What Are the Top Naturopathic Medicine Schools?

<h2 id="section---WhatAreCharacteristicsOfTheTopNaturopathicMedicineAndNaturalRemediesSchools">What Are Characteristics of the Top Naturopathic Medicine and Natural Remedies Schools?</h2> <p>Training in naturopathic medicine may take place at specialty schools with regional accreditation by entities recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You will want good clinical and research options to prepare you for licensing required by the District of Columbia and 15 states as well as the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX) of the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE). You might consider these schools accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medicine Education. </p> <h2 id="section---WhatAreThreeOfTheTopNaturopathicMedicineAndNaturalRemediesSchools">What Are Three of the Top Naturopathic Medicine and Natural Remedies Schools?</h2> <h3 id="section---BastyrUniversityInKenmoreWA">Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA</h3> <p>Bastyr offers certificate, undergraduate and graduate programs. You could enroll in naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and Oriental medicine, nutrition, midwifery, health psychology, herbal sciences, exercise science and wellness, or integrated human biology degree programs. Chinese and natural medicine dispensaries are available. Nearly half of Bastyr's approximately 1,000 students are in the 4-6 year naturopathic medicine program. You'd complete at least 1,200 clinical training hours at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health, supervised by 64 faculty members who are licensed practitioners. Representative degree programs include: </p> <ul><li>Naturopathic Doctor (N.D.) </li></ul><h3 id="section---SouthwestCollegeOfNaturopathicMedicineAndHealthSciencesInTempeAZ">Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Tempe, AZ</h3> <p>The College's Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center has a diagnostic laboratory accredited by the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation. SCNM faculty members conduct research on natural therapies, public health, epidemiology and quality assurance of natural products. You'll need three years of pre-medical training and a bachelor's degree to join the naturopathic medicine program. You'll take the Basic Sciences portion of the NPLEX exam after the second year of the 4-year program. Students shadow physicians beginning the first year and work with patients in the Medical Center and community clinics. Southwest also offers postgraduate residencies. These programs are available: </p> <ul><li>N.D. </li><li>Naturopathic Family Medicine Residency </li><li>Homeopathy Residency </li></ul><h3 id="section---UniversityOfBridgeportInCT">University of Bridgeport in CT</h3> <p>UB is a traditional university that hosts the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) in its Health Sciences Division. It's accredited by the Connecticut State Department of Higher Education to offer the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree. CNM also offers programs for chiropractic, dental hygiene, physicians' assistants, acupuncture and nutrition. The Center of Excellence in Generative Medicine, founded in 2009, coordinates symposia, practicums and naturopathic philosophy and therapeutics research. </p> <p>To earn your Naturopathic Doctor degree, you'll complete clinical training in the UB Naturopathic Clinic or in cooperating community health centers or hospitals during years 3-4 of the 4-year program. The clinic hosts a naturopathic pharmacy featuring Chinese and Western herbs through which you'll complete 32 hours of training. Postdoctoral residencies are offered on campus and at sites including Griffin Hospital's Integrated Medical Center. </p> <ul><li>Naturopathic Medicine (N.D.) </li></ul><h2 id="section---SchoolsWithNaturopathicMedicinePrograms">Schools with Naturopathic Medicine Programs</h2> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>College/University</th><th>Institution Type</th><th>Location</th><th>Estimated Graduate In-State Tuition (2018-2019)*</th></tr> <tr><td>University of Bridgeport</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Bridgeport, CT</td><td>$21,000</td></tr> <tr><td>National University of Health Sciences</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Lombard, IL</td><td>$21,000</td></tr> <tr><td>Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine &amp; Health Sciences</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Tempe, AZ</td><td>N/A</td></tr> <tr><td>Bastyr University</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Kenmore, WA</td><td>$26,000</td></tr> <tr><td>National University of Natural Medicine</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Portland, OR</td><td>$14,000</td></tr> </table><p><i>*Source: NCES, U.S. Department of Education</i></p>