A Licensed Naturopathic Doctor

Dr. Furtado holds her license in Utah, and is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. This provides accountability for you of her training and continuing education. At this time, there is no naturopathic licensing available in Delaware for naturopathic doctors.

Licensed naturopathic doctors must fulfill state-mandated education requirements annually, and will have a specific scope of practice defined by their state laws. Licensed naturopathic physicians also have to fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually, with a specific scope of practice defined by state law.

The states that currently have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors are:

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington, US Territories of Puerto Rico & the Virgin Islands

In these locations, NDs are required to graduate from a four-year residential naturopathic medical school and pass five days of extensive post-doctoral board exams, including five basic science board exams and 10 clinical science board exams in order to receive a license. NDs are also subject to review by a State Board of Examiners.

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) supports legislation to license NDs in all states in order to distinguish properly trained physicians from lesser trained individuals. AANP membership is limited to individuals who are eligible for licensing in states that issue licenses, have graduated from a recognized school, and have completed board exams.

States without Licensing

In states that do not offer licensing, some people use the title "N.D." or "Naturopath" without training from accredited schools or any recognized license. These individuals may have taken brief correspondence courses, short seminars, or attended schools that give credit for life experience, but which do not require clinical training. Such degrees are not recognized by the CNME.

In many of the unlicensed states, naturopathic doctors and their supporters have introduced bills and are actively working toward achieving licensure. Some naturopathic doctors in these states hold a license from another state to demonstrate to the public that they have attained the high level of training required of the profession elsewhere. Licensure provides a means for oversight and a standard by which consumers can evaluate the credentials of a practitioner. That is why the naturopathic profession fully supports licensing.

Education of Naturopathic Doctors

A licensed naturopathic doctor attends a four-year graduate-level naturopathic medical school. These doctors are educated in the same basic and clinical sciences common to all medical education, but also study holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. Throughout the four to five years of education, there is also training in naturopathic therapeutics, including:

• Botanical Medicine

• Therapeutic Nutrition

• Counseling

• Homeopathy

• Hydrotherapy

• Physical Medicine

• Other Therapies

Medical School Coursework:

• Microbiology

• Neurology

• Oncology

• Pathology

• Pediatrics

• Pharmacology

• Physiology

• Radiology