Page last updated 19 Dec 2019
Action alert
Senate Bill 834 licensing bill failed with no carryover into 2019. Last year, Pennsylvania passed a naturopathic registration act, allowing naturopathic “doctors” to register with the state, without defining a scope of practice and leaving the details up to the state medical board, under whose jurisdiction naturopaths would practice. Information courtesy of Society for Science-Based Medicine.
Scope of practice
Naturopaths are registered, not licensed in Pennsylvania under HB 516. This article by Jann Bellamy for Society for Science-Based Medicine nicely describes the differences between naturopathic licensing and registration.
The registration bill does not define the practice of naturopathy or a scope of practice.
The bill does protect the use of the title “naturopathic doctor” for registered naturopaths in the state.
Continuing education requirements
Not defined
History
In 2016, Pennsylvania passed HB516 to register naturopathic doctors. It becomes effective January 1, 2018.
How to file a complaint
Registered naturopaths in the state are regulated by Pennsylvania’s State Board of Medicine. Anyone can file a complaint. The complaint process can be completed online.