About

Naturopathic Medical Doctors are trained at an accredited college in the U.S. or Canada. They undergo four years of educational and clinical training in basic sciences, as well as the areas that make Naturopaths unique. These areas include homeopathy, nutrition, IV supplementation, spinal manipulation, hydrotherapy, counseling, and the use of plants medicinally, such as herbal remedies. Naturopaths are required to take basic science board exams at the end of their second year and then must pass their clinical board exams at the end of their fourth year in order to be eligible for licensure. Each state has a different scope of practice for Naturopathic Physicians defining what they can and cannot do in their practice. In the state of Arizona, Naturopathic Physicians may prescribe medications with the limitation of specific Class II drugs, antipsychotic agents and chemotherapy drugs. They are trained as general family practice physicians and primary care physicians or PCP.