Regulation & Statutes

Public safety is the most important aspect of regulation of naturopathic medicine (naturopathy) and licensure of naturopathic physicians (naturopaths) and in every state.

Not understanding the difference between naturopathic physicians (naturopaths, NMDs/NDs), who have attended CNME-accredited or provisionally-accredited four-year naturopathic medical schools to specialize in naturopathic medicine (naturopathy) and earned a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (NMD) or Doctor of Naturopathy (ND) doctoral-level professional degree to become licensed naturopathic physicians, as compared to laypersons, who have earned a diploma, distance-learning diploma, or distance-learning degree in “naturopathy” from a non-accredited institution, can be very confusing to the public.  It is critical to the safety of the public that the public is educated on the difference between a naturopathic physician (naturopath) versus a layperson claiming to practice naturopathic medicine (naturopathy).


Currently, there are 21 USA states, the District of Columbia, and 2 USA territories that have regulation of naturopathic medicine (naturopathy).

Alaska

Arizona

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Hawaii

Kansas

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Minnesota

Montana

New Hampshire

North Dakota

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington


District of Columbia


Puerto Rico

US Virgin Islands