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Naturopathic Doctor — ND/NMD
Total cost: Contact DSPS for current total fees
Governing Authority
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)
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 DSPS for current total fees
Total Initial Fees
CNME-Accredited Program & Degree
VerifiedCNME Program
Required
Program Length
4 years
Degree Level
Completion of a naturopathic medical education program from a degree-granting institution in the US or diploma-granting degree-equivalent institution in Canada
Accredited Schools
Must complete a naturopathic medical education program from a qualifying US or Canadian institution.
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 examination as required for licensure
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)
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
Licensed Naturopathic Doctor
Additional Notes
Wisconsin licensure became effective March 1, 2024 — one of the newest ND licensing states.
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
Wisconsin NDs practice naturopathic medicine under Chapter 466 of Wisconsin Statutes. Scope is defined by the Department of Safety and Professional Services. Licensure requirements became effective March 1, 2024.
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 DSPS for current application fee |
License Fee | Contact DSPS for current license fee |
Renewal Fee | $60 (starting 2026); $85 late fee |
Total Initial Fees No renewal fee in 2024; $60 renewal fee and $85 late fee apply starting 2026 | Contact DSPS for current total fees |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years (by December 31 of even years)
Renewal Period
—
CE Hours Required
$60 (starting 2026); $85 late fee
Renewal Fee
CE Details
Contact DSPS for current continuing education requirements for naturopathic doctor 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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Wisconsin is one of the newest states to license naturopathic doctors, with licensure effective March 1, 2024. Practicing without a license can result in fines up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 9 months. The state had no renewal fee in 2024 but will charge $60 starting in 2026. Wisconsin recognizes both US degree-granting and Canadian diploma-granting institutions.
Wisconsin licensure became effective March 1, 2024 — one of the newest ND licensing states.
Any person calling themselves a Naturopathic Doctor after March 1, 2024 without a state license may face fines up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 9 months.
No renewal fee in 2024; $60 renewal fee applies starting 2026.
Renewals due December 31 of even years.
Chapter 466 of Wisconsin Statutes governs naturopathic doctors.
Both US degree-granting and Canadian diploma-granting institutions recognized.
Naturopathic Doctor requirements in nearby states
See how Wisconsin compares: Naturopathic Doctor License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
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Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Wisconsin.
Naturopathic Doctor Schools in Wisconsin
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Moving to Wisconsin? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Naturopathic Doctor license to Wisconsin →
Transfer your Naturopathic Doctor license from Wisconsin to: Illinois → | Iowa → | Michigan → | Minnesota →
Wisconsin licenses/registers naturopathic doctors. Prescriptive authority is granted. NPLEX Parts I and II are required. All licensing is managed through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS).
Requirements vary by state. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.