Promoting the Profession
Professionals in every field show their level of commitment to the field by participating in professional organizations. This could be through membership, board representation, sponsorship and support, or through maintaining certification with the organization. In the broad field of natural health, there are many associations—those that advocate natural health freedom, those that board certify practitioners and those that offer membership benefits. It can be confusing. This article attempts to clarify some of the differences and suggests ways that professionals practicing in the field may want to participate.
Credibility of the Organization
Determining the mission statement or the goals of an organization can assist the professional in making educated choices about affiliation with particular groups. Most professions have a national organization that is esteemed within the particular field, and it expresses the goal of the profession and generally offers the Code of Ethics or Consumer Commitment for the profession. Some of the avenues for exploring the level of credibility and commitment to the profession of an association would be:
- Can you access a live person to talk with you about the organization? Do they return calls in a way that communicates commitment to its members?
- What is the mission statement and does it reflect high standards and ethical practices?
- Does the organization offer a Code of Ethics for the profession that instills pride and a sense of value and worth in the consumer as well as the members?
- Can you contact other members that can tell you about the viability and benefits of becoming involved with this particular organization?
- Do they follow through and provide the services or benefits that they proclaim?
- What is the history of the organization and how do they convey their commitment to the profession?
Membership
Membership in a national organization that represents the profession is a good idea for most professionals. If there are several representative organizations, it can be a challenge to choose the one that is right for you. Check with other professionals in your field to find out their level of satisfaction with this organization. Ask yourself questions such as what is the representative membership? What are the benefits? Will participation in this organization serve my practice?
Consider the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. This is an organization that conducts an annual conference on hot topics in the field of holistic nutrition, offers benefits such as being listed in the online directory, and has continuing education opportunities available through their Web site.
Certification
The ANCB is a national organization that board certifies professionals in the field of traditional naturopathy. Therefore this would not be a membership organization but a credentialing board. For practitioners in the field, it is an avenue for demonstrating to the public, to your colleagues and clients a level of credibility and commitment to high standards of practice and ongoing continuing education. Visit www.ancb.net for more information.
Advocacy
Other membership organizations, such as the Coalition for Natural Health, work to fight for natural health freedom. This particular organization strives to alert its members to proposed legislation that could endanger the practice of natural health modalities, advocates for health freedom and, thus, allows the member to be politically active in his or her chosen field. Visit www.naturalhealth.org for more information.
Whatever choices you make, support the efforts of an organization such as the Coalition for Natural Health, as this is one way for you to serve the profession. Volunteer, keep your membership current, attend the conferences—whatever is required to keep your organization’s growth moving towards serving the entire profession and all practitioners in the field. Embrace the organization, and begin to view it as your organization. Be sure that it is representing you, your efforts, your practice and your profession. This is how you can actively promote the profession.
Susie Hale, ND, PhD 
CCNH Director of Practitioner Education
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