Is it Naturopathic Doctor vs Naturopathic Physician?

Is it Naturopathic Doctor or Naturopathic Physician? The short answer is that both terms refer to professionals who practice naturopathic medicine, but the title we are legally allowed to use largely depends on where we practice.

Getting a consensus on what naturopathic medicine is—and who is qualified to practice it—can be confusing. In many states, naturopathic doctors are not legally recognized as “physicians.” This is because conventional medical doctors (MDs) and osteopathic doctors (DOs) have lobbied to reserve the right to diagnose, prescribe drugs, and use the title of “physician” strictly for themselves.

However, regardless of a state’s licensing laws, no one can take away my hard-earned Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine. I chose to become licensed in Utah specifically because the state legally recognizes naturopathic doctors as physicians. Here is my take on the differences, the philosophy, and what you need to know to make the best healthcare choices for yourself.

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Simply put, naturopathic medicine recognizes that there is a way to live that actively promotes health, healing, and well-being. While we don’t have a monopoly on this belief, it fundamentally guides our education and our approach to patient care.

Our training is rigorous. The first two years of naturopathic medical school mirror conventional medical school, focusing heavily on how the body works and what can go wrong. We take intensive courses in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, neurology, pathology, and pharmacology.

During the final two years, our focus shifts to clinical application: how to move the body from a diseased state back toward a healthy one. Because environmental and lifestyle factors frequently fall out of balance, our toolkit for support is vast. Treatment plans might include:

• Optimizing sleep and stress management

• Supporting natural detoxification and digestion

• Implementing targeted exercise routines

• Using evidence-based nutraceuticals and botanical medicine

As a naturopathic doctor, I take a thorough health history to find out exactly when you were last well. We look for genetic components and environmental triggers to understand what makes you feel better or worse.

The Naturopathic Approach to Care

Because the root causes of disease are so numerous and highly individualized, we do not use a “one-size-fits-all” standard of care. Ten patients with hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may visit my office, and I might give ten completely different recommendations based on their unique needs, ages, and goals. One person’s treatment plan may focus on exercise, another on intermittent fasting, and another on transitioning to a low-glycemic diet.

My primary job is to understand the pathology of your disease, but more importantly, to figure out why you are uniquely experiencing these symptoms. Drugs and surgery are sometimes necessary, but many people prefer to exhaust natural, drugless options first.

Because of this collaborative, root-cause approach, I always say that naturopathic medicine is not for everyone. If you are not willing to make lifestyle changes—or, at the very least, consistently take recommended supplements—conventional care might be a better fit for you. We don’t rely on a single modality; depending on our individual clinical focus, some NDs gravitate toward herbal medicine, while others lean into nutrition or physical medicine. What unites us is our mission: using natural medicine to prevent and reverse pathology.

The Title Game: Naturopathic Physicians vs. Naturopathic Doctors

I often frame this as “Naturopathic Physician vs. Naturopathic Doctor” because of legal semantics. In unlicensed states, naturopathic doctors cannot legally use the word “physician” in their title, as it could be considered impersonating a medical doctor. Even in many states with naturopathic licensing, the term “physician” is still restricted. I hold my license in Utah because it is one of the states that rightfully refers to its fully trained naturopathic doctors as physicians.

Here is how someone officially becomes a Naturopathic Doctor (ND):

1. Education: Graduate from an accredited, four-year naturopathic medical school.

2. Examination: Sit for and pass rigorous board exams called the Naturopathic Physician Licensing Examinations (NPLEX).

3. Licensure: Obtain a license in a regulating state.

Currently, about 22 U.S. states and territories license naturopathic doctors (up from 15 when I first started). Almost every unlicensed state has a dedicated professional organization pushing for local licensure. In Michigan, for example, it is the Michigan Association of Naturopathic Physicians (MANP).

So, to answer the question: there is no difference in the education or capability between a Naturopathic Doctor and a Naturopathic Physician. The distinction is purely a matter of state law dictating who gets to use the word “physician.”

Naturopathic Doctor vs. Naturopathic Practitioner

This is where the real controversy begins. As I mentioned, naturopathic doctors do not have a monopoly on holistic healthcare. I regularly refer patients to physical therapists, chiropractors, personal trainers, and yoga instructors. Lifestyle coaches, herbalists, and massage therapists do incredible work helping people heal.

However, Naturopathic Doctors are trained to act as primary care providers. We are trained to perform physical exams, order lab testing, and (depending on the state) officially diagnose conditions. To call yourself a Naturopathic Doctor, it is generally understood within the medical community that you have completed this rigorous, four-year doctoral training and passed the NPLEX.

In licensed states, it is illegal for someone without this specific training to call themselves a Naturopathic Doctor. But in unlicensed states like Michigan, the term is legally undefined—meaning the “wild west” rules apply, and anyone can legally call themselves a naturopathic doctor, regardless of their education.

Most professionals who lack doctoral-level training appropriately call themselves “Naturopathic Practitioners” or “Traditional Naturopaths.” They strongly believe in the healing power of nature, but often reject modern medical integration. In fact, some traditional practitioners consider licensed NDs to be “traitors” for learning and utilizing so much conventional medicine alongside natural therapies.

Because Michigan is an unlicensed state, we have many traditional naturopathic practitioners. Most are ethical and do not use the title “doctor,” but a few still do. This is exactly why state associations like the MANP are so vital—they provide a directory so community members can verify they are seeing a true Naturopathic Doctor who attended an accredited medical school and passed their board exams.

Comparing the Credentials

To help clear up the confusion, here is a breakdown of the differences between a fully trained Naturopathic Doctor and a Traditional Naturopathic Practitioner: