Editing Naturopathy (section)

==== Education ====
[[File:NCNM3.jpg|right|upright|thumb|[[National University of Natural Medicine]] trains students in naturopathic medicine who are eligible to become licensed in some jurisdictions in North America.]]
[[File:Bastyr University Garden.jpg|thumb|upright|The herb garden at [[Bastyr University]], another naturopathic program whose graduates can become licensed naturopaths in some North American jurisdictions]]

Licensed naturopaths must pass the [[Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations]] (NPLEX) administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nabne.org/home/about/ |title= About Us |access-date= 3 September 2013 |publisher= North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners |author= <!-- no byline --> |date= <!-- no date in source --> |archive-date= October 5, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131005181153/https://www.nabne.org/home/about/ |url-status= live }}</ref> after graduating from a program accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME).<ref name="CNME-handbook" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Naturopathy|url=https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/naturopathy|website=NCCIH|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27|archive-date=March 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331033317/https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/naturopathy|url-status=live}}</ref> Training in CNME-accredited programs includes basic medical diagnostics and procedures such as rudimentary physical exams and common [[blood test]]s, in addition to pseudoscientific modalities, such as homeopathy, acupuncture, and energy modalities.<ref name="atwood2003">{{cite journal | vauthors = Atwood KC | title = Naturopathy: a critical appraisal | journal = MedGenMed | volume = 5 | issue = 4 | pages = 39 | date = December 2003 | pmid = 14745386 | url = http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/465994 | access-date = September 4, 2013 | archive-date = March 2, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130302030226/http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/465994 | url-status = live }}{{registration required}}</ref><ref name="atwood2004" /><ref name="Barrett-Naturopathy" /><ref name="Gale_Frey" />
These accredited programs have been criticized for misrepresenting their medical rigor and teaching subjects that are antithetical to the best understandings of science and medicine.<ref name="Barrett-Naturopathy" /><ref name="GorskiSBM" /><ref name="Hermes2015">{{cite web|vauthors=Hermes B|author-link1=Britt Marie Hermes|title=ND Confession, Part 1: Clinical training inside and out|url=https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/nd-confession-part-1-clinical-training-inside-and-out|website=[[Science-Based Medicine]]|access-date=23 July 2016|date=13 March 2015|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114003703/https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/nd-confession-part-1-clinical-training-inside-and-out/|url-status=live}}</ref> The CNME as an accrediting authority has been characterized as unreliable and suffering from conflicts of interest.<ref name="Mangan1999">{{cite news|vauthors=Mangan KS|title=Report Recommends Stripping Naturopathy Council of Its Accrediting Authority|url=http://chronicle.com/article/Report-Recommends-Stripping/113719|access-date=23 July 2016|work=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]|date=2 December 1999|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114003742/https://www.chronicle.com/article/report-recommends-stripping-naturopathy-council-of-its-accrediting-authority/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hermes2015b">{{cite web|vauthors=Hermes B|author-link1=Britt Marie Hermes|title=ND Confession, Part II: The Accreditation of Naturopathic "Medical" Education|url=https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/nd-confession-part-ii-the-accreditation-of-naturopathic-medical-education/|website=[[Science-Based Medicine]]|access-date=23 July 2016|date=29 August 2015|archive-date=July 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710155040/https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/nd-confession-part-ii-the-accreditation-of-naturopathic-medical-education/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sfsbmNDreport">{{Cite report |author=Society for Science-Based Medicine |date=2014 |title=Report to the Maryland Board of Physicians Naturopathic Advisory Committee: Recommendations for Naturopathic Regulation |url=http://sfsbm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=486:naturopathic-board&catid=52:legislative&Itemid=435 |access-date=23 July 2016 |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114003654/http://sfsbm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=486%3Anaturopathic-board&catid=52%3Alegislative&Itemid=435 |url-status=live }}</ref> The naturopathic licensing exam has been called a mystery by those outside the naturopathic profession<ref name="atwood2004" /><ref name="MMStestimony2015">{{cite web|title=MMS Testimony in Opposition to H. 1992 and S. 1205, An Act to Create a Board of Registration in Naturopathy|url=http://www.massmed.org/Advocacy/MMS-Testimony/MMS-Testimony-in-Opposition-to-H--1992-and-S--1205,-An-Act-to-Create-a-Board-of-Registration-in-Naturopathy/#.VtgJaZMrKrO|website=Massachusetts Medical Society|access-date=30 July 2016|archive-date=May 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522130005/http://www.massmed.org/Advocacy/MMS-Testimony/MMS-Testimony-in-Opposition-to-H--1992-and-S--1205,-An-Act-to-Create-a-Board-of-Registration-in-Naturopathy/#.VtgJaZMrKrO|url-status=live}}</ref> and criticized for testing on [[homeopathic]] remedies,<ref name="GorskiSBM">{{cite web|vauthors=Gorski D|author-link1=David Gorski|title=Naturopathy and Science|url=https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/naturopathy-and-science/|publisher=ScienceBasedMedicine.org|access-date=3 March 2016|date=21 February 2011|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114003753/https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/naturopathy-and-science/|url-status=live}}</ref> including for the use to treat [[pediatric]] emergencies.<ref name="Senapathy2016" />

