Naturopathic Physicians
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases using a system of practice that is based on the natural healing capacity of individuals. May use physiological, psychological or mechanical methods. May also use natural medicines, prescription or legend drugs, foods, herbs, or other natural remedies.
Also known as: Doctor (Dr), Naturopath, Naturopathic Doctor, Naturopathic Endocrinologist, Naturopathic Medicine Doctor, Naturopathic Oncologist, Naturopathic Oncology Provider, Physician
Annual Salary
Median annual wage (May 2024)
Job Outlook
Projected growth, 2024–2034 (About average)
What You'd Do
- Perform mobilizations and high-velocity adjustments to joints or soft tissues, using principles of massage, stretching, or resistance.
- Maintain professional development through activities such as postgraduate education, continuing education, preceptorships, and residency programs.
- Order diagnostic imaging procedures such as radiographs (x-rays), ultrasounds, mammograms, and bone densitometry tests, or refer patients to other health professionals for these procedures.
- Administer treatments or therapies, such as homeopathy, hydrotherapy, Oriental or Ayurvedic medicine, electrotherapy, and diathermy, using physical agents including air, heat, cold, water, sound, or ultraviolet light to catalyze the body to heal itself.
- Administer, dispense, or prescribe natural medicines, such as food or botanical extracts, herbs, dietary supplements, vitamins, nutraceuticals, and amino acids.
- Conduct physical examinations and physiological function tests for diagnostic purposes.
- Interview patients to document symptoms and health histories.
- Educate patients about health care management.
- Advise patients about therapeutic exercise and nutritional medicine regimens.
- Diagnose health conditions, based on patients' symptoms and health histories, laboratory and diagnostic radiology test results, or other physiological measurements, such as electrocardiograms and electroencephalographs.
- Perform venipuncture or skin pricking to collect blood samples.
- Treat minor cuts, abrasions, or contusions.
- Prescribe synthetic drugs under the supervision of medical doctors or within the allowances of regulatory bodies.
- Document patients' histories, including identifying data, chief complaints, illnesses, previous medical or family histories, or psychosocial characteristics.
- Consult with other health professionals to provide optimal patient care, referring patients to traditional health care professionals as necessary.
- Report patterns of patients' health conditions, such as disease status and births, to public health agencies.
- Monitor updates from public health agencies to keep abreast of health trends.
- Conduct periodic public health maintenance activities such as immunizations and screenings for diseases and disease risk factors.
- Obtain medical records from previous physicians or other health care providers for the purpose of patient evaluation.
- Perform minor surgical procedures, such as removing warts, moles, or cysts, sampling tissues for skin cancer or lipomas, and applying or removing sutures.
Top Skills
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Knowledge Areas
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level
Technology & Tools
Software and tools commonly used in this role
In-Demand Technologies
Other Tools
Work Styles
Personality traits and work styles important for this career
Key Abilities
Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Activities
General types of job behaviors occurring on this job
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Environment
Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work
Related Careers
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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.