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Naturopathic Doctor — ND/NMD
Total cost: Contact DORA for current fee schedule
Governing Authority
Office of Naturopathic Doctor Registration (under the Division of Professions and Occupations / DORA)
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.
No
Minor Surgery
Varies
CE Hours
Contact DORA for current fee schedule
Total Initial Fees
CNME-Accredited Program & Degree
VerifiedCNME Program
Required
Program Length
4 years
Degree Level
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine or Doctor of Naturopathy degree from a CNME-accredited program, or equivalent 4-year post-graduate education per Director Rule 10
Accredited Schools
Must graduate from a CNME-accredited naturopathic medical program or demonstrate completion of an equivalent 4-year post-graduate program per Director Rule 10.
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
NPLEX scores submitted via NABNE transcript request to the Division
Jurisprudence Exam
No State Jurisprudence Exam
Expanded prescribing authority requires passing the NPLEX elective pharmacology examination or 12 hours of pharmacological CE or licensure in another state with equivalent authority
Additional Requirements
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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Study guides for the NPLEX licensing exam.
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State Licensing Requirements
VerifiedState License/Registration Required
State License Title
Registered Naturopathic Doctor
Additional Notes
Colorado uses a registration system rather than licensure for naturopathic doctors.
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
No
Natural Childbirth
No
IV Therapy
No
Scope Details
Colorado NDs practice under a registration system. Scope includes obtaining/dispensing/administering substances in the naturopathic formulary (epinephrine for anaphylaxis, barrier contraceptives, oxygen for emergencies, vitamins B6/B12, OTC substances, vaccines for 18+). NDs cannot perform surgery, use general/spinal anesthetics, treat children under 2, practice obstetrics, or perform chiropractic services. Expanded prescribing authority available with additional qualifications.
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
Not Authorized
Natural Childbirth
Not Authorized
IV Therapy
Not 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 | Contact DORA for current fee schedule |
License Fee | Contact DORA for current fee schedule |
Renewal Fee | Contact DORA for current fee schedule |
Total Initial Fees Fees available on application forms from DPO Online Services | Contact DORA for current fee schedule |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
—
CE Hours Required
Contact DORA for current fee schedule
Renewal Fee
CE Details
Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) requirements begin after first renewal. As of June 2025, renewal requires 12 hours per year of education in pharmacology.
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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Colorado registers (rather than licenses) naturopathic doctors. The scope is relatively restricted compared to states like Arizona and Oregon — NDs cannot perform surgery, practice obstetrics, or treat children under 2. Expanded prescribing authority requires the NPLEX pharmacology elective exam, 12 hours of pharmacological CE, or holding equivalent authority in another state. NDs cannot prescribe antipsychotics or ketamine.
Colorado uses a registration system rather than licensure for naturopathic doctors.
CNME-accredited degree or equivalent is required.
NPLEX examination required; scores verified through NABNE.
Scope is more limited than some states — no surgery, no obstetrics, no treatment of children under 2.
Expanded prescribing authority available with additional pharmacology training.
CPC requirements begin after first renewal of registration.
NDs cannot prescribe antipsychotics or ketamine.
the credential is a 'registration' throughout all official materials
Naturopathic Doctor requirements in nearby states
See how Colorado compares: Naturopathic Doctor License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
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Naturopathic Doctor Schools in Colorado
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
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Colorado licenses/registers naturopathic doctors. Prescriptive authority is granted. NPLEX Parts I and II are required. All licensing is managed through the Office of Naturopathic Doctor Registration (under the Division of Professions and Occupations / DORA).
Requirements vary by state. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.