed doctor of naturopathy typically works as a primary care physician in private practice. Other naturopathic physicians work for naturopathic clinics, while others may teach or conduct research at naturopathic medical schools or colleges.
Job Outlook
With the renewed interest in a patient-centered system of health care delivery focused on restoring individual and community health, demand for naturopathic physicians is on the rise. According to the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges, an established doctor of naturopathy earns an average annual salary of $80,000 to $90,000, and may even make upward of $200,000.
Licensing and Accreditation Information
In order to be licensed as a primary care general practice physician, aspiring naturopathic physicians must pass professional board exams administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners. Currently, fourteen states and four provinces allow the practice of naturopathic medicine: Alaska, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Manitoba, Montana, New Hampshire, Ontario, Oregon, Saskatchewan, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also have licensing laws for naturopathic physicians. Find your state licensing board here:
http://www.naturopathic.org/viewbulletin.php?id=118
The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (http://www.cnme.org/), a specialized programming accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits four-year naturopathic medical schools and programs in the United States and Canada.
Accredited naturopathic medical schools and programs:
Arizona
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences
Connecticut
University of Bridgeport - College of Naturopathic Medicine
Oregon
National College of Natural Medicine
Washington
Bastyr University - Naturopathic Medicine Program
Canada
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine
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