Idaho made Naturopathic history in 2022 with the passing of a new law, marking it as the 6th state to differentiate Naturopathy from Naturopathic Medicine and the first in recent history to create two seperate regulatory boards for each profession. 

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The National Board of Naturopathic Examiners of the American Naturopathic Association and its test, the Naturopathic Doctors Licensing Exam (NDLEX) was coded as the premier testing provider for Idaho Naturopathic Doctors Licensure by Idaho Admin Code r. 24.40.01.100 . This new board of Naturopathy is also known as the Idaho Board of Naturopathic Healthcare and was put under the regulatory authority of the Idaho Department of Occupational Licensing (DOPL) . The Board for Naturopathic Medicine was also created to regulate Naturopathic Medicine as it differs from Naturopathy in Idaho. 

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Idaho Board of Naturopathic Healthcare (Naturopathy)

Idaho Board of Naturopathic Medicine (Naturopathic Medicine)

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The enactment of CHAPTER 59 NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR LICENSING AND NATUROPATH REGISTRATION ACT proved that Naturopathy and "Doctors of Naturopathy", also known simply as "Naturopaths" are licensable and regulated in Idaho and abroad. 

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These two acts also make title protection clear for the two professions, both Naturopathy and Naturopathic Medicine may use the term "Naturopathic Doctor" or the initials "ND" interchangeably. That may sound confusing, and therefore these title distinction for a Doctor of Naturopathy (ND) and a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (NMD) were adopted, please see below.

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Title Distinctions

Licensed or Registered to Practice Naturopathy

Naturopathy (ND)- Doctor of Naturopathy, Naturopathic Doctor, Naturopath

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Licensed to Practice Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine (NMD) - Naturopathic Physician, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, Naturopathic Medical Doctor

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Please note that the term "Traditional Naturopath" is usually used derogatorily to describe a Licensable "Doctor of Naturopathy" also known as a "True Naturopath". It does not appear anywhere in Idaho code.