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Naturopathic Doctor — ND/NMD
Total cost: Contact board for current fee amounts
Governing Authority
Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing — Naturopathy Program (administered by the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development)
Official website →3 sources cited · Last verified March 2026 · Every number on this page links to its official source
Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
Yes
License Required
Yes
NPLEX Required
Yes
Prescriptive Auth.
Yes
Minor Surgery
Varies
CE Hours
Contact board for current fee amounts
Total Initial Fees
CNME-Accredited Program & Degree
VerifiedCNME Program
Required
Program Length
4 years
Degree Level
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) from a CNME-accredited or candidate-status naturopathic medical program requiring 4 years of attendance
Accredited Schools
Must graduate from a program accredited by or a candidate for accreditation by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME).
Naturopathic doctors must complete a 4-year post-graduate doctoral program from a CNME-accredited (Council on Naturopathic Medical Education) naturopathic medical school. The program includes approximately 4,100 hours of classroom and clinical training covering biomedical sciences, clinical sciences, botanical medicine, nutrition, physical medicine, homeopathy, pharmacology, and supervised clinical rotations. There are currently 7 CNME-accredited programs in the United States and Canada.
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NPLEX & State Examinations
VerifiedNPLEX Examination Required
Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations
NPLEX Parts
Basic science, clinical, and homeopathic sections of the NPLEX examination (per 12 AAC 42.030(a)); application instructions describe this as 'all clinical exams, all basic science exams, and the add-on exam of homeopathy'
Jurisprudence Exam
No State Jurisprudence Exam
The NPLEX (Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations) consists of two parts: Part I covers biomedical sciences (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, and pharmacology) and Part II covers clinical sciences (diagnosis, botanical medicine, nutrition, physical medicine, homeopathy, counseling, minor surgery, pharmacology, and emergency medicine). All licensing states require passage of both parts. Some states additionally require a state-specific jurisprudence examination.
Overall licensing difficulty: 72/100
Study recommendation: Plan for 4–6 weeks of dedicated study
Rating based on limited data
Practice with realistic exam questions
NPLEX (Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam)
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Naturopathic Medicine Exam Prep
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Difficulty rating based on education, exam, and experience requirements. Individual experience may vary.
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State Licensing Requirements
VerifiedState License/Registration Required
State License Title
Naturopath
Additional Notes
Alaska requires graduation from a CNME-accredited naturopathic medical program.
Approximately 25 states plus the District of Columbia license or register naturopathic doctors. States without licensure include Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Only graduates of CNME-accredited programs qualify for state licensure.
Practice Scope & Authority
VerifiedPrescriptive Authority
Yes
Minor Surgery
Yes
Natural Childbirth
No
IV Therapy
Yes
Scope Details
Alaska licenses naturopaths with prescriptive authority available through a prescription endorsement. NDs may perform minor surgery, administer IV dietetic substances, order diagnostic tests, and practice botanical and nutritional medicine. Prescription endorsement requires 5 years of practice and 60 hours of pharmacology education approved by the board.
Naturopathic doctor scope of practice varies enormously by state. States with the broadest scope (Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Vermont, Montana) allow prescriptive authority including some controlled substances, minor surgery, natural childbirth attendance, and IV therapy. Other states have more limited scope covering diagnostic testing, nutritional counseling, botanical medicine, and physical medicine only. In unlicensed states, naturopathic practice may be unregulated or prohibited.
Prescriptive & Procedural Authority
VerifiedPrescriptive Authority Granted
NDs may prescribe medications from an approved formulary
Minor Surgery
Authorized
Natural Childbirth
Not Authorized
IV Therapy
Authorized
Prescriptive authority for naturopathic doctors varies significantly by state. States with the broadest authority (Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Vermont, Montana) allow NDs to prescribe most non-controlled substances and some controlled substances with DEA registration. Other states limit NDs to a defined formulary of natural and synthetic substances. DEA registration may be available in states with prescriptive authority for controlled substances. Always verify current prescriptive authority with the state licensing board.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | See 12 AAC 02.270 fee schedule |
License Fee | See 12 AAC 02.270 fee schedule |
Renewal Fee | See 12 AAC 02.270 fee schedule |
Total Initial Fees Fees established under 12 AAC 02.270 | Contact board for current fee amounts |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
VerifiedBiennially
Renewal Period
—
CE Hours Required
See 12 AAC 02.270 fee schedule
Renewal Fee
CE Details
Continuing education requirements apply per board regulations; contact the board for current CE hour requirements.
Regulatory Board
Naturopathic doctor licenses must be renewed on schedule with the state licensing authority. Most licensing states require 20-40 continuing education hours per renewal cycle in naturopathic medicine, pharmacology, clinical sciences, diagnostic techniques, botanical medicine, nutrition, and related professional topics. Some states require specific CE hours in pharmacology for NDs with prescriptive authority.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedEndorsement Available
Yes
Comity Available
No
Reciprocity Requirements
Most states that license naturopathic doctors offer reciprocity or endorsement for licensed NDs from other states. Requirements typically include verification of current ND licensure in good standing, graduation from a CNME-accredited program, passage of NPLEX Parts I and II, and completion of a background check. Some states may require a state-specific jurisprudence exam. Scope of practice may differ between states.
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Alaska requires the homeopathy add-on examination in addition to NPLEX Parts I and II. Prescriptive authority is not automatic but requires a separate prescription endorsement after 5 years of practice and completion of 60 hours of board-approved pharmacology education.
Alaska requires graduation from a CNME-accredited naturopathic medical program.
NPLEX Parts I and II plus the homeopathy add-on examination are required.
Prescriptive authority is available through a prescription endorsement requiring 5 years of practice and 60 hours of pharmacology education.
Minor surgery as defined in statute is within scope of practice.
IV dietetic substances are permitted.
Only CNME-accredited program graduates qualify; 'traditional naturopaths' are not eligible.
Naturopathic Doctor requirements in nearby states
| State | Total Cost | Timeline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska (you) | Contact board for current fee amounts | 420–440 wks | |
| Washington | $386 | 420–440 wks | → |
| Hawaii | $458 | 420–440 wks | → |
See how Alaska compares: Naturopathic Doctor License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
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Naturopathic Doctor Schools in Alaska
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
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Alaska licenses/registers naturopathic doctors. Prescriptive authority is granted. NPLEX Parts I and II are required. All licensing is managed through the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing — Naturopathy Program (administered by the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development).
Requirements vary by state. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.