Frequently Asked Questions
About Licensing

Why is reactivation of licensing necessary?
There are several very good reasons:

1. Access to healthcare.  Naturopathic medicine includes a physician-level professional, trained specifically to provide safe and effective, broad-scope, cost-effective, and scientifically based natural treatment options.  New N.D.s have not been licensed in Florida since 1959.
2. Ability to practice as trained.  Without licensure, new N.D.s are unable or unwilling to practice to the full extent of their training.  With new licensure, new N.D.s can more effectively serve their patients.
3. Insurance implications.  Many insurance companies in the State of Florida currently cover naturopathic services.  However, because new N.D.s cannot be licensed, they are not covered by insurance.  Instead, the inability of N.D.s to practice asa trained increases costs.  Patients must seek additional or duplicate services that could otherwise be given by their N.D. 
4. Allow a Central Florida medical school to train N.D.s.  A Central Florida medical school is licensed to train N.D.s to the required educational standards of knowledge and experience, but only if the law is amended to allow new licensing of N.D.s.

What does the proposed bill provide?
The naturopathic bill will allow the patient greater access to physician-level, safe, effective, science-based natural healthcare.  Essentially, it will do the following:

• Allow licensure of new naturopathic physicians.
• Require that the same qualifications and educational standards be met that are required in all other licensed states.
• Require that N.D.s pass a competency test before being licensed.
• Establish continuing education requirements for N.D.s.
• Set up procedures to safeguard patients and uphold the standards of practice of naturopathic physicians.

What will this bill not do?
This bill will not:

• Prevent any other licensed practitioner or citizen from using the therapeutic modalities that are within the scope of naturopathic practice.  The ability of other health professionals and citizens to use these therapies is defined by the scope of practice of each profession and the legal rights granted by the State of Florida to its citizens.
• Require insurance companies to cover naturopathic services.
• Prevent anyone from selling vitamins, minerals, homeopathic medicines, and so forth, as provided by other state laws.