# Title 50 — North Dakota Board of Medicine

## Article 50-06 — Naturopathic Licensure

## Chapter 50-06-01 — Admission to Practice Naturopathic Medicine

### § 50-06-01-01. Definitions.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, all definitions found in North Dakota Century Code chapter
43-58 are applicable to this title. In this title, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires:
1. "Administration" means the intradermal, intramuscular, intravenous, oral, rectal,
subcutaneous, sublingual, topical, auricular, nasal, ocular, or vaginal routes of administration
in accordance with naturopathic medical training.
2. "Council" means the council on naturopathic medical education or its successor. The
successor must be an accrediting agency recognized by the United States department of
education.
3. "In accordance with naturopathic medical training" means the practice of naturopathic
medicine by means that are consistent with the education of an approved naturopathic
medical college, are generally recognized as safe and effective, and generally considered to
be within the accepted practice standards for the naturopathic profession.
4. "Manipulation of the spine" means therapeutic osseous manipulation techniques to realign the
cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae and sacrum.
5. "National board" means the North American board of naturopathic examiners or its successor.
6. "National board examinations" means the naturopathic physicians licensing examinations
(NPLEX) or its successor.
7. "Nondrug prescription device" includes diabetic supplies, intrauterine devices, cold lasers,
orthotics, and transcutaneous electrical stimulation units.
8. "Nonprescription topical drug" means a topical analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic,
antipruritic, or hormone that is not a prescription drug.

9. "Prescription drug" means a legend drug as defined by section 503(b) of the Act of Congress
entitled the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 353 et seq.] and under its
definitions its label is required to state "Rx only".
History: Effective April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-58-03.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-58-03.1
### § 50-06-01-02. Approval of schools.

The board shall approve a naturopathic medical school if it meets the definition pursuant to North
Dakota Century Code section 43-58-01 and is accredited by the council.
History: Effective April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-58-03.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-58-05
### § 50-06-01-03. Applications for licensure.

Application must be made on the official form issued by the board.
1. Applicants seeking licensure pursuant to North Dakota Century Code section 43-58-05 must
be considered when all of the following have been received:
a. A signed and dated completed official application form.
b. An official transcript of the national board examinations sent directly to the board from the
national board verifying satisfactory passage of both part one and part two.
c. An official complete transcript sent directly to the board from the approved naturopathic
medical school from which the applicant graduated verifying date of graduation and
completion of clinical training.
d. The license fee.
2. Applicants seeking a license or limited license pursuant to North Dakota Century Code section
a. A signed and dated completed official application form.
b. An official school transcript verifying graduation from a school of naturopathy.
c. Documentation of supervised clinical training and practical postgraduate clinical
experience, including dates, clinic contact information, and supervisor contact information
for verification purposes.
d. Documentation of North Dakota residency throughout calendar year 2011.
e. Documentation of the practice of naturopathy in North Dakota in 2011.
f. The initial licensing fee.
History: Effective April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-58-03.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-58-04, 43-58-05, 43-58-06

### § 50-06-01-04. Licensure by reciprocity.

An application for license by reciprocity shall be considered by the board if the following conditions
are met:
1. The candidate has graduated from and holds a degree from an approved naturopathic
medical school.
2. The candidate holds a current valid license in good standing to practice as a naturopath in
another state or jurisdiction. Official written verification of licensure status must be received by
the board from the other state or jurisdiction.
3. The examination requirements of the other state or jurisdiction are substantially similar as in
North Dakota.
4. The candidate has filed with the board an official application for licensure by reciprocity, a
copy of the diploma from an approved naturopathic medical school, a copy of the current valid
license, and the required initial licensure fee.
History: Effective April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-58-03.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-58-07
### § 50-06-01-05. Photograph.

An unmounted passport photograph of the applicant must be provided with the application. The
photograph must have been taken within one year of the date of application.
History: Effective April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-58-03.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-58-05
### § 50-06-01-06. Examination requirements.

