Naturopathic Medicine in Alaska

Page last updated 19 Dec 2019

Action alert

None.

Senate Bill 120 FAILED with no carry over to 2019. The bill would have expanded ND practice to allow naturopaths to diagnose and treat patients of all ages, perform and order diagnostic tests, and perform minor surgery. NDs in the state currently have a narrow scope of practice. (See below for details.)

Sponsored by Senator Cathy Giessel.

Information courtesy of Society for Science-Based Medicine.

Want to get involved?

Contact your Alaska Senate and Assembly representatives and voice your opposition to legitimizing the practice of naturopathy.

Not sure what to say? Check out these tips for speaking with lawmakers from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Sign the petition Naturopaths are not doctors: stop legitimizing pseudoscience


Scope of practice

Alaskan law specifies that naturopaths must be licensed in order to practice naturopathy in the state.

A naturopath must verbally disclose to all patients at an initial visit that he or she has been trained in naturopathy, not medicine.

The naturopath inform patients if he/ she is practicing naturopathy without malpractice insurance by either 1) posting a conspicuous notice in the office or 2) asking each patient to sign a document stating that they are aware the naturopath does not have malpractice insurance.

Title: May use the title doctor.

  • Prohibited from using the title physician.

Prescription drugs: Prohibited from prescribing all legend substances, including antibiotics.

Controlled substances: Prohibited from prescribing any scheduled substance.

IV administration: unspecified in the law

Diagnostic tests: May not order order or interpret diagnostic images or tests.

Minor office procedures: Prohibited

Spinal manipulations: Allowed, grade not specified in the law

Childbirth/ midwifery practices: Prohibited

2018 Alaska Statues and Regulations for naturopathy

Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development: Corporations, Business, & Professional Licensing

Restrictions on practice of naturopathy


Continuing education requirements

None


History

Licensed since 1986.


How to file a complaint

Complaints against licensed naturopaths are in the jurisdiction of the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. Anyone can file a complaint.

Download complaint form.

Send completed form to

State of Alaska
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
INVESTIGATIONS SECTION
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1500
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3567

There is currently no online complaint process. For additional information, please visit the department’s home page, call 907-269-8437, or email the department at [email protected].

Disclosure