Whether your state prohibits naturopathy outright, licenses or registers it, or has no naturopathy-specific statute.
The information on this page is educational and general in nature. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for consultation with a licensed attorney in your state. State laws vary and change frequently — verify the current law in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here.
These tables report what each state’s statutes and rules say, as read on the date shown in each row. They are not complete. They do not capture every regulation, court decision, attorney general opinion or enforcement practice that may apply, and a law may have changed since a row was last checked. Where the law is unsettled, the table says so; it does not resolve the question.
Using these tables does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and any author, editor, reviewer, or affiliated organization, including KCNH, AANWP, AANWC and GEHA. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made that the information is complete, accurate or up to date, and the authors and affiliated organizations disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from its use.
Every row shows the date it was last checked. The full tables are reviewed twice a year, after most state legislative sessions end in summer and again in January, and individual rows are updated sooner when a pending bill, court case or scheduled change named in the table is resolved.
| State | Status | What the law provides | Penalty | Unsettled or changing | Citation | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Prohibited in effect (by court decision) | No naturopathy-specific statute. The state medical board’s position, relying on a 1984 court decision, is that practicing naturopathy on a naturopathic degree alone is the unlicensed practice of medicine. | Unlicensed practice of medicine is a Class C felony. | The 1984 decision itself has not been read. | Williams v. State ex rel. Medical Licensure Commission, 453 So. 2d 1051 (Ala. Civ. App. 1984); Ala. Code §§ 34-24-50, 34-24-51 | 2026-09-30 |
| Alaska | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. Practicing naturopathy without a license is prohibited. | Class A misdemeanor. | — | Alaska Stat. ch. 08.45 (Naturopaths) | 2026-10-01 |
| Arizona | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. Unlicensed persons may not practice or claim to practice any branch of naturopathic medicine. | — | — | Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 32-1501 et seq. (ch. 14, naturopathic physicians); § 32-1555 (unlawful acts) | 2026-10-01 |
| Arkansas | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| California | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. The reservation covers the titles and representation, not natural healing practice generally; the safe harbor (Table 1) covers unlicensed practitioners. | — | — | Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 3610–3686 (Naturopathic Doctors Act); § 3660 | 2026-10-01 |
| Colorado | Registered | Registration is required to practice as a naturopathic doctor. The safe harbor (Table 1) covers unlicensed practitioners. | — | — | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-250-107 | 2026-10-01 |
| Connecticut | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. | — | Statute text not yet read. | Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 373 (Naturopathy), incl. § 20-34 et seq. | 2026-10-01 |
| Delaware | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| District of Columbia | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. | — | — | D.C. Code § 3-1206.21 et seq. (Health Occupations Revision Act, as amended by D.C. Law 15-172, 2004) | 2026-10-01 |
| Florida | Prohibited (closed license class); therapeutic hypnosis restricted | Naturopathy: licenses valid on 1 October 1985 were preserved, but no new licenses are issued; unlicensed practice, advertising to practice, or using a designation implying naturopathic practice is prohibited. Hypnosis for therapeutic purposes may be used only by listed licensed professionals or persons they supervise. | Naturopathy: third-degree felony. Hypnosis: second-degree misdemeanor. | UNSETTLED: how far “hypnosis for therapeutic purposes” reaches non-clinical uses such as habit change or performance. | Fla. Stat. §§ 462.01, 462.17, 462.2001; §§ 485.003, 485.004, 485.005 | 2026-09-30 |
| Georgia | None located (naturopathy-specific statute) | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). A 1982 Attorney General opinion, as summarized in the official code annotations, states that naturopathy by persons not otherwise licensed is the practice of medicine. | — | — | O.C.G.A. § 43-34-22; 1982 Op. Att’y Gen. No. 82-11 | 2026-10-01 |
| Hawaii | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. | — | — | Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 455 (Naturopathic Medicine), incl. §§ 455-1.5 (exceptions), 455-2, 455-11 | 2026-10-01 |
| Idaho | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. The sale of vitamins, supplements, herbs and over-the-counter homeopathic products, and practice under Idaho’s safe harbor, are exempt. | — | — | Idaho Code §§ 54-5101 to 54-5111 (Naturopathic Medicine Licensing, added 2019, amended 2024) | 2026-10-01 |
| Illinois | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Indiana | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Iowa | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Kansas | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. | — | — | Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 65-7201 to 65-7219 (Naturopathic Doctor Licensure Act) | 2026-10-01 |
| Kentucky | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Louisiana | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). A 2026 naturopathic licensing bill died in committee. | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Maine | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. The words “naturopathic” and “naturopathy” are themselves reserved. | — | — | 32 M.R.S. §§ 12521 et seq. | 2026-10-01 |
| Maryland | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. | — | — | Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. tit. 14, subtit. 5F (Maryland Naturopathic Medicine Act, 2014); COMAR 10.32.21 | 2026-10-01 |
| Massachusetts | Licensed | Naturopathic health care practice has been licensed since 2022. Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. | — | — | 273 C.M.R. 3.02; Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 112, §§ 266–274 | 2026-10-01 |
| Michigan | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). Licensing bills have not been enacted. | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Minnesota | Registered | Naturopathic doctors are registered; the protected titles are reserved to registrants. Unlicensed complementary practice under ch. 146A and use of individual naturopathic methods by non-registrants are preserved. | — | — | Minn. Stat. ch. 147E (Registered Naturopathic Doctors) | 2026-10-01 |
| Mississippi | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Missouri | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Montana | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. A person may not practice naturopathy without a license; the words “naturopathic” and “naturopathy” are reserved. | — | — | Mont. Code Ann. ch. 37-26, esp. § 37-26-401 | 2026-10-01 |
| Nebraska | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Nevada | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). Nevada’s safe harbor (Table 1) covers unlicensed practitioners. | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| New Hampshire | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. | — | — | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. ch. 328-E (Naturopathic Health Care Practice) | 2026-10-01 |
| New Jersey | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| New Mexico | Licensed | The naturopathic act protects titles, not the practice: “naturopathy” remains a covered practice under the safe harbor for unlicensed practitioners (Table 1). | — | — | N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 61-12G-1 to 61-12G-13 (Naturopathic Doctors’ Practice Act, 2019 S.B. 135); 16.10.22 NMAC | 2026-10-01 |
| New York | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| North Carolina | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| North Dakota | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. The practice itself is reserved to licensees. | — | — | N.D. Cent. Code ch. 43-58 | 2026-10-01 |
| Ohio | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Oklahoma | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). Oklahoma’s limited safe harbor for nonallopathic practice applies (Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Oregon | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. No one may practice, attempt to practice, or claim to practice naturopathic medicine without a license. | — | — | Or. Rev. Stat. ch. 685, esp. § 685.020 | 2026-10-01 |
| Pennsylvania | Registered | Naturopathic doctors are registered; no scope of practice is defined. “Naturopathic Doctor,” “Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine” and “N.D.” are reserved to registrants, who may not use “doctor” alone or “physician.” | — | Read in reproductions; confirmation on the official site pending. | 63 P.S. § 272.101 et seq. (Naturopathic Doctor Registration Act, Act 128 of 2016, eff. 2018); 49 Pa. Code ch. 18, subch. M | 2026-10-01 |
| Rhode Island | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. Rhode Island also has a regime for unlicensed practitioners (Table 1). | — | — | R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 5-36.1 (License of Naturopathy Act of 2017); 216-RICR-40-05-35 | 2026-10-01 |
| South Carolina | Prohibited | The practice of naturopathy is prohibited, whether or not the person was licensed in South Carolina or any other state. | Misdemeanor: up to $500, up to one year, or both. | Read in older official compilations; current section confirmation pending. | S.C. Code Ann. §§ 40-31-10, 40-31-20 | 2026-09-30 |
| South Dakota | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Tennessee | Prohibited | The practice of naturopathy is prohibited. It is defined broadly to include prevention, diagnosis and treatment by physical forces (air, light, water, heat, electricity, hydrotherapy, vibration), psychotherapy, dietetics, massage, and botanical and biological drugs. The sale of herbs and natural health information exchanges are carved out on stated conditions, including a signed acknowledgment that the seller is not a licensed healing-arts practitioner. | Class B misdemeanor. | Read in consistent code copies from 2010 to 2024; current section confirmation pending. | Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-205 | 2026-09-30 |
| Texas | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). A 2025 naturopathic licensure bill was not shown as enacted. | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Utah | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. Exemptions include family remedies, product sales and religious practice without prescription drugs. | — | — | Utah Code ch. 58-71 (Naturopathic Physician Practice Act), §§ 58-71-102, -301, -305, -501 | 2026-10-01 |
| Vermont | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. | — | — | 26 V.S.A. ch. 81 (Naturopathic Physicians), §§ 4121–4134 | 2026-10-01 |
| Virginia | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Washington | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. No one may practice naturopathy or represent themselves as a naturopath without a license, including by using “naturopath,” “naturopathic” or “ND.” | — | — | Wash. Rev. Code ch. 18.36A, esp. § 18.36A.030 | 2026-10-01 |
| West Virginia | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Wisconsin | Licensed | Naturopathy is licensed or registered. Unlicensed persons may not use the reserved naturopathic titles; see the notes for whether the practice itself is reserved. The practice is reserved, but a person acting under an exemption from the medical license requirement needs no naturopathic license to the extent the activity is also naturopathic, and the title “naturopath” is expressly permitted. | — | — | Wis. Stat. ch. 466 (naturopathic medicine), created by 2021 Wis. Act 130 (enacted 4 Feb 2022) | 2026-10-02 |
| Wyoming | None located | No naturopathy-specific prohibition located, and naturopathic doctors are not licensed. Naturopathy is assessed under the general medical practice act (see Table 1). | — | — | — | 2026-10-01 |