H.O.T. GUIDE
Health Occupations
& Technology

Naturopathic Physician

To be a successful Naturopathic Physician you should…

  • believe in preventive strategies in health care
  • want to concentrate on whole-patient wellness

What will my job be like?

Naturopathic physicians are primary health care practitioners, whose diverse techniques include modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods. Naturopathic physicians practice homeopathic medicine, which is reliant on natural remedies, and the use of manipulative techniques and Asian medicine to treat the body. These physicians are trained in the healing properties of proper nutrition, botanical medicine, and stress management. They treat the patient holistically.

Licensed naturopathic doctors work as primary care physicians. A patient visit usually includes diagnosis, discussion of possible treatments, counseling about lifestyle or nutrition, prescription of natural remedies, or referral to other medical specialists if necessary. When appropriate, they may also perform treatments in their office, such as hydrotherapy.

Naturopathic physicians may specialize in:

  • Acupuncture
  • Botanical Medicine
  • Clinical Nutrition
  • Homeopathic Medicine
  • Psychology and Counseling

Where could I work?

Like most physicians, the naturopathic physicians spend the majority of their day seeing patients in a medical office.


What is the average annual salary?

$200,000


What is the future of this career?

Overall employment of physicians is projected to grow 3 percent from 2020 to 2030, slower than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS.

Despite limited employment growth, about 22,700 openings for physicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire


What type of education and/or training do I need?

A Licensed naturopathic physician (N.D.) attends a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an M.D. but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic physician is required to complete four years of training in clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling (to encourage people to make lifestyle changes in support of their personal health). A naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams so that they may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician.


Where can I get the education and/or training?

  • University of Bridgeport – College of Naturopathic Medicine, Bridgeport

Do I need a license or certification for this career?

Licensure is required in the state of Connecticut.

Prerequisite: Completed two (2) years of pre-professional college education; Graduated from a school of naturopathy approved by the Connecticut State Board of Naturopathic Examiners and Department of Public Health, with award of the Doctor of Naturopathy degree. Approved schools include only those schools accredited or in candidate status with the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME); Successfully completed both the Basic Sciences (Part I) and Clinical Sciences Examination (Part II) of the Naturopathic Physician Licensing Examination (NPLEX).

Please visit the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health website for more information.


Where can I get more information?

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
300 New Jersey Ave NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 237-8150
www.naturopathic.org