Currently, only 15 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands have licensing laws specifically for Naturopathic Doctors. In these states, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from a four-year, residential naturopathic medical school and pass and extensive postdoctoral board examinations (NPLEX) in order to receive a license.  Licensed naturopathic physicians must fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually.

*Please note that Colorado is NOT currently a state with licensing laws or a licensing body for Naturopathic Doctors.  Generally, practicing N.D.s in Colorado maintain their licenses in other states.  For example, upon graduating with her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University, Dr. Courtney passed 15 board exams on the following subjects in order to receive her Washington state license as a Naturopathic Physician:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Biochemistry & Genetics
• Microbiology & Immunology
• Pathology
• Nutrition
• Physical & Clinical Diagnosis
• Laboratory Diagnosis & Diagnostic Imaging
• Botanical Medicine
• Counseling & Psychology
• Homeopathy
• Physical Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Emergency Medicine
• Minor Surgery

For information about licensing for N.D.s, please go to:
http://www.naturopathic.org/content.asp?contentid=57

For more information about Colorado’s ongoing efforts to establish licensure for Naturopathic Doctors, please go to:
http://www.coloradond.org/legislation.htm

To sign up for updates on Colorado’s N.D. licensure efforts, please go to:
http://capwiz.com/naturopathic/mlm/signup/

Be sure to check the box for “Colorado (COANP)”.