How Do I Become a Naturopathic Doctor in North Carolina?

Many areas in North Carolina are havens for naturopathic doctors.

Naturopathic doctors are primary care providers who operate from a natural, holistic standpoint. They preach preventative medicine, including lifestyle modification, stress reduction and proper nutrition, in addition to the use of natural remedies that include herbal medicine and homeopathy. Some naturopathic doctors also practice acupuncture and other Oriental medicine techniques. The route to becoming an naturopathic doctor in the state of North Carolina involves out-of-state education and training. It is very simple to legally practice as a naturopathic doctor in North Carolina.

Instructions

1. Graduate from a four-year undergraduate program with a major in science. Courses in anatomy, biology, chemistry and other physical sciences are necessary. This is a pre-requisite for additional professional education in naturopathic medicine.

2. Attend a four-year accredited degree program in naturopathic medicine. At the time of publication, there were only five such schools in the United States, none of which were located in North Carolina. The two closest schools were the National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, Illinois, and the University of Bridgeport's College of Naturopathic Medicine in Connecticut,

3. Complete an approved residency in naturopathic medicine if you wish to pursue a specialty, such as oncology.

4. Take your national competency exam. Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations, referred to as NPLEX, are offered through the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners, and test naturopathic doctor's competency in basic science and core clinical sciences. In North Carolina, the only way to demonstrate you are a fully-qualified naturopathic doctor is to have passed the NPLEX exam.

5. Locate an area you wish to practice in. Popular areas for naturopathic medicine are Asheville and the Highlands.

6. Get a local business license from the municipality where your practice is located. You do not need a license as a doctor of naturopathic medicine to practice in North Carolina.

Tips & Warnings

• As of the time of publication, while North Carolina does not require naturopathic doctors to hold a license to practice, there is legislation pending that would require all those who practice naturopathic medicine to hold a valid state license. Naturopathic doctors in North Carolina would also have to meet annual requirements on continuing education in order to maintain their license, along with a defined scope of practice. This legislation is up for consideration in the North Carolina General Assembly in the 2011 session.

References

• Lewis Family Natural Health: Naturopathic Physician Licensure
• North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians: Licensure
• Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges: Academic Prerequisites
• American Association of Naturopathic Physicians: Professional Education
• Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges: Naturopathic Doctor Licensure
• North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners: About NPLEX

Resources

• Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges: Naturopathic Residencies