Occupation · SOC 29-1299.01
Naturopathic Physicians
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases using a system of practice that is based on the natural healing capacity of individuals. May use physiological, psychological or mechanical methods. May also use natural medicines, prescription or legend drugs, foods, herbs, or other natural remedies.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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—
Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
55 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingSocial PerceptivenessJudgment and Decision MakingService OrientationComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningMonitoringLearning StrategiesTime ManagementSystems AnalysisSciencePersuasionInstructingCoordinationManagement of Personnel ResourcesSystems EvaluationNegotiationMathematicsQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesOperations AnalysisTechnology DesignProgrammingTroubleshootingOperation and ControlEquipment SelectionRepairingInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryPsychologyBiologyTherapy and CounselingCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageChemistryEducation and TrainingSales and MarketingAdministrativeAdministration and ManagementSociology and AnthropologyEconomics and AccountingMathematicsLaw and GovernmentPersonnel and Human ResourcesCommunications and MediaComputers and ElectronicsPhilosophy and TheologyPublic Safety and SecurityPhysicsFood ProductionProduction and ProcessingTelecommunicationsHistory and ArcheologyMechanicalGeographyForeign LanguageEngineering and TechnologyTransportationBuilding and ConstructionDesignFine Arts
Technology & tools
EZ-Zone Software Alternative Medical BillingEnova eNatroLabeling softwareMicrosoft ExcelNaturaeMed OfficeProNaturoPlusNaturopathic Clinic softwareOnline medical databasesPoint of sale POS softwarePower DiarySimpleClinic Practice Management softwareTrigram Software AcuBase ProWeb browser softwareZYTO LSA Pro
Representative tasks
Assisting and Caring for OthersDocumenting/Recording InformationGetting InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersAnalyzing Data or InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsWorking with ComputersProcessing InformationThinking CreativelyOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkPerforming Administrative ActivitiesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationScheduling Work and ActivitiesCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCoaching and Developing OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsTraining and Teaching OthersSelling or Influencing OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationDeveloping and Building TeamsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Patient health histories — document identifying data, chief complaints, and psychosocial characteristics under supervising physician guidance in a clinical training setting.Patient intake interviews — conduct structured symptom and health history interviews using standardized forms under direct clinical oversight.Physical examination protocols — perform routine physical examinations and basic physiological function tests following established procedures in a supervised naturopathic clinic.Natural medicine fundamentals — identify and describe the properties of food-based botanical extracts, herbs, dietary supplements, and vitamins under attending physician direction.Therapeutic exercise guidance — convey basic naturopathic exercise and nutritional medicine recommendations to patients using pre-approved educational materials under supervision.Diagnostic test interpretation — review laboratory and diagnostic radiology results alongside supervising physicians to support differential diagnosis in a clinical rotation environment.Patient education delivery — explain health care management concepts to patients using structured scripts and approved handouts under clinical mentor review.Naturopathic modality basics — assist in administering hydrotherapy, homeopathy, or electrotherapy treatments under direct physician supervision in an outpatient naturopathic setting.Medical records software — enter and retrieve patient data using electronic health record and medical software systems in compliance with clinic documentation standards.Evidence-based literature — locate and summarize relevant scientific and clinical literature using information retrieval software to support case preparation under faculty guidance.
developing
Comprehensive patient histories — document complete medical, family, and psychosocial histories with reduced oversight, applying clinical judgment to identify relevant chief complaints in an independent outpatient clinic.Diagnostic reasoning — synthesize symptom profiles, health histories, and laboratory findings to formulate working diagnoses with routine case complexity in a naturopathic primary care setting.Natural medicine prescribing — select and dispense or prescribe appropriate botanical extracts, nutraceuticals, amino acids, and vitamins for common conditions in accordance with scope-of-practice regulations.Therapeutic regimen planning — design individualized exercise and nutritional medicine programs for patients managing chronic wellness conditions in a private or integrative clinic environment.Naturopathic modality administration — administer hydrotherapy, Oriental medicine, Ayurvedic, or diathermy treatments autonomously for familiar clinical presentations in an outpatient naturopathic practice.Patient health education — educate patients on self-management strategies and lifestyle modifications, adapting communication style to varying health literacy levels in a community clinic context.Physiological function assessment — conduct electrocardiograms and other physiological measurements, interpreting results to support diagnostic conclusions with minimal supervisory input.Clinical documentation quality — maintain accurate, thorough, and timely patient records using medical and billing software in compliance with regulatory and insurance requirements.Problem-solving under uncertainty — apply inductive and deductive reasoning to resolve ambiguous or multi-factorial clinical presentations using available diagnostic data in routine practice.Interdisciplinary collaboration — coordinate patient care recommendations with allied health professionals and referring physicians using clear written and oral communication in a collaborative care setting.
