FAQ

Naturopathic physicians diagnose, prevent and treat acute and chronic illness to restore and establish optimal health by supporting the person's inherent self-healing process. Rather than just suppressing symptoms, naturopathic physicians work to identify underlying causes of illness, and develop individualized treatment plans to address them. In partnership with the patient, naturopathic physicians integrating 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.

More detailed information about naturopathic physicians, and how and where they practice can be found here.

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According to a recent study completed by the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges, naturopathic physicians in the United States make an average of $95,642 per year. The majority work in private or group practices. However, a growing number of naturopathic physicians practice in hospitals, urgent care centers, community health clinics, academic and research institutions, and other companies that produce or distribute natural or consumer products.

The UWS naturopathic program integrates a functional medicine approach in the NMD curriculum. Naturopathic medicine 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.

University of Western States is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

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 NMD program will be actively engaged in the process as the timeline determined by the accreditor allows. The application for the initial step of eligibility status has been approved by the CNME. 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 prior to the program 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.

Yes, with an extension of several quarters of study. Many of the NMD biomedical science courses/credits apply to the chiropractic program. Contact the UWS office of admissions for more information at [email protected].

Yes! Prerequisites are due no later than six weeks prior to starting the program.

Yes, but you will likely need to retake science courses completed more than seven years prior to starting the program.

Yes. Chiropractors, as health care providers in other disciplines, will need to submit transcripts for evaluation. Based on a review of your transcript, we will determine how much time it will take for you to complete the NMD degree.

Yes, current DC students will have advanced standing.

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.

The NMD degree is preparing you to become a naturopathic physician. This program requires you to be on campus for courses, labs and clinical rotations. There may be some courses offered online, but students must be on campus, starting with their first quarter, and should plan to spend 35-40 hours per week on campus.

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

The prerequisites for the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program are 135 quarter credits / 90-semester credits of undergraduate coursework from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or equivalent credentials.

The admission information for the NMD degree program includes minimum education ​​prerequisites, the fall entry term deadlines and application requirement details.

The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine coursework, curriculum, textbooks and expected learning outcomes are subject to change to stay updated with the best practices of an NMD education.

The application fee for the NMD Program is $50.