The Degree of Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine requires four years of graduate level study in the medical sciences, and another four years of post-graduate study at an accredited naturopathic medical college, all of which have admission requirements comparable to those of conventional medical schools.

Naturopathic doctors are educated in all of the same basic sciences as a medical doctor (MD). In addition, naturopathic doctors study holistic and non-toxic approaches to healing, with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. As a naturopathic doctor’s four-year post-graduate residency program requires hands-on experience with the different modalities and bio-medical sciences, and because the coursework in natural therapeutics is added to a standard medical curriculum, naturopathic doctors receive hours of classroom education comparable to that of graduates of many leading medical schools.

Naturopathic doctors take rigorous professional board exams so that they may be licensed as a primary care provider by a state or jurisdiction (New York State does not presently license naturopathic doctors).