Far more than your typical health practitioner, your naturopathic doctor is also a medical doctor, acupuncturist, counsellor, herbalist, homeopath, hydrotherapist, nutritionist, and more. As a result, obtaining a degree in naturopathy is an extremely demanding and rigorous undertaking.

Before entering a program, students must complete three years of pre-medical studies at a university and have included general biology, biochemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and psychology as part of their studies.

Potential naturopathic students must then complete four years of extensive training at a recognized naturopathic college, which includes basic medical clinical sciences, diagnostics, naturopathic philosophy and therapeutics, and extensive clinical training. The education process involves more than 4,000 hours of classroom training and supervised clinical experience. As students are educated to be primary health care providers, they must be accomplished in preventive medicine and natural therapeutics, as well as in diagnosing, managing, and treating early-onset chronic degenerative disease. Training in the biomedical sciences is comparable to that of a conventional medical student. Coursework includes anatomy, cardiology, biochemistry, clinical and physical diagnosis, dermatology, gynecology, immunology, laboratory diagnosis, microbiology, minor surgery, neurology, obstetrics, pathology, pediatrics, pharmacology, physiology, and radiology.

Upon completion of their program, potential naturopathic doctors must pass the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX) and provincial examinations set by the Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy to receive accreditation as a naturopathic doctor. The resulting N.D.'s are thus exceptionally qualified in the above mentioned fields.

In the United States, naturopaths must receive a degree from a naturopathic program or college accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). Currently, four schools have received this status: National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Oregon, Bastyr University in Washington, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Arizona, and The University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine in Connecticut.

The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine is recognized by the Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy -- Naturopathy and is in the final stages of the five year application process to receive CNME certification.

In Canada, you may call the Canadian Naturopathic Association's toll-free information and referral service at 1.877.NAT.PATH (628.7284) to locate a naturopathic doctor near you.