Public safety is the most important aspect of regulation of naturopathic medicine (naturopathy) and licensure of naturopathic physicians (naturopaths) and in every state.
Not understanding the difference between naturopathic physicians (naturopaths, NMDs/NDs), who have attended CNME-accredited or provisionally-accredited four-year naturopathic medical schools to specialize in naturopathic medicine (naturopathy) and earned a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (NMD) or Doctor of Naturopathy (ND) doctoral-level professional degree to become licensed naturopathic physicians, as compared to laypersons, who have earned a diploma, distance-learning diploma, or distance-learning degree in “naturopathy” from a non-accredited institution, can be very confusing to the public. It is critical to the safety of the public that the public is educated on the difference between a naturopathic physician (naturopath) versus a layperson claiming to practice naturopathic medicine (naturopathy).
Currently, there are 20 USA states, the District of Columbia, and 2 USA territories that have regulation of naturopathic medicine (naturopathy).
Alaska
- Regulatory Statutes
- The Alaska State Legislature – Alaska Statutes, Chapter 08.45 Naturopaths
- Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development: Corporations, Business, & Professional Licensing – Naturopathy Statutes & Regulations
- Regulatory Authority
- Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development: Corporations, Business, & Professional Licensing – Naturopathy
Arizona
- Regulatory Statutes
- Arizona State Legislature – Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 32, Chapter 14 Naturopathic Medicine
- Arizona Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board – Statutes
- Arizona State Legislature – Arizona Administrative Code, Title 4, Chapter 18 Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board
- Arizona Secretary of State – Arizona Administrative Code
- Regulatory Authority
- Arizona Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board – Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board
California
- Regulatory Statutes
- California State Legislature – California Business and Professions Code, Division 2, Chapter 8.2 Naturopathic Doctors Act
- California Department of Consumer Affairs: Naturopathic Medicine Committee – Laws & Regulations
- Regulatory Authority
- California Department of Consumer Affairs: Naturopathic Medicine Committee – Naturopathic Medicine Committee
Colorado
- Regulatory Statutes
- Colorado General Assembly – Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 12, Article 37.3 Naturopathic Doctors
- Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies: Office of Naturopathic Doctor Registration – Office of Naturopathic Doctor Registration: Laws, Rules, and Policies
- Regulatory Authority
- Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies: Office of Naturopathic Doctor Registration – Office of Naturopathic Doctor Registration
Connecticut
- Regulatory Statutes
- Connecticut General Assembly – General Statutes of Connecticut, Chapter 373 Naturopathy
- Regulatory Authority
- State of Connecticut Department of Public Health – Naturopathic Physician
Florida
- Regulatory Statutes
- Florida Legislature – Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 462 Naturopathy
- Regulatory Authority
- Florida Department of Health Division of Medical Quality Assurance – Inspection Programs
- The Florida Department of Health is no longer issuing licenses to practice naturopathy – all licenses valid on 1985 October 01 remain in full force and effect
Hawaii
- Regulatory Statutes
- Hawaii State Legislature – Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 16, Chapter 88 Naturopaths
- Hawaii State Legislature – Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 455 Naturopathic Medicine
- Regulatory Authority
- State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional & Vocational Licensing: Board of Naturopathic Medicine – Naturopathic Medicine
Kansas
- Regulatory Statutes
- Kansas Legislature – Kansas Statutes, Chapter 65, Article 72 Naturopathic Doctors
- Regulatory Authority
- Kansas State Board of Healing Arts – Doctors of Naturopathic Medicine (N.D.)
