The most reliable way to find a naturopathic doctor is through the online directory maintained by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), which lists licensed NDs by location across the United States. In Canada, the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors offers a similar tool. But choosing the right provider takes more than picking a name from a list. Licensing laws, credentials, and insurance coverage vary dramatically depending on where you live.
Start With Professional Directories
The AANP’s online directory lets you search for naturopathic doctors by area and provides contact information for qualified practitioners. This is the single best starting point because the directory filters for NDs who graduated from accredited programs. In Canada, the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors maintains an equivalent search tool.
If you’re looking for a specialist, narrower directories exist. The Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians, for example, runs a “Find an ND” tool specifically for naturopathic doctors who hold board certification in oncology through the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology. These practitioners carry the FABNO credential, indicating additional training beyond their doctoral degree.
Check Whether Your State Requires a License
At least 23 states and Washington, D.C. currently regulate naturopathic doctors. Those states are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you live in one of these states, any ND you see should hold a valid state license.
If your state doesn’t regulate naturopathic medicine, anyone can potentially use the title “naturopath” regardless of training. This makes credential verification even more important. You’ll need to confirm the provider’s education and background yourself, which the next section explains.
In Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario all formally regulate naturopathic doctors, though the scope of practice differs by province. Several other provinces have pursued regulation in recent years, so it’s worth checking your provincial health authority for the most current rules.
Verify Education and Credentials
This is the most important step, and it hinges on one key distinction: licensed naturopathic doctors are not the same as traditional naturopaths. A licensed ND completes a four-year, graduate-level doctoral program at a school accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). These programs combine natural health knowledge with modern medical training, including coursework in diagnosis, pharmacology, and clinical sciences. Graduates must then pass national board exams to receive a license.
Traditional naturopaths, by contrast, may receive training through non-accredited programs that vary widely in length and rigor. They are not eligible for state licensure. They cannot legally diagnose conditions, order lab tests, or interpret diagnostic imaging. The difference between the two is substantial, and the titles can look confusingly similar on a website or business card.
When evaluating a practitioner, look for the ND degree from a CNME-accredited school. The CNME’s website lists all accredited programs. A licensed naturopathic doctor can take a medical history, perform physical exams, order lab tests and imaging, and create a treatment plan. A traditional naturopath generally cannot do any of this.
Understand What NDs Can and Can’t Do
Scope of practice varies by state, and the differences are significant. Fifteen states currently grant naturopathic doctors some form of prescriptive authority: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. Of those, eight allow NDs to prescribe limited controlled substances: Arizona, California, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington.
In states with more restrictive rules, NDs may be limited to prescribing over-the-counter medications, certain prescription antibiotics, epinephrine, and natural therapeutic substances. This matters when you’re choosing a provider. If you want an ND who can serve as a true primary care physician with prescribing ability, you need to confirm that your state’s laws support that scope of practice. Your state’s naturopathic licensing board website will spell out exactly what’s permitted.
Ask About Insurance Before Your First Visit
Coverage for naturopathic care is inconsistent. In many states, licensed NDs serve as primary care physicians and participate in both private insurance plans and Medicaid. If you’re under 65, you may have the option to see a naturopathic doctor and have services covered, depending on your plan and state.
Medicare is a different story. Naturopathic doctors are not currently recognized as providers under Medicare, so visits are not reimbursed for beneficiaries. If you’re 65 or older, or if you qualify for Medicare through a disability, you’d need to pay out of pocket. This is true even if you had insurance coverage for the same ND before aging into Medicare.
Before scheduling, call the ND’s office and your insurance company separately. Ask the insurer whether naturopathic visits are covered under your specific plan, whether you need a referral, and whether there’s a cap on the number of visits per year. Many NDs also offer sliding-scale fees or package pricing for patients paying out of pocket.
Consider Telehealth Options
If no licensed NDs practice near you, telehealth may be an option, but state licensing rules still apply. Healthcare providers generally must be licensed in the state where the patient is located, not just where the provider practices. Some states offer workarounds: temporary practice laws for existing patient relationships, licensure reciprocity with bordering states, or telehealth-specific registration that allows out-of-state providers to see patients virtually.
For telehealth registration, providers typically need a current, unrestricted license in their home state, no history of disciplinary action, and professional liability insurance. They must register and pay a fee with the patient’s state licensing board. Not all states offer this pathway, so it’s worth checking whether your state has telehealth-friendly rules for naturopathic care before assuming a remote ND can legally treat you.
Questions to Ask a Prospective ND
- Where did you earn your degree? The answer should be a CNME-accredited, four-year naturopathic medical program.
- Are you licensed in this state? If your state regulates NDs, the answer should be yes, with a verifiable license number.
- What’s your experience with my specific concern? NDs vary in their areas of focus, from digestive health to hormonal issues to cancer support.
- Do you coordinate with conventional doctors? A good ND will communicate with your other providers, especially if you’re managing a chronic condition or taking prescription medications.
- What will the first visit involve? Initial naturopathic visits often run 60 to 90 minutes and include a detailed health history, physical exam, and sometimes lab work.
You can verify a provider’s license through your state’s naturopathic licensing board, which typically offers a free online lookup tool. This confirms not only that the license is active but also whether any disciplinary actions have been filed. In states without licensing, checking that the ND graduated from a CNME-accredited school and passed the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX) is the closest equivalent safeguard.