08-26-2025, 02:45 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-26-2025, 03:53 PM by PearsonOTHMQualifi7654.)
NUHS is one of the few accredited schools across North America that provides a pathway towards being a medically licensed Doctor of Naturopathy ND, or NMD). The programs cost just as much as regular medical schools and require 4 years in residence. At the current time, it only allows for licensure within 26 US jurisdictions (inclusive of D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) as well as 6 Canadian provinces.
Licensure means that in some of those jurisdictions, the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine can perform invasive medical procedures/minor surgeries, and also perform IV injections and can have prescriptive rights (although usually limited). During the 4 years, there are clinical rounds at practices, and minor medical procedures are taught.
Most people who go to those programs more than likely wanted to go to medical school, perhaps. A lot of graduates start to practice in a way that's not very naturopathic at all, and focus on things like injections, such as botox, and some go back to school to become a Nurse Practitioner or a physician's assistant so they can be medically licensed in all US states, be employed at a hospital, and simply be able to earn more money.
The income potential is below 6 figures for most people who graduate from an accredited Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program, as they are not usually offered jobs at hospitals and have to run a private practice. They don't teach how to run a business in that school, so graduates are sometimes very frustrated because the student loan has ballooned up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and they are taking home 70k gross a year. For this reason, some of the graduates of such programs have a bone to pick with the "Traditional Naturopaths", who are not medically licensed, but it's because the Traditional Naturopaths are not supposed to be medically licensed:
Outside of North America, the title Doctor of Naturopathy does not exist; instead, in many countries, Naturopathy is considered secondary care and practiced by non-medical professionals who call themselves naturopaths. Basically, laypersons who have studied the natural healing arts and sciences are simply educating people on how to help the body heal itself. Ironically, the practice of a layperson who studies the human body and the healing methods is called naturopathy in Europe, and in North America are called traditional naturopathy.
The origins of Naturopathy in North America were from non medical Traditional Naturopathy, but a group that wanted to perform medical procedures revolted and split off, then became what it is today, which make up the CNME and affiliated associations that support the 6 Naturopathic Medical Schools, development and adminstration of the NPLEX licensing exam, as well as lobbying for licensure in the various states and in the process attempting to prevent non medical Traditional Naturopaths from being able to practice non medical traditional naturopathy in any state.
Meanwhile, the original Traditional Naturopaths and their schools disappeared. There are a handful of distance learning Traditional Naturopathic schools, but none are accredited by a national or regional accrediting body and thus are not recognized by DoE/CHEA. They are usually recognized by professional associations.
Some of the traditional naturopaths get unaccredited doctorate degrees in North America, and in the states and jurisdictions that do not regulate the titles, can still be called a doctor, but they make it very clear they are not medical doctors, so they do not diagnose or treat, or perform medical procedures.
No invasive medical procedures (such as injections and minor surgery) are performed in "Traditional" Naturopathy. Unfortunately, the non-medical traditional naturopathy programs in North America are not recognized by DoE or CHEA. But for those interested, such programs can be done via distance and are not very expensive, although they can take several years to complete part-time. As none of those individuals will be performing any medical procedures on another human being, speaking with a traditional naturopath, is to get ideas and insights into natural health. They can also help a person order lab tests and bloodwork, but are not administering nor prescribing it themselves.
Licensure means that in some of those jurisdictions, the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine can perform invasive medical procedures/minor surgeries, and also perform IV injections and can have prescriptive rights (although usually limited). During the 4 years, there are clinical rounds at practices, and minor medical procedures are taught.
Most people who go to those programs more than likely wanted to go to medical school, perhaps. A lot of graduates start to practice in a way that's not very naturopathic at all, and focus on things like injections, such as botox, and some go back to school to become a Nurse Practitioner or a physician's assistant so they can be medically licensed in all US states, be employed at a hospital, and simply be able to earn more money.
The income potential is below 6 figures for most people who graduate from an accredited Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program, as they are not usually offered jobs at hospitals and have to run a private practice. They don't teach how to run a business in that school, so graduates are sometimes very frustrated because the student loan has ballooned up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and they are taking home 70k gross a year. For this reason, some of the graduates of such programs have a bone to pick with the "Traditional Naturopaths", who are not medically licensed, but it's because the Traditional Naturopaths are not supposed to be medically licensed:
Outside of North America, the title Doctor of Naturopathy does not exist; instead, in many countries, Naturopathy is considered secondary care and practiced by non-medical professionals who call themselves naturopaths. Basically, laypersons who have studied the natural healing arts and sciences are simply educating people on how to help the body heal itself. Ironically, the practice of a layperson who studies the human body and the healing methods is called naturopathy in Europe, and in North America are called traditional naturopathy.
The origins of Naturopathy in North America were from non medical Traditional Naturopathy, but a group that wanted to perform medical procedures revolted and split off, then became what it is today, which make up the CNME and affiliated associations that support the 6 Naturopathic Medical Schools, development and adminstration of the NPLEX licensing exam, as well as lobbying for licensure in the various states and in the process attempting to prevent non medical Traditional Naturopaths from being able to practice non medical traditional naturopathy in any state.
Meanwhile, the original Traditional Naturopaths and their schools disappeared. There are a handful of distance learning Traditional Naturopathic schools, but none are accredited by a national or regional accrediting body and thus are not recognized by DoE/CHEA. They are usually recognized by professional associations.
Some of the traditional naturopaths get unaccredited doctorate degrees in North America, and in the states and jurisdictions that do not regulate the titles, can still be called a doctor, but they make it very clear they are not medical doctors, so they do not diagnose or treat, or perform medical procedures.
No invasive medical procedures (such as injections and minor surgery) are performed in "Traditional" Naturopathy. Unfortunately, the non-medical traditional naturopathy programs in North America are not recognized by DoE or CHEA. But for those interested, such programs can be done via distance and are not very expensive, although they can take several years to complete part-time. As none of those individuals will be performing any medical procedures on another human being, speaking with a traditional naturopath, is to get ideas and insights into natural health. They can also help a person order lab tests and bloodwork, but are not administering nor prescribing it themselves.
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