PRACTITIONER TRAINING
Naturopathic doctors are trained to be primary care physicians (PCPs or family doctors) however in the state of NY I practice as a Naturopathic consultant. Our training includes four years of graduate level coursework and clinical training in an accredited naturopathic medical school. There are five programs in the US and two in Canada, which are accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, a specialized accreditor recognized by the US Department of Education. The first two years of schooling are similar to conventional medical doctor (MD) training and the majority of classes consist of basic sciences (i.e., anatomy, cellular biology, physiology, microbiology, pathology, etc). The following two years consist of specialized academic courses (i.e. cardiology, gynecology, gastroenterology, urology, etc), as well as clinical training at the affiliated university clinic. During the four years, students also receive training in naturopathic therapeutics such as botanical medicine, homeopathy, clinical nutrition, body work, spinal manipulation, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and counseling. NDs must pass national board examinations to become licensed, including basic science and clinical exams. To view more details regarding coursework, visit Bastyr University.