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
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.
Send completed form to
State of AlaskaDepartment of Commerce, Community and Economic DevelopmentDivision of Corporations, Business and Professional LicensingINVESTIGATIONS SECTION550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1500Anchorage, 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].