Dr. Sam Schikowitz

Help Support ND Licensure!

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You can skip all the extra information and go directly to the action with the following link:

"Take Action by writing your legislator using Capwiz."

In the 14 States DC, 2 Territories, and 4 Provinces where they are licensed, Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are general medical practitioners. They diagnose and treat disease, prescribe pharmacy, and do minor surgery. Naturopathic doctors are the only primary care providers trained in Natural, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine from the first class to the last clinical rotation.

The New York Association of Naturopathic Physicians (NYANP) is on the path toward obtaining state licensure for Naturopathic Doctors in New York State!

Licensure will allow Naturopathic Doctors to provide you with the services we are trained to provide after completing a 4-year doctorate program at a naturopathic medical school. We are trained as general practitioners who specialize in natural medicine. We are held to federally recognized standards of education and professional accountability.

Naturopathic Doctors are licensed in 13 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and 4 Canadian provinces. In those places, patients are able to choose Naturopathic Doctors as primary care providers who are able to prevent, diagnose and treat disease with an array of supportive, natural medicines. Naturopathic Doctors are experts in drug/nutrient and drug/herb interactions and we are trained to know when to refer for further medical care.

Here is what you can do to help:

* Send an email to your legislators quickly and easily. Go to www.nyanp.org and follow the links to "Take Action by writing your legislator using Capwiz."
* Provide financial support. Your donation is greatly appreciated.
* Inform others about Naturopathic Medicine and the need to support licensure in New York.
* Stay informed by joining the NYANP mailing list.

How will New Yorkers benefit from a license?

* New Yorkers will have access to naturopathic medicine by qualified NDs.
* Naturopathic Doctors will be able to offer more services, the services they are trained to provide: perform exams, order lab tests, diagnose conditions, implement treatment and prevent disease.
* New Yorkers will be able to easily identify Naturopathic Doctors with physician level training.
* Public safety will be ensured by requiring NDs to meet rigorous educational standards and to pass national board exams.
* There is a greater likelihood that insurance coverage will be made available for Naturopathic care.

About the NYANP:

The New York Association of Naturopathic Physicians (NYANP) is the professional association for Naturopathic Doctors in New York State. The NYANP is a non-profit organization.

The are graduates of accredited four-year, graduate-level, in-residence naturopathic medical programs. While New York State does not license Naturopathic Doctors at this time, all of our professional members maintain a naturopathic physician’s license in at least one of the thirteen states, or Washington D.C., that require licensure. The NYANP is actively pursuing licensure of Naturopathic Doctors in New York.

Legislation has been introduced in the New York State Senate and Assembly to license Naturopathic Doctors. Your support is vital to this process, so please take time and click on the link to the upper right of this page to write an email in support our licensing bills. In order to see the bills in their entirety, you can use the following links to view the respective Senate and Assembly bills: S6609 and A10819. Finally, please join our mailing list in order to stay informed. Feel free to contact the NYANP with your questions and comments at any time.