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Naturopathic Doctor — ND/NMD
Total cost: $275
Governing Authority
Vermont Secretary of State / Office of Professional Regulation (Director of the Office of Professional Regulation)
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
30 hrs
CE Hours
$275
Total Initial Fees
CNME-Accredited Program & Degree
VerifiedCNME Program
Required
Program Length
4 years
Degree Level
A doctoral degree in naturopathic medicine from a program accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), or a degree determined by the Director to be essentially equivalent and which meets educational standards essentially equivalent to those established by the CNME.
Accredited Schools
Must graduate from a CNME-accredited naturopathic medical program or equivalent.
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 and the Minor Surgery Clinical Elective Examination
Jurisprudence Exam
No State Jurisprudence Exam
Minor Surgery Clinical Elective Examination required
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: 36/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
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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Study guides for the NPLEX licensing exam.
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State Licensing Requirements
VerifiedState License/Registration Required
State License Title
Naturopathic Physician
Additional Notes
Initial application fee $275; biennial renewal $115.
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
Yes
IV Therapy
Yes
Scope Details
Vermont NDs have broad scope including prescriptive authority, minor surgery (the Minor Surgery NPLEX elective is required for licensure), natural childbirth attendance, IV therapy, and primary care services. Vermont uses an 'advisor' model of regulation rather than a full licensing 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
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 | $275 |
License Fee | Included in application fee |
Renewal Fee | $115 |
Total Initial Fees Initial application fee $275; biennial renewal fee $115 | $275 |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
VerifiedBiennial; September 30 of even-numbered years
Renewal Period
30 hrs
CE Hours Required
$115
Renewal Fee
CE Details
30 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle required as a condition of license renewal
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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Vermont uses an 'advisor' model of regulation where two licensed naturopathic physicians advise the Director of the Office of Professional Regulation, rather than having a full licensing board. The Minor Surgery Clinical Elective Examination is required for all applicants, reflecting minor surgery within the standard scope. Licenses renew on a fixed biennial schedule (September 30 of even-numbered years).
Initial application fee $275; biennial renewal $115.
30 CE hours per 2-year cycle.
NPLEX plus Minor Surgery Clinical Elective Examination required.
Vermont uses an 'advisor' model: 2 licensed NDs advise the Director of OPR rather than a full board.
Licenses renew on September 30 of even-numbered years.
Applicants issued initial license more than 90 days before renewal must renew and pay renewal fee.
Initial licenses issued within 90 days of the renewal date will not be required to renew or pay the renewal fee; those issued more than 90 days prior to the renewal expiration date will be required to renew and pay the renewal fee.
Naturopathic Doctor requirements in nearby states
| State | Total Cost | Timeline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont (you) | $275 | 420–440 wks | |
| Massachusetts | — | 420–440 wks | → |
| New Hampshire | $300 | 420–440 wks | → |
| New York | — | 420–440 wks | → |
See how Vermont compares: Naturopathic Doctor License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
Compare naturopathic doctor requirements across all states →
Naturopathic Doctor licensing requirements nationwide →
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How does Vermont compare to other states for naturopathic doctor? See the full comparison →
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Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Vermont.
Naturopathic Doctor Schools in Vermont
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
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Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Naturopathic Doctor license to Vermont →
Transfer your Naturopathic Doctor license from Vermont to: Massachusetts → | New Hampshire → | New York →
Vermont licenses/registers naturopathic doctors. Prescriptive authority is granted. NPLEX Parts I and II are required. All licensing is managed through the Vermont Secretary of State / Office of Professional Regulation (Director of the Office of Professional Regulation).
Requirements vary by state. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.