Published: 2015-07-08
Key Benefits:
An applicant for a license as a naturopathic doctor shall file with the committee a written application on a form provided by the committee that shows, to the committee’s satisfaction, compliance with all of the following requirements:
(a) The applicant has not committed an act or crime that constitutes grounds for denial of a license under Section 480, and has complied with the requirements of Section 144.
(b) The applicant has received a degree in naturopathic medicine from an approved naturopathic medical school where the degree substantially meets the educational requirements in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 3623.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 18, Sec. 19. Effective October 23, 2009. Repealed as of January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 3686.)
An applicant for licensure shall pass the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX) or an equivalent approved by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners. In the absence of an examination approved by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners, the committee may administer a substantially equivalent examination.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 18, Sec. 20. Effective October 23, 2009. Repealed as of January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 3686.)
The committee may grant a license to an applicant who is licensed and in good standing as a naturopathic doctor in another state, jurisdiction, or territory in the United States, provided the applicant has met the requirements of Sections 3630 and 3631.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 18, Sec. 21. Effective October 23, 2009. Repealed as of January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 3686.)
The committee may grant a license to an applicant who meets the requirements of Section 3630, but who graduated prior to 1986, pre-NPLEX, and passed a state or Canadian Province naturopathic licensing examination. Applications under this section shall be received no later than December 31, 2007.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 18, Sec. 22. Effective October 23, 2009. Repealed as of January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 3686.)
A license issued under this chapter shall be subject to renewal biennially as prescribed by the committee and shall expire unless renewed in that manner. The committee may provide by regulation for the late renewal of a license.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 18, Sec. 23. Effective October 23, 2009. Repealed as of January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 3686.)
(a) In addition to any other qualifications and requirements for licensure renewal, the committee shall require the satisfactory completion of 60 hours of approved continuing education biennially. This requirement is waived for the initial license renewal. The continuing education shall meet the following requirements:
(1) At least 20 hours shall be in pharmacotherapeutics.
(2) No more than 15 hours may be in naturopathic medical journals or osteopathic or allopathic medical journals, or audio or videotaped presentations, slides, programmed instruction, or computer-assisted instruction or preceptorships.
(3) No more than 20 hours may be in any single topic.
(4) No more than 15 hours of the continuing education requirements for the specialty certificate in naturopathic childbirth attendance shall apply to the 60 hours of continuing education requirement.
(b) The continuing education requirements of this section may be met through continuing education courses approved by the committee, the California Naturopathic Doctors Association, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the California State Board of Pharmacy, the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, or other courses that meet the standards for continuing education for licensed physicians and surgeons in California.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 308, Sec. 38.5. Effective January 1, 2010. Repealed as of January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 3686.)
(a) Upon a written request, the committee may grant inactive status to a naturopathic doctor who is in good standing and who meets the requirements of Section 462.
(b) A person whose license is in inactive status may not engage in any activity for which a license is required under this chapter.
(c) A person whose license is in inactive status shall be exempt from continuing education requirements while his or her license is in that status.
(d) To restore a license to active status, a person whose license is in inactive status must fulfill continuing education requirements for the two-year period prior to reactivation, and be current with all licensing fees as determined by the committee.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 308, Sec. 39.5. Effective January 1, 2010. Repealed as of January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 3686.)
Only an individual may be licensed under this chapter.
(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 485, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2004. Section operative July 1, 2004, pursuant to Section 3685 as added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 485. Repealed as of January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 3686.)
