Naturopathy is a form of alternative medicine that uses natural remedies to treat medical conditions. Naturopathy courses vary depending on the location’s legislation, ranging from unaccredited home study courses to accredited doctoral programs. In licensed areas, naturopaths must meet specific standards and complete clinical training, including courses in midwifery or natural childbirth and pharmacology. Licensing boards may also require continuing education courses for license renewal.
Naturopathy is a branch of alternative medicine that treats medical conditions with natural remedies, including herbs, massage and bodywork, and homeopathy. In some places, naturopathic medicine is practiced by licensed practitioners. In others, naturopathy is completely unlicensed. As the status of naturopathy varies according to national, regional and local legislation, there are many different types of naturopathy courses. This can range from unaccredited home study courses on natural healing methods to accredited doctoral programs.
Naturopathy courses can vary widely in scope and teaching methodology in locations where naturopathy is unlicensed. For example, in Australia and the United Kingdom, naturopaths are not licensed by the government, but are accredited through professional associations, which may sponsor or recognize specific schools or courses of study. Depending on the type of course and the school offering the program, a student of naturopathy can earn a certificate, diploma, or even a bachelor’s degree. There are also several non-accredited programs that offer doctorates in naturopathy, but these are generally not accepted by governments, the academic community, or many naturopathic professional associations.
In locations where naturopathy is a licensed healthcare profession, naturopathy courses can be quite comprehensive and must meet the standards of the relevant licensing board. In the United States and Canada, naturopathic doctors are licensed in specific states or provinces, which also regulate the naturopath’s scope of practice. A naturopath licensed in the United States or Canada generally must complete a bachelor’s degree and a four-year doctoral program in naturopathic medicine, which includes courses in hard sciences such as chemistry and biology, as well as training in specific alternative healing modalities, such as botanical medicine and clinical nutrition.
Sometimes naturopaths are only allowed by law to offer advice on using natural healing therapies. However, some governments give naturopaths much more medical authority, including the ability to diagnose illnesses, order tests and X-rays, prescribe drugs and medications, and assist women in childbirth. As a result, naturopathic physician education can go beyond standard naturopathy courses to include additional clinical training, courses in midwifery or natural childbirth, and education in pharmacology. If an area regulates other alternative medicine practices, such as acupuncture or oriental medicine, the licensing board in that area may require a naturopath to complete other courses. Additionally, licensing boards often require naturopaths to complete continuing education courses as a condition of renewing their licenses.
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