Legislation

The Minnesota Association of Naturopathic Physicians (MNANP) promotes access to and registration of clinically trained providers of naturopathic medicine. Currently, 15 states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have regulating laws for Naturopathic Doctors. In these states, Naturopathic Doctors are required to graduate from a four-year, residential naturopathic medical school and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license or registration status.

Licensed or registered Naturopathic Doctors must fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually, and will have a specific scope of practice defined by their state's law. The states that currently have regulating laws for Naturopathic Doctors are:

Minnesota passed a registration bill for Naturopathic Doctors in May of 2008, becoming Minnesota Statute 147E. Registration for ND's who have graduated from four-year naturopathic medical schools begins July 1, 2009.

What does registration do?

The Minnesota Naturopathic Registration Law:

• Defines educational standards and scope of practice for naturopathic doctors
• Provides professional oversight for practicing naturopathic doctors
• Proactively supports access to safe and effective natural medicine
• Enhances public health, especially regarding the use of alternative medicine
• Clarifies the use of the title “Naturopathic Doctor”
• It allows Naturopathic Doctors to provide the services they are trained to provide after completing a four-year, residential doctorate program at a naturopathic medical school.
• The law requires graduation from a CNME (Council on Naturopathic Medical Education) accredited four-year naturopathic medical school and passing of the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam (NPLEX).
• Registration makes it possible for Minnesotans to know that when they choose to see a Naturopathic Doctor, they are choosing a professional who meets both the federally recognized standards and the requirements set by the state of Minnesota.
• The law does NOT prevent any licensed or unlicensed practitioners from practicing within the scope of their license or training. Registering NDs will NOT limit public access to herbs and supplements.

Intent of Legislation

• The intent of our legislative effort is to expand access to natural medicine by registering Naturopathic Doctors to assess and treat under a defined scope of practice.
• It is not the intent of the MNANP to restrict practitioners of natural health modalities from practicing, now or in the future.
• It is not the intent of the MNANP to restrict the use of natural therapies to Naturopathic Doctors. We recognize that many of the therapies used by Naturopathic Doctors, including nutritional supplements, herbs, and such physical forces as heat, cold, water, touch, and light, are not the exclusive privilege of Naturopathic Doctors. We do not support prohibiting or restricting their use to licensed Naturopathic Doctors.
• It is not the intent of the MNANP to restrict the use of homeopathy to Naturopathic Doctors. The only restriction we promote would apply to those who identify themselves as Naturopathic Doctors, whom we believe must have a license or be registered in order to identify themselves as Naturopathic Doctors, and as such, also be eligible to prescribe a homeopathic remedy or any other natural therapy.
• It is not the intent of the MNANP to expand an ND's scope of practice beyond his or her training. Naturopathic Doctors receive a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from U.S. Department of Education accredited institutions; they are not Doctors of Chiropractic, Osteopathy or Medicine, nor do they practice as such.

You Can Support Naturopathic Registration in Minnesota By:

• Staying informed. Join our grassroots network to receive campaign updates, legislative alerts and calls to action.
• Helping spread the word to other healthcare consumers. Talk to your friends, families, and colleagues and ask them to support the registration of naturopathic medicine.
• Making a contribution. Our work is never done. Ensuring that registration is enacted in July of 2009 is a costly process.
• Talking to/writing your state legislators. Ask them to support the enactment of registration of Naturopathic Doctors in Minnesota in July of 2009.

The MNANP would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all who have already contributed time, energy and financial support. Please contact Leslie Vilensky, ND with any questions, concerns or to assist in our legislative efforts at (952)758-5988.