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naturopathic medicine

Education of a Licensed Naturopathic Physician

A licensed naturopathic physician (ND) attends a four-year graduate-level naturopathic medical school.  They are educated in all of the same basic sciences as MDs, but also study holistic and non-toxic therapies with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness.  They do a clinical internship during their last two years of school.   NDs must pass two sets of national board exams in the basic and clinical sciences (NPLEX).  Currently, NDs are eligible for licensure in 14 states as well as the District of Columbia and also in the US territories of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. 

There are four accredited medical schools in the US:

• Bastyr University – Kenmore, Washington - www.bastyr.edu

• National College of Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) – Portland, Oregon – www.ncnm.edu

• Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) – Tempe, AZ – www.scnm.edu

• University of Bridgeport College of Natural Medicine – Bridgeport, CT – www.bridgeport.edu/naturopathy

Naturopathic Doctors from these medical schools complete more hours of in-class and laboratory medical training than any other type of physician, including MDs and DOs, and our total hours of academic plus clinical training are comparable to such medical schools as Yale School of Medicine and the osteopathic schools [1]. This data is also kept by the U.S. Department of Education.

[1]: the classroom and clinical training at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine currently total 4575 hours. The classroom and clinical training at Yale School of Medicine currently total 4339 hours.

Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine ND Program:

First Academic Year
Composed of basic sciences in the study of normal structure and function of the body. Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry courses introduce methods of physical examination, laboratory evaluation and diagnosis.

Second Academic Year
Continues in the basic sciences focusing on the body’s pathological transitions through disease, along with clinical recognition of these processes using physical, clinical and lab diagnostics.

Third and Fourth Academic Years
The final academic years focus on clinical methods of preventative medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, gynecology, obstetrics, physical medicine, neurology, endocrinology, cardiology, pulmonology, urology, dermatology and immunology. Clinical training and therapeutic education are integrated throughout the final academic years.

NPLEX (Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination)

NPLEX is the standard examination used by all licensing jurisdictions for Naturopathic physicians in North America. It includes 5 basic science exams (anatomy, physiology, pathology, biochemistry, microbiology and immunology) taken after the first 2 years of medical school. The clinical science examinations are taken following graduation after the 4th year of school. They include: clinical and physical diagnosis, laboratory diagnosis and diagnostic imaging, botanical medicine, pharmacology, nutrition, physical medicine, homeopathy, minor surgery, psychology and lifestyle counseling, and emergency medicine. Individual jurisdictions may give additional examinations in jurisprudence and acupuncture.

Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination Board (NPLEX)

(416) 498-4255 x 227

(503) 250-9141

President:  Paul Sanders, PhD, ND

http://www.nabne.org/html/index2.aspx

P.O. Box 69657

Portland, OR 97201

(503) 250-9141

Executive Director:  Christa Louise M.S., PhD  christa@nabne.org

Links

• What is Naturopathic Medicine?

• Naturopathic Services

• Why Use a Naturopathic Physician?

• About Dr. Josselson

• Naturopathic Facts

To schedule an appointment call  856-616-0610

CARE Center of South Jersey

1937 Haddonfield-Berlin Road

Cherry Hill, NJ 08003