Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Study to Become a Naturopathic Doctor

The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (NMD) program at the University of Western States (UWS) prepares students to take a whole-person and individualized approach to health and healing. It integrates the principles of functional medicine throughout the naturopathic program. Graduates learn to consider the whole person including the patient’s diet, lifestyle, environment, genetics, physical, mental, and emotional health, and other factors that influence health and well-being.

Including functional medicine principles in the UWS naturopathic doctor program distinguishes it from other NMD programs. Naturopathic medicine and functional medicine are science-based, patient-centered approaches to achieving and maintaining health by addressing the root cause, not just suppressing symptoms. Functional medicine’s focus on the biochemical and genetic individuality, and the diet and nutrition of each patient, integrates well with the full range of assessments and treatment modalities of naturopathic medicine.

This 14-quarter naturopathic doctoral program can be completed in three-and-a-half years and is taught on our beautiful campus in Portland, Oregon. The naturopathic program provides a community of learning through in-person experiences with knowledge, skills, and society reinforced through in-person lectures, labs, team-based learning, and clinical rotations. The NMD degree curriculum offers some online courses delivered both synchronously and asynchronously. Students are expected to be on campus for the entire program. 

The field of naturopathic medicine has shown continuing demand due to increased importance on preventative medicine. Naturopathic medicine has recently experienced a resurgence as an increasingly health-conscious public utilizes natural therapies as a complement or alternative to more conventional approaches to medicine. The comprehensive nature of naturopathic medicine lends itself well to those looking for a more individualized health care experience. Learn more about what naturopathic medicine means at UWS and why to pursue a career as an NMD.

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NMD Program Mission Statement

To prepare ethical, skilled and caring naturopathic physicians as life-long learners, trained to serve their communities by providing evidence-informed, whole person, individualized health care, in partnership with other health care professionals, for the betterment of patients and society. 

Our Campus

University of Western States has a rich history in the Pacific Northwest and has ensured the longevity, sustainability and growth of health care education in the region. Our current campus is an impressive facility, located at 8000 NE Tillamook Street in Portland, Oregon, offering modern amenities to support our highly esteemed educational programs, such as our Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program. Take a video tour of the campus!

Frequently Asked Questions

Naturopathic doctors diagnose, prevent, and treat acute and chronic illnesses to restore and establish optimal health by supporting the person’s inherent self-healing process. Rather than just suppressing symptoms, naturopathic doctors work to identify underlying causes of illness and develop individualized treatment plans to address them. In partnership with the patient, the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine integrates the following approaches to create specific, comprehensive, and personalized plans:

  • Remove obstacles to health.
  • Stimulate the self-healing mechanisms.
  • Strengthen weakened systems.
  • Correct structural integrity.
  • Use natural substances to restore and regenerate.
  • Use pharmacologic substances to halt progressive pathology.
  • Use high-force, invasive modalities: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy.

Learn more about naturopathic doctors and how they practice.

Naturopathic doctors complete a four-year, in-residence medical program at an accredited naturopathic medical school. The curriculum includes a minimum of 4,100 hours of classroom and clinical training. NMD students receive education in biomedical sciences and various natural therapies, including clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, physical medicine, and counseling. The final two years of their education typically involve clinical internships under the supervision of licensed professionals to gain real-world experience. It’s important to note that the accrediting body for these programs does not recognize online degrees, emphasizing the importance of hands-on training. Learn more about naturopathic physician education, training, and licensing.

Currently, doctors of naturopathic medicine are licensed in 26 jurisdictions in the United States, including 23 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more about where naturopathic physicians can receive licensing.

Licensed naturopathic physicians have completed accredited medical training, including more than 4,100 hours of classroom and clinical training with a strong foundation in biomedical sciences and natural therapies. State laws regulate them, and they can prescribe medications, order diagnostic tests, and perform minor surgeries in some states. Unlicensed naturopathic physicians, in contrast, do not have formal or regulated training and lack the legal authorization to practice as medical professionals. Learn more about the scope and standards of practice for licensed NDs.

Naturopathic physicians and conventionally trained doctors often collaborate to provide care for patients with chronic diseases, cancer, chronic pain, or those seeking to improve overall health and well-being. Naturopathic physicians bring unique diagnostic tools and natural therapies such as clinical nutrition, acupuncture, and botanical medicine. This integrated approach can open new pathways for treatment and potentially reverse chronic conditions. View detailed examples and further reading on this collaborative care model.

Prescribing rights vary, and their scope of practice. In most jurisdictions, naturopathic doctors can prescribe medications. Doctors of naturopathic medicine can prescribe medications in states where they are licensed.

According to data collected from Lightcast, naturopathic physicians in the United States make an average of $100,00 per year.

Many naturopathic doctors work in private or group practices. However, a growing number of naturopathic doctors practice in hospitals, urgent care centers, community health clinics, academic and research institutions, and other companies that produce or distribute natural or consumer products. Learn more about naturopathic doctors and where they practice.

A Naturopathic Medicine Doctor (NMD) is a health care provider who uses conventional and integrative therapies to support the body’s healing processes. A doctor of naturopathic medicine is trained to diagnose and treat medical conditions by focusing on functional and proactive prevention. They use non-invasive therapies such as nutrition, lifestyle counseling, herbal medicine, and homeopath, to treat the whole person rather than just their symptoms. This approach ensures that all factors influencing health, wellness, and disease are considered, including mind, body, and spirit.

The UWS Naturopathic Medicine Doctor program integrates a functional medicine approach into the NMD curriculum. Naturopathic and functional medicine are science-based, patient-centered approaches to achieving and maintaining health through natural methods. Functional medicine’s focus on the biochemical and genetic individuality, and the diet and nutrition of each patient, integrates well with the full range of assessments and treatment modalities of naturopathic medicine.

The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) is the programmatic accreditor for naturopathic medical education programs in the United States and Canada. Programmatic accreditation is a multi-step process and the UWS Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program will be actively engaged in the process as the timeline determined by the accreditor allows.

The CNME has approved the application for the initial step of eligibility status. The second step in the process for Candidacy status requires that at least one group of students have completed at least the first year of the program before submitting a self-study and awaiting a site visit by the CNME. Once Candidacy status with the CNME is achieved, UWS NMD students who have completed the first 6 quarters of the program are eligible to sit for Part I of the NPLEX licensing exam, and graduates of the program may sit for Part II of the NPLEX exam, as well as apply for licensure. Upon receipt of this recognition of Candidacy status, our NMD program will proceed to the next phase of achieving programmatic accreditation, which parallels the candidacy status application process.

Transfer students will need to submit their ND/NMD transcripts for evaluation. Transfer credit will be awarded on a case-by-case basis and advanced placement in the NMD program determined after evaluation.

Though a part-time job may be possible, full-time work plus a full-time in-person program will be difficult to achieve. Part-time work may set you behind in your NMD coursework, which takes approximately 3.5 years as a full-time program. Classes are offered Monday through Friday, and clinical rotations may include Saturdays.

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