Professional Specialties & Certifications

Professional certification is the voluntary process by which an individual proves that it has achieved expertise in a specialty area.  Professional certification is independent of training courses and course providers.  A board certification is a type of professional certification.  When a person achieves professional certification, that person is able to say that it is “certified” in a particular area.  When a person achieves board certification, that person is able to say that it is “board-certified” in a particular area.

 

Within the naturopathic medical profession, there are currently 2 board certifications available, in naturopathic oncology and homeopathy, and 1 other professional certification available, in naturopathic obstetrics.

Obstetric Medicine

A naturopathic physician (naturopath) can become certified in naturopathic obstetrics by taking the American College of Naturopathic Obstetrics (ACNO) credentialing examination, passing it, and meeting all requirements for certification in naturopathic obstetrics.  Once certification is attained, a naturopathic physician (naturopath) may call itself a “certified naturopathic obstetrician” and a “certified naturopathic midwife”.

 

Within the entire medical profession, there is a professional certification available in nutritional medicine.

Nutritional Medicine

A naturopathic physician (naturopath), allopathic physician (allopath), or osteopathic physician (osteopath) can become certified in nutrition by taking the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS) Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) examination, passing it, and meeting all requirements for certification in nutritional medicine.  Once certification is attained, a naturopathic physician (naturopath), allopathic physician (allopath), or osteopathic physician (osteopath) may call itself a “certified nutrition specialist” (“CNS”).

 

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