Colorado Becomes 17th State to Approve State Licensure of Naturopathic Doctors

New Law Enables Accredited AANMC-member Naturopathic College Graduates to Practice Medicine in the State

(June 5, 2013) – Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper paved the way for naturopathic doctors (NDs) to become an essential part of the state health care system by approving a measure requiring naturopathic doctors to obtain a license to practice medicine. The bill, which goes into law in January of 2014, will make Colorado the 17th state to require licensure for NDs.

“The AANMC is excited at the opportunities that naturopathic licensure in Colorado opens up for our students and the graduates of the accredited naturopathic medical colleges,” said Dr. JoAnn Yanez, ND, MPH (pictured), executive director of the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges. “Congratulations to Colorado for many years of hard work and persistence paying off.”

A new board of naturopathic medicine, created as one of the state’s regulatory agencies, will be responsible for overseeing the licensure process and creating a structure for the safe and successful practice of naturopathic medicine in the state.

Read the AANP article
Read full text of senate bill No. 13-1111