Maine
- Regulatory Statutes
- Regulatory Authority
- State of Maine Professional & Financial Regulation: Board of Complementary Health Care Providers – Board of Complementary Health Care Providers
Maryland
- Regulatory Statutes
- General Assembly of Maryland – Code of Maryland (Statutes), Article – Health Occupations, Title 14, Section 14-5F
- Regulatory Authority
- Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Maryland Board of Physicians – Naturopathic Doctors
Massachusetts
- Regulatory Statutes
- General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – Session Laws, Acts (2016), Chapter 400 An Act Establishing a Board of Registration in Naturopathy
- Regulatory Authority
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health – Board of Registration in Naturopathy is still being set up
Minnesota
- Regulatory Statutes
- Minnesota State Legislature – Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 147E Registered Naturopathic Doctors
- Regulatory Authority
- Minnesota Board of Medical Practice – Licensing Process
Montana
- Regulatory Statutes
- The Montana Legislature – Montana Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 26 Naturopathic Physicians
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry Business Standards Division: Board of Alternative Health Care – Statutes
- Regulatory Authority
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry Business Standards Division: Board of Alternative Health Care – Naturopathic Physician
New Hampshire
- Regulatory Statutes
- The New Hampshire General Court – State of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Online, Title XXX, Chapter 328-E Naturopathic Health Care Practice
- Regulatory Authority
- New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification: Naturopathic Board of Examiners – Naturopathic Board of Examiners
North Dakota
- Regulatory Statutes
- North Dakota Legislative Assembly – North Dakota Century Code, Title 43, Chapter 43-58 Naturopaths
- North Dakota Legislative Assembly – North Dakota Administrative Code, Title 112, Article 112-02 Naturopathic Licensure
- Regulatory Authority
- North Dakota Board of Integrative Health Care – Application – Naturopathic Doctor
Oregon
- Regulatory Statutes
- Oregon State Legislature – Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 685 Naturopaths
- Regulatory Authority
- State of Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine – Board of Naturopathic Medicine
Pennsylvania
- Regulatory Statutes
- Pennsylvania General Assembly – Naturopathic Doctor Registration Act
- Regulatory Authority
- Pennsylvania Department of State: State Board of Medicine – State Board of Medicine – registration process is still being set up
Utah
- Regulatory Statutes
- Utah State Legislature – Utah Code, Title 58, Chapter 71 Naturopathic Physician Practice Act
- Regulatory Authority
- Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing – Naturopathy
Vermont
- Regulatory Statutes
- Vermont General Assembly – Vermont Statutes Annotated, Title 26, Chapter 81 Naturopathic Physicians
- Regulatory Authority
- Vermont Secretary of State Office of Professional Regulation – Naturopathic Physicians
Washington
- Regulatory Statutes
- Washington State Legislature – Revised Code of Washington, Title 18, Chapter 18.36a Naturopathy
- Washington State Legislature – Washington Administrative Code, Title 246, Chapter 246-836 Naturopathic Physicians
- Washington State Department of Health – Laws: Naturopathic Physician
- Regulatory Authority
- Washington State Department of Health – Naturopathic Physician
District of Columbia
- Regulatory Statutes
- Council of the District of Columbia – District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, Title 17, Chapter 17-52 Naturopathic Medicine
- Regulatory Authority
- Government of the District of Columbia Department of Health – Naturopathic Physicians Licensing
Puerto Rico
- Regulatory Statutes
- Legislature of Puerto Rico – Enacted Laws Year 1997, Act No. 208 Act to Regulate the Practice of Naturopathic Medicine in Puerto Rico
- La Asamblea Legislativa de Puerto Rico – Leyes Aprobadas Año 1997, Ley Núm. 208
- Regulatory Authority
- Gobierno de Puerto Rico Departamento de Salud – Junta Examinadora de Doctores en Naturopatía
- Gobierno de Puerto Rico Departamento de Salud – Commonwealth of Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico Board of Naturopathic Physicians
US Virgin Islands
- Regulatory Statutes
- Legislature of the Virgin Islands – Virgin Islands Code, Title 27, Chapter 4 Naturopathic Physicians Licensing
- Regulatory Authority
- Virgin Islands Department of Health: Board of Naturopathic Physicians – Virgin Islands Code, Title 27, Chapter 4a