How to become a <span title="naturopath/naturopathologist?">naturopath/naturopatholog...</span>

Question

How do you become one? Do you receive bachelors degree with science and anatomy related pre requisites and apply to natural medicine schools like you apply to medical schools? I heard that natural medicine schools are about 4 years as well. Please let me know if anyone has any experience in applying, or are a student of natural medical science.

Also, how much is an annual salary out of curiosity?

Answer 1

I know a lot of people who work at the naturopath colleges, and I also regularly meet representatives for them because my schools one of the main feeder schools, so I think I can answer your questions!

First off, there are basically 2 different types of naturopath degrees.  Ones from accredited colleges and ones from diploma mills.  Some states (ie california, arizona, oregon, washington) have naturopathic liscencing laws.  In those places. NDs need to have been certified by an accredited school and diploma mill ND degrees are not allowed.  Otherwise it can go either way.

Most of the places to get &quot;naturopathicly certified&quot; are diploma mills.  The only actual accredited schools are these ones (http://www.aanmc.org/the-schools.php).

Anyhow first off, what&#039;s the point of all that?

The education and training people get at the diploma mills is severely lacking compared to the accredited ones (say internet courses verses performing actual surgery), and there&#039;s a big political squabble between the two groups (ie. the mills spent a few years fighting to not have naturopathy liscened in CA).  A lot of people who study to be naturopaths end up going to the diploma mill schools and basically s***w themselves.  Hopefully you want all the information for an accredited one.

Here goes!

-It&#039;s like medical school but a lot easier (since there&#039;s less competition).

You need a bachelors (although I know a few colleges have ways to make exceptions for this), and some basic pre med classes (2 courses of ochem 2 of other chem like gen chem, 1 psychology, 1 physics), and physiology/anatomy/biochem is recommended.

You also need letters of recommendation from someone naturopathically affiliated.

If you actually have a burning to be a naturopath, SF state is one of the best schools you can go to (cheap easy, nice departments, good chance getting in etc).

I personally think it&#039;s a good career choice since almost all the naturopaths I&#039;ve met tend to be happy people who like their jobs, know a lot of about medicine and regularly help make big differences in their patients lives (which contrasts to the experience I&#039;ve had with a lot of MDs).  I had originally wanted to go to medical school, but now given a choice the only one I would go to is a naturopath school.

The salary really varies, especially since many naturopaths do work to help low income communities.  It is on average lower than MDs, but at the same time they don&#039;t have to pay malpractice insurance or have giant loans from college hanging over their heads so it evens out.

That&#039;s about the briefest explanation I can give you.  Hope that helps, I&#039;m happy to answer any other questions if you message me.