proficient
Complex differential diagnosis — integrate patient histories, physical examination findings, laboratory data, and radiological results to diagnose multi-system health conditions autonomously across the full clinical scope of naturopathic practice.Advanced natural medicine therapeutics — prescribe and manage complex natural medicine regimens combining botanical extracts, dietary supplements, and nutraceuticals for patients with comorbid or refractory conditions in a specialty naturopathic practice.Individualized multi-modal treatment — design and implement comprehensive treatment plans incorporating homeopathy, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, and diathermy for non-routine or complex patient presentations.Nutritional and lifestyle medicine — formulate sophisticated nutritional medicine and therapeutic exercise protocols for chronic disease management, grounded in current evidence-based science and individualized patient data.Critical appraisal of evidence — evaluate and apply emerging naturopathic and biomedical research to clinical decision-making, integrating findings from diverse scientific disciplines including chemistry, biology, and pharmacology.Patient health systems analysis — assess the interacting biological, psychological, and sociological determinants of a patient's health trajectory to develop holistic, long-term care strategies in a private or integrative clinic setting.Regulatory and scope compliance — navigate state licensure requirements, formulary restrictions, and scope-of-practice statutes when prescribing natural medicines or performing physical agents therapy across varied jurisdictions.Clinical technology optimization — leverage medical software, spreadsheet analytics, and point-of-sale systems to monitor patient outcomes, manage practice operations, and identify population-level health trends.Health coaching and behavior change — guide patients through sustained lifestyle transformation using active listening, motivational strategies, and tailored instructional approaches for complex behavioral health challenges.Mentorship of emerging practitioners — supervise and provide structured feedback to student clinicians or junior naturopathic doctors during patient encounters in an academic or preceptorship clinical environment.
advanced
Naturopathic practice leadership — establish clinical standards, treatment protocols, and quality improvement frameworks for a multi-provider naturopathic or integrative medicine organization at the systems level.Curriculum and training development — design and implement advanced naturopathic medical education programs, competency assessments, and clinical training pathways for accredited professional programs.Clinical research stewardship — lead or oversee research initiatives investigating naturopathic modalities, botanical medicine efficacy, or integrative health outcomes, translating findings into evidence-based practice guidelines.Health policy advocacy — represent naturopathic medicine before licensing boards, legislative bodies, and professional associations to influence scope-of-practice expansion and integrative health policy at the state or national level.Interdisciplinary systems integration — architect collaborative care models that embed naturopathic physicians within hospital systems, accountable care organizations, or community health networks to optimize patient outcomes.Organizational strategic planning — direct the long-term clinical and operational strategy of a naturopathic health center, aligning workforce development, financial sustainability, and patient care quality objectives.Complex population health management — lead naturopathic approaches to chronic disease prevention and wellness promotion across defined patient populations, applying systems analysis and epidemiological data to program design.Advanced practitioner mentorship — coach senior naturopathic physicians and clinical leads on complex case management, professional development, and leadership competencies within a large practice or academic medical center.Knowledge dissemination — author peer-reviewed publications, clinical guidelines, or textbook content that advances the theoretical and practical foundations of naturopathic medicine for the professional community.Ethics and professional standards governance — chair or actively contribute to ethics committees, professional standards bodies, or accreditation review panels that shape the integrity and accountability of naturopathic medical practice.
Also known as
8 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Doctor (Dr)NaturopathNaturopathic DoctorNaturopathic EndocrinologistNaturopathic Medicine DoctorNaturopathic OncologistNaturopathic Oncology ProviderPhysician