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Naturopathic Doctor — ND/NMD
Total cost: Contact DC Health for current fee schedule
Governing Authority
DC Board of Medicine (Board of Acupuncture, Chiropractic, and Naturopathic Physicians)
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
30 hrs
CE Hours
Contact DC Health for current fee schedule
Total Initial Fees
CNME-Accredited Program & Degree
VerifiedCNME Program
Required
Program Length
4 years
Degree Level
Doctorate in naturopathic medicine from an accredited naturopathic medical school
Accredited Schools
Must graduate from an accredited naturopathic medical school.
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 Basic Science Examination and Clinical Science Examination administered by NABNE
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: 49/100
Study recommendation: Most candidates study 2–4 weeks
Practice with realistic exam questions
NPLEX (Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam)
Browse study guides
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
Naturopathic Physician
Additional Notes
DC requires NPLEX examinations for naturopathic physician licensure.
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
Yes
Scope Details
DC naturopathic physicians have prescriptive authority within a defined naturopathic formulary. Scope includes diagnostic testing, nutritional counseling, botanical medicine, homeopathy, IV therapy, and physical modalities. Must be a DC resident or maintain an office/practice location in the District.
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
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 DC Health for current fee schedule |
License Fee | Contact DC Health for current fee schedule |
Renewal Fee | Contact DC Health for current fee schedule |
Total Initial Fees Fees set by regulation and listed on the application | Contact DC Health for current fee schedule |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
30 hrs
CE Hours Required
Contact DC Health for current fee schedule
Renewal Fee
CE Details
30 continuing education hours per 2-year renewal cycle; must include at least 2 hours in LGBTQ cultural competency and 3 hours in a topic designated as a public health priority; at least 10% of total CE must be in topics identified by the Director as public health priorities
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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DC requires naturopathic physician applicants to be DC residents or maintain an office/practice location in the District. CE requirements include specific mandates for LGBTQ cultural competency (2 hours) and public health priority topics (3 hours). DC groups naturopathic physicians with acupuncturists and chiropractors under a single board.
DC requires NPLEX examinations for naturopathic physician licensure.
Applicants must be DC residents or have a practice location in the District.
30 CE hours per 2-year cycle with specific requirements for LGBTQ cultural competency and public health priorities.
Regulated under the Board of Acupuncture, Chiropractic, and Naturopathic Physicians.
DC uses the title 'Naturopathic Physician.'
Naturopathic Doctor requirements in nearby states
See how District of Columbia compares: Naturopathic Doctor License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in District of Columbia.
Naturopathic Doctor Schools in District of Columbia
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
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Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Naturopathic Doctor license to District of Columbia →
Transfer your Naturopathic Doctor license from District of Columbia to: Maryland → | Virginia →
District of Columbia licenses/registers naturopathic doctors. Prescriptive authority is granted. NPLEX Parts I and II are required. All licensing is managed through the DC Board of Medicine (Board of Acupuncture, Chiropractic, and Naturopathic Physicians).
Requirements vary by state. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.