Licensing or registration laws regulating the practice of naturopathic medicine currently exist in 23 States, including California, as well as Washington DC and several US territories. The naturopathic profession is working towards eventual licensing in all 50 States.
Naturopathic doctors practicing in these States or territories must graduate from an accredited, four-year naturopathic medical school, pass intensive naturopathic board exams (the NPLEX) which involve three and a half days of testing and complete yearly continuing education requirements.
In the State of California naturopathic medicine is regulated by the Naturopathic Medicine Committee under the Department of Consumer affairs. As with boards and bureaus regulating other health care professions, the Naturopathic Medicine committee responds to public inquiries, analyzes and implements licensing laws related to naturopathic medicine, and administers disciplinary and enforcement activities related to the profession.