Start Your Naturopathic Career at Bastyr University

As of June 2023, 26 jurisdictions, including 23 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have licensing or registration laws for naturopathic doctors in the United States. (Learn about the regulation in provinces and territories in Canada here.) These jurisdictions require naturopathic doctors to graduate from accredited residential naturopathic medical programs, such as Bastyr, with a minimum of 4,100 hours of classroom and clinical training, and to pass the NPLEX to receive a license or registration. 

The specific scope of practice varies and is defined by each state’s law; registered or licensed NDs must fulfill state-mandated continuing education and reporting requirements. Learn more about the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination Board (NPLEX) and the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE).