Promoting the Profession
CCNH recently received an e–news alert from the American Naturopathic Certification Board (ANCB). Periodically, the ANCB sends these alerts to all its certified practitioners. This latest one is regarding the Naturopathic National Council (NNC). We found the information contained in the alert concerning enough to devote this column to addressing the issues that have surfaced and that deeply impact this profession.
The NNC claims to be a federal organization that can license traditional naturopaths. The claims go as far as to include that the organization is the only one sanctioned to grant such licenses and that traditional naturopaths cannot practice unless they obtain said licenses. This is not correct.
First, and foremost, professional licensing is a state prerogative. The federal government and national organizations do not license individuals in professions. States decide on which professions require licensing and then regulate the licensing and practice of those professions. Knowing that the individual states make these decisions, it is easy to recognize that one state might license a profession while another may not.
Secondly, the NNC cannot determine that traditional naturopaths must be licensed, nor can the organization license the profession of traditional naturopathy.
Learn your laws. Learn your rights. This is how you, too, can promote the profession.
Susie Hale, ND,
Ph.D.
CCNH Director of Practitioner Education
shale@ccnh.edu
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