Becoming a Naturopathic Physician

Naturopathic Physicians are primary care providers who diagnose, treat and manage patients with chronic conditions. They address disease and dysfunction at the level of body, mind and spirit and provide appropriate treatment and care. For the Naturopathic Physicians, health promotion and disease prevention are the foremost concerns. They provide personalized therapies to remove the harmful effects on the body and restore optimal health.

Naturopathic Physicians focus on the healthcare of patients of all ages and genders. They work on each patient separately and put strong emphasis upon prevention and self-care. They use the most natural and least toxic therapies to treat patients. They identify and treat the causes while looking beyond the symptoms to find the underlying cause. Educating patients to achieve and maintain their health, is another key aspect of naturopathic healing.

Education Requirements:

1. Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree: Aspiring Naturopathic Physicians must earn a bachelor’s degree in any field. The coursework may include chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, cellular biology etc. Experience at a laboratory and some training are necessary to become a Naturopathic Physician.

2. Professional Medical Education: After completing the bachelor’s degree, the aspiring Naturopathic Physicians may go for a professional medical degree to boost their profile in many states that look beyond an entry level degree education while employing the Naturopathic Physicians. A professional degree in Medicine, Chiropractic, Oriental or traditional Chinese medicine, Osteopathic medicine or another recognized discipline, will always be preferable.

Salary & Job Outlook: The career in naturopathic medicine, remains excellent in the United States. It is projected to grow at 18% during the period of 2012-22. The average annual salary for Naturopathic Physicians was $187,200 in May 2013.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *