Idaho § 54-5905 - VOLUNTARY naturopathic doctor LICENSURE - requirements - limitations

§ 54-5905. VOLUNTARY naturopathic doctor LICENSURE - requirements - limitations

(1) An applicant shall be qualified for voluntary licensure as a naturopathic doctor pursuant to this chapter if such applicant:

(a) Possesses current, valid, and unrestricted licensure in any state, district, or territory of the United States in at least one (1) of the following medical professions:

(i) Medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy;

(ii) Podiatrist;

(iii) Dentist;

(iv) Chiropractor, if such applicant possesses an accredited doctoral degree in chiropractic medicine as required pursuant to chapter 7, title 54 , Idaho Code;

(v) Nurse, if such applicant possesses a level of training and education equivalent to an advanced practice registered nurse pursuant to chapter 14, title 54 , Idaho Code, and has achieved an accredited doctorate degree in nursing; or

(vi) Pharmacist, if such applicant possesses a level of training and education equivalent to the requirements for pharmacist licensure pursuant to section 54-1722 , Idaho Code;

(b) Has obtained a certificate of satisfactory completion of a naturopathic doctor curriculum consisting of at least one hundred sixty (160) credit hours from an institution accredited by an accreditation agency approved by the United States department of education;

(c) Has not pled guilty to or been convicted of a crime that is deemed relevant in accordance with section 67-9411 (1), Idaho Code, unless such applicant demonstrates that he has been sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the public trust; and

(d) Completes any one (1) of the following:

(i) At least four (4) years of experience in the practice of naturopathic health care in Idaho that is acceptable to the board; provided, however, a practitioner who has at least two (2) years of naturopathic health care experience that is acceptable to the board and that occurred on or before July 1, 2024, shall satisfy the requirements of this paragraph;

(ii) Passage of an Idaho state examination proving minimum competency and skills, to be developed and approved by the board by rule and the American naturopathic medical certification board pursuant to this chapter; or

(iii) Passage of any national board examination that certifies the individual has achieved minimum competency and skills in the practice of naturopathic health care as approved by the board by rule.

(2) A license issued under this chapter shall:

(a) Be issued in the name of the licensed naturopathic doctor;

(b) State the issue and expiration date; and

(c) Always be displayed in a conspicuous manner in the place of business or employment of the licensee.

(3) A licensed naturopathic doctor may also use the title "licensed doctor of natural health" or "licensed naturopathic practitioner."

(4) All applications for licensing shall be reviewed and approved by the board on an individual basis.

(5) A person who is not licensed pursuant to this chapter shall not:

(a) Hold himself out as a naturopathic doctor licensed under this chapter;

(b) Use or advertise using the title of licensed naturopathic doctor (LND), licensed naturopathic practitioner (LNP), or any variant thereof; or

(c) Use any words, abbreviations, figures, configuration of letters, titles, signs, cards, or devices tending to imply that the person is a naturopathic doctor licensed in the state of Idaho.

(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (5) of this section, a person who is a licensed naturopathic medical doctor pursuant to chapter 51, title 54 , Idaho Code, may use the title "licensed naturopathic doctor."

(7) No license shall be issued by the board until the board has finalized and approved licensure requirements by rule as provided by this chapter and the legislature has approved all rules governing licensure adopted by the board.

[54-5905, added 2022, ch. 194, sec. 1, p. 638; am. 2024, ch. 240, sec. 1, p. 858; am. 2026, ch. 314, sec. 2, p. 1261.]