Loading...
Loading...
Naturopathic Doctor — ND/NMD
Total cost: Contact RI DOH for current fee schedule
Governing Authority
Rhode Island Department of Health — Center for Professional Licensing
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 RI DOH for current fee schedule
Total Initial Fees
CNME-Accredited Program & Degree
VerifiedCNME Program
Required
Program Length
4 years
Degree Level
Degree of doctor of naturopathy from a board-approved naturopathic medical college with completion of at least 1,200 hours of board-approved clinical training before graduation
Accredited Schools
Must graduate from a board-approved naturopathic medical college.
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.
Browse Naturopathic Doctor study materials on Amazon →(affiliate link)
NPLEX & State Examinations
VerifiedNPLEX Examination Required
Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations
NPLEX Parts
NPLEX Part I (biomedical science examination) and Part II (clinical science examination) or successor
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
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Difficulty rating based on education, exam, and experience requirements. Individual experience may vary.
Prepare with realistic NPLEX (Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam) practice tests from Exam Edge →(affiliate link)See our discount
Study guides for the NPLEX licensing exam.
Browse Study Guides on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Shop essential tools and supplies to get started in your career.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
State Licensing Requirements
VerifiedState License/Registration Required
State License Title
Licensed Naturopathic Physician
Additional Notes
Rhode Island requires a collaboration and consultation agreement with a licensed physician.
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
Rhode Island NDs practice naturopathic medicine with prescriptive authority within a defined formulary. Must maintain a written collaboration and consultation agreement with a licensed physician. Malpractice insurance required before seeing patients.
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 | Fees set forth in Part 10-05-2 (Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services — RIDOH); specific dollar amounts not published on the naturopathic page |
License Fee | Contact RI DOH for current fee schedule |
Renewal Fee | Contact RI DOH for current fee schedule |
Total Initial Fees Fees set by regulation; available on the application form | Contact RI DOH for current fee schedule |
Use our licensing cost calculator to estimate your total investment including education and exam fees.
Calculate your licensing ROI →
See how quickly your license investment pays for itself.
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years (by December 31 of odd-numbered years)
Renewal Period
30 hrs
CE Hours Required
Contact RI DOH for current fee schedule
Renewal Fee
CE Details
30 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle
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.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Rhode Island with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Rhode Island, like Maryland, requires naturopathic physicians to maintain a written collaboration and consultation agreement with a licensed physician. Malpractice insurance must be obtained prior to seeing any patients, and proof must be provided to the Board upon request. The licensing regulations are codified under 216-RICR-40-05-35.
Rhode Island requires a collaboration and consultation agreement with a licensed physician.
30 CE hours per 2-year cycle.
Malpractice insurance required before seeing patients.
Licenses expire every 2 years.
Minimum 1,200 hours of clinical training required.
Licensed as 'Naturopathic Physician' under RI regulations (216-RICR-40-05-35).
Naturopathic Doctor requirements in nearby states
| State | Total Cost | Timeline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island (you) | — | 420–440 wks | |
| Connecticut | $565 | 420–440 wks | → |
| Massachusetts | — | 420–440 wks | → |
See how Rhode Island compares: Naturopathic Doctor License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
Compare naturopathic doctor requirements across all states →
Naturopathic Doctor licensing requirements nationwide →
Not sure naturopathic doctor is right for you? Find careers that match your situation →
How does Rhode Island compare to other states for naturopathic doctor? See the full comparison →
Calculate the return on investment for your naturopathic doctor license →
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Rhode Island.
Naturopathic Doctor Schools in Rhode Island
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Moving to Rhode Island? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Naturopathic Doctor license to Rhode Island →
Transfer your Naturopathic Doctor license from Rhode Island to: Connecticut → | Massachusetts →
Rhode Island licenses/registers naturopathic doctors. Prescriptive authority is granted. NPLEX Parts I and II are required. All licensing is managed through the Rhode Island Department of Health — Center for Professional Licensing.
Requirements vary by state. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.