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Naturopathic EducationNaturopathic physicians are specialists in health and natural medicine. Naturopathic medical training requires a minimum prerequisite of 3 years pre-med studies, before entry to the 4 year post-graduate doctorate program. The first two years of study focus on basic sciences including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, and microbiology. The third and fourth years of the program are clinically oriented, with subjects on therapies encompassing clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, psychology and counseling, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture (included in some programs), orthopedics and manipulation, hydrotherapy, and physical medicine. As well, naturopathic doctors are educated in the specific fields of genetics, pediatrics, women’s health, obstetrics, geriatrics, men’s health, pharmacology, ethics, public health, physical and clinical diagnosis, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging and radiology, minor surgery, emergency medicine and physical examination techniques.
Approximately 1500 hours of practical medical training is an integral
part of naturopathic education, involving observation, assessment, and
treatment of patients in a student clinic or office setting, under the
supervision of licensed naturopathic doctors. All naturopathic
physicians in B.C. must pass extensive North American and B.C. board
exams in order to obtain licensing, and are governed by a College board
to ensure standards of practice. Naturopathic physicians are primary
health care practitioners trained in modern scientific and traditional
healing methods.
For more information on naturopathic education, see the Naturopathic Links page for the websites of North American naturopathic schools. | |
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