State Licensing Requirements
Licensing for naturopathic doctors is regulated by each state. Some states, such as Minnesota, have established licensing laws for CNME-accredited graduates. Others, including Michigan, do not currently license naturopathic doctors. In these states, graduates may still practice as holistic health professionals or certified naturopaths.
According to the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, “Currently, 26 jurisdictions (23 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) have licensing or registration laws for naturopathic doctors (NDs/NMDs). In these jurisdictions, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from accredited four-year residential naturopathic medical programs and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license or registration.” The 23 states that require a license to practice naturopathy are:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
If your goal is to become a holistic practitioner or Traditional Naturopath, programs approved by the American Naturopathic Medical Certification Board (ANMCB) may be a good fit. The states where you can work as a Certified Naturopath with degrees from these programs are:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Missisippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee prohibit the practice of Naturopathy.
