Alaska2026Passed Legislature
HB147
Rules for Naturopaths in Alaska
Last scannedSep 22, 2026, 12:32 AM
In one sentence
This law creates a process for naturopaths to get permission to prescribe medicine after passing an exam and completing supervised training, sets new education requirements for license renewal, lists specific medical acts they cannot perform, and outlines reasons the state can punish or remove their licenses.
What it does
- Allows licensed naturopaths who pass a pharmacology exam to get a temporary permit to prescribe drugs under supervision.
- Requires a supervising physician with at least five years of experience in prescribing drugs to review and evaluate the naturopath's work for one year before recommending full permission.
- Mandates that every naturopath complete 60 hours of approved training classes, including at least 20 hours on medicine (pharmacotherapy), during the two-year period before renewing their license.
- Lists specific things naturopaths cannot do without special permission or under any circumstances, such as performing surgery, using controlled substances, poisons, cancer drugs, antipsychotic drugs, or radiation therapy.
- Gives the state department power to punish licensed workers who break rules through fraud, unsafe behavior, criminal acts, incompetence, addiction, or immoral conduct.
Who it affects
- Licensed naturopathic doctors in Alaska
- Physicians with at least five years of prescribing experience who supervise naturopaths
- The state department that issues licenses and sets regulations
Limits and unknowns
- The law does not state the exact date when these rules will start.
- Specific details about fees and forms are set by future department regulations, not this bill text.
- The full list of acceptable training classes depends on what the department approves later.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Endorsement
- A special permission added to a license that allows the holder to prescribe certain drugs.
- Pharmacotherapy
- The study and use of medicines for treating diseases or preventing illness, which is required as part of training classes.
- Continuing education
- Required training classes that professionals must take to keep their license active.
Official record
Sources
Read the official summary
PRACTICE OF NATUROPATHY An Act relating to the practice of naturopathy.
Official activity
Bill history
- (H) COSPONSOR(S): STORY2005
- (H) Heard & HeldText
- (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124Text
- (H) COSPONSORS REMOVED: MOORE, UNDERWOOD1632
- (H) COSPONSOR(S): MOORE, UNDERWOOD1603
- (H) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY, TOMASZEWSKI1518
- (H) REFERRED TO LABOR & COMMERCE1469
- (H) FN1: (CED)1469
- (H) NR: MINA1469
- (H) DNP: FIELDS1469
- (H) DP: SCHWANKE, MEARS, PRAX, GRAY1469
- (H) HSS RPT 4DP 1DNP 1NR1469
- (H) Minutes (HHSS)Min
- (H) Moved HB 147 Out of CommitteeText
- (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106Text
- (H) Minutes (HHSS)Min
- (H) Heard & HeldText
- (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106Text
- (H) Minutes (HHSS)Min
- (H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 3:45 pm --Text