How to become a Naturopathic Physician
Official title: Naturopathic Physicians
Also called: Doctor (Dr), Naturopathic Doctor, Naturopathic Endocrinologist, Naturopathic Medicine Doctor, Naturopathic Oncologist, Naturopathic Oncology Provider, Physician
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases using a system of practice that is based on the natural healing capacity of individuals. May use physiological, psychological or mechanical methods. May also use natural medicines, prescription or legend drugs, foods, herbs, or other natural remedies.
Main tasks
- Document patients' histories, including identifying data, chief complaints, illnesses, previous medical or family histories, or psychosocial characteristics.
- Educate patients about health care management.
- Advise patients about therapeutic exercise and nutritional medicine regimens.
- Conduct physical examinations and physiological function tests for diagnostic purposes.
- Administer, dispense, or prescribe natural medicines, such as food or botanical extracts, herbs, dietary supplements, vitamins, nutraceuticals, and amino acids.
- Interview patients to document symptoms and health histories.
- Diagnose health conditions, based on patients' symptoms and health histories, laboratory and diagnostic radiology test results, or other physiological measurements, such as electrocardiograms and electroencephalographs.
- Administer treatments or therapies, such as homeopathy, hydrotherapy, Oriental or Ayurvedic medicine, electrotherapy, and diathermy, using physical agents including air, heat, cold, water, sound, or ultraviolet light to catalyze the body to heal itself.
How to become one
Typical education to start: Master's degree
Ways in
- College: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 23 universities in the US
- Licence: A licence is required in 37 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $115,210 a year The middle half earn $83,780 to $161,470.
- About 39,600 people work in this job now, and about 41,800 are projected by 2035. (+5.5%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Naturopathic Physician?
Ways in include: Medicine & Dentistry degrees.
How much does a Naturopathic Physician earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $115,210 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $83,780 to $161,470.
Is a Naturopathic Physician a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 39,600 to about 41,800 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Naturopathic Physician?
Usually. 68% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Naturopathic Physician?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.