Several schools in North America exist for the study of naturopathic medicine, some accredited by the CNME.<ref>{{cite web |title=Accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools |url=https://aanmc.org/naturopathic-schools/ |website=Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges }}</ref> The CNME and the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) claim entrance requirements and curricula at accredited colleges are often similar or comparable to those required and offered at conventional medical schools.<ref>{{cite web |title=ND, MD/DO, NP: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? |url=https://aanmc.org/comparing-nd-md-curricula/ |website=Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges |access-date=15 November 2023}}</ref> However, the lack of accreditation by the [[Liaison Committee on Medical Education]] may indicate insufficiency of scientific medical training and/or quantifiable positive results, and accordingly it remains disputed whether graduates of medical colleges accredited by the CNME have the competency of Medical Doctors and Doctors of Osteopathy.<ref name="AAFP"/><ref>{{cite web |title=ND Confession, Part II: The Accreditation of Naturopathic "Medical" Education |url=https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/nd-confession-part-ii-the-accreditation-of-naturopathic-medical-education/ |website=Science-Based Medicine |date=August 30, 2015 |access-date=15 November 2023}}</ref>

Naturopathic doctors are not eligible for [[Residency (medicine)|medical residencies]], which are available exclusively for medical doctors and doctors of osteopathic medicine. There are limited post-graduate "residency" positions available to naturopathic doctors offered through naturopathic schools and naturopathic clinics approved by the CNME.<ref name="CNME_residency">{{cite web|title=Handbook on CNME Postdoctoral Naturopathic Medical Education Sponsor Recognition Process and Standards (2005)|url=http://www.cnme.org/resources/residency_handbook.pdf|publisher=Council on Naturopathic Medical Education|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615111625/https://cnme.org/resources/residency_handbook.pdf|archive-date=15 June 2006}}</ref> Most naturopathic doctors do not complete such a residency,<ref name="Boon HS" /> and naturopathic doctors are not mandated to complete one for licensure,<ref name="ACS-2009" /> except in the states of Utah and Connecticut.<ref name="UT license app">{{cite web |url=http://www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/forms/applications/072_naturopathic_phys.pdf |title=Application for Licensure: Naturopathic Physician |website=Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Utah Department of Commerce |publisher=State of Utah |date=February 17, 2012 |page=1 |access-date=2013-09-08 |archive-date=June 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629150914/http://dopl.utah.gov/licensing/forms/applications/072_naturopathic_phys.pdf}}</ref> [[Continuing education]] in naturopathic modalities for health care professionals varies greatly.<ref name="PoaP" />