1. Those applicants for licensure who have obtained a passing score on the naturopathic
physicians licensing examinations (NPLEX) part one and part two or its successor must be
deemed to have met the examination requirement specified in North Dakota Century Code
section 43-58-05.
2. The examination requirements for licensure must be successfully completed within four years
from graduation. The board may grant an exception to this requirement for applicants who
have concurrently pursued another graduate degree, and the applicant presents a verifiable,
rational, and compelling explanation for not meeting the four-year time limit.
3. An applicant is permitted a maximum of three attempts to pass each part or component of the
national board examination. Upon review of an individual applicant, the board may allow an
exception to this rule if it if finds it is in the best interest of the state and the applicant shows a
documented disability as determined by the board, or the applicant:
a. Is validly licensed as a naturopath in another state;
b. Has practiced a minimum of five years; and
c. Has no disciplinary actions imposed by any other state licensing board.
History: Effective April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-58-03.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-58-05

### § 50-06-01-07. License issued.

When the board determines any candidate has successfully completed all requirements by law and
rule for licensure, the board shall issue to such candidate a license to practice naturopathy.
An officer of the board and the board's executive director or deputy executive director may issue a
provisional temporary license to an applicant who is seeking a permanent North Dakota naturopathic
license if in their judgment the applicant meets all the requirements for a license. The board's executive
director or deputy executive director may issue a provisional temporary license if the application is
routine, complete, and meets all other requirements for licensure. A provisional temporary license is
valid from the date of issue until the time of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board.
History: Effective April 1, 2024; amended effective January 1, 2026.
General Authority: NDCC 43-58-03.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-51.1-03, 43-58-05, 43-58-07
### § 50-06-01-08. Change of location - License displayed.

Each licensed naturopath shall maintain a permanent electronic mail or mailing address with the
board to which all communications from the board to the licensee will be sent. A licensee who changes
an address shall notify the board in writing of the new contact information within thirty days. A current
certificate or duplicate certificate issued by the board must be displayed at all times in each office
location of the naturopath.
History: Effective April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-58-03.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-58-03.1
### § 50-06-01-09. License renewal.

1. Every naturopath who has been licensed by the board shall renew the license by remitting a
renewal fee on or before December thirty-first of each odd-numbered year and completing the
renewal application provided by the board. For applicants who receive an initial license after
July first in an odd-numbered year, the license will be deemed to be automatically renewed on
December thirty-first for an additional two years without payment of an additional renewal fee.
2. The applicant for renewal shall certify on the renewal application that the continuing education
requirements have been or will be met by December thirty-first. The applicant must keep
records of completed continuing education. The board shall conduct random compliance
audits of licensees. Failure to complete continuing education is considered unprofessional
conduct.
3. A license renewal application received on or after January first of an even-numbered year is
an expired renewal and requires the renewal fee plus a late fee set by the board. Proof of
appropriate continuing education hours must be presented. A license that has not been
renewed within two years of expiration is a lapsed license requiring submission of a new
application for licensure.
History: Effective April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-58-03.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-58-03.1
### § 50-06-01-10. Expired licenses.

Once a license has expired, the individual who held the license may not practice naturopathic
medicine or use a title reserved under state law for individuals who are licensed by the board until the
license is renewed or a new license is issued. An individual whose license has expired but who

continues to practice naturopathic medicine or use a restricted title violates state law and this chapter.
Such a violation may be considered grounds for denying an application by the former licensee for
renewal of the lapsed license or for a new license.
History: Effective April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-58-03.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-58-11, 43-58-03, 43-58-03.1
### § 50-06-01-11. Fees.

The board charges the following nonrefundable fees:
1. Initial license. The fee for application and an initial license is four hundred dollars. The
licensing period is biennial, ending on December thirty-first every odd-numbered year.
2. Renewal. Licenses renew on December thirty-first every odd-numbered year. The renewal fee
is four hundred dollars.
3. Late filing. A naturopath seeking to renew a license who has failed to complete the renewal
process within two years from the expiration date must be a assessed a late fee of five
hundred dollars in addition to the renewal fee and such other penalties as are authorized by
law, if that naturopath is found to have been practicing in this state after the naturopath's
license expired. A naturopath with an expired license who has not practiced without a license
may renew their license within two years of the expiration date upon payment of the four
hundred dollars renewal fee.
History: Effective April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-58-03.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-58-03.1, 43-58-05
### § 50-06-01-12. Administrative sanction.

An administrative sanction must be imposed in the amount of five hundred dollars for any applicant
or licensed naturopath who provides false or deceptive information with regard to any material fact
concerning eligibility for initial licensure or renewal after verifying or certifying that the information
provided is true. This includes all material information provided in an initial license application, renewal,
or report of compliance with mandatory continuing education requirements.
The imposition of the administrative sanction under this section is not disciplinary action of the
board; however, it does not preclude the board from also imposing disciplinary action, or other penalties
provided by law, for the same conduct in appropriate cases.
An applicant or licensed naturopath may challenge the imposition of an administrative sanction
under this section under North Dakota Century Code chapter 28-32.
History: Effective April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-58-03.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-58-03.1, 43-58-05
