Profile of a Profession: Naturopathic Practice - Center for the Health ...
Profile of a Profession: Naturopathic Practice - Center for the Health ...
Profile of a Profession: Naturopathic Practice - Center for the Health ...
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Competency in naturopathic medicine is largely assessed through testing via an extensive academic sys-<br />
tem. Like o<strong>the</strong>r pr<strong>of</strong>essions, naturopathic physicians must show pr<strong>of</strong>iciency through graduation from<br />
four-year schools and written NPLEX exams prior to becoming licensed. In Canada, competency is<br />
also assessed by practical exams in several provinces.<br />
Competence garnered through education and training in any pr<strong>of</strong>ession should match <strong>the</strong> legal scope<br />
<strong>of</strong> practice, and it is assumed that <strong>the</strong> legislature in each state where naturopathic physicians are<br />
licensed has been written to best ensure such a match. Where legal scopes <strong>of</strong> practice have been statu-<br />
torily defined, educational programs must ensure that <strong>the</strong>y meet <strong>the</strong> standards legally mandated. In<br />
addition to legal scopes <strong>of</strong> practice, most pr<strong>of</strong>essions have a pr<strong>of</strong>essional scope <strong>of</strong> practice that is usual-<br />
ly broader than any particular jurisdiction’s legal scope or definition. The pr<strong>of</strong>essional scope <strong>of</strong> practice,<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten defined by a pr<strong>of</strong>essional association, helps guide educational programs, future development <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>ession, and legislators considering regulation. The pr<strong>of</strong>essional scope <strong>of</strong> practice <strong>for</strong> naturo-<br />
pathic physicians is defined in <strong>the</strong> AANP guidelines below:<br />
1. The scope <strong>of</strong> naturopathic physician’s practice is eclectic and dynamic in nature.<br />
2. <strong>Naturopathic</strong> physicians are trained to understand and utilize a wide variety <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>rapeutic<br />
modalities and to select <strong>the</strong> treatment that, in <strong>the</strong>ir opinion, best serves <strong>the</strong> patient’s condition.<br />
3. The types <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>rapeutics a physician may choose from include, but are not limited to:<br />
a. Acupuncture<br />
b. Botanical medicine<br />
c. Clinical nutrition and nutritional counseling<br />
d. Electrohydrao<strong>the</strong>rapy<br />
e. Homeopathy<br />
f. Light and air <strong>the</strong>rapy<br />
g. Massage <strong>the</strong>rapy/neuro-muscular technique<br />
h. Natural childbirth<br />
i. <strong>Naturopathic</strong> manipulative technique<br />
j. Orthopedics<br />
<strong>Pr<strong>of</strong>ile</strong> <strong>of</strong> a Pr<strong>of</strong>ession: <strong>Naturopathic</strong> <strong>Practice</strong><br />
Chapter One: <strong>Naturopathic</strong> Medicine 41