AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- LICENSE OF NATUROPATHY ACT OF 2017 (Changes the naming of doctor of naturopathy to naturopathic doctor.)

H7425

2026 -- H 7425
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LC004408
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- LICENSE OF NATUROPATHY ACT
OF 2017

Introduced By:
Representatives Casimiro, Alzate, Fellela, DeSimone, Solomon, Cotter,
Hopkins, Read, and Craven

Date Introduced:
January 30, 2026

Referred To:
House Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Sections 5-36.1-2, 5-36.1-3, 5-36.1-4, 5-36.1-5, 5-36.1-6, 5-36.1-7, 5-36.1-
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8, 5-36.1-9, 5-36.1-10, 5-36.1-11, 5-36.1-12, 5-36.1-14, 5-36.1-15, 5-36.1-16, 5-36.1-17 and 5-
3
36.1-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-36.1 entitled "License of Naturopathy Act of 2017" are
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hereby amended to read as follows:
5

5-36.1-2. Definitions.
6
The following words and phrases as used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:
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(1) “Approved naturopathic college” means a college that grants a degree of
doctor of
8
naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
and:
9
(i) Is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), its successor
10
or other accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education; or
11
(ii) Is accredited by any other organization approved by the board of licensure of
12
naturopathy.
13
(2) “Board” means the board of licensure of naturopathy.
14
(3) “CNME” or “Council” is the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education.
15
(4) “Department” means the Rhode Island department of health.
16
(5) “Director” means the director of the Rhode Island department of health.
17
(6) “Disciplinary action” means any action taken by an administrative law officer
18
established against a licensee or applicant on a finding of unprofessional conduct by the licensee

1
or applicant. “Disciplinary action” includes issuance of warnings and all sanctions including denial,
2
suspension, revocation, limitation, or restriction of licenses and other similar limitations.
3

(8)
(7)
“Natural” means present in, produced by, or derived from nature.
4

(7)
(8)

“Doctor of naturopathy” means a person who practices naturopathic health care and
5
is licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

"Naturopathic doctor" means a person who
6
practices naturopathic health care and is licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
7
(9) “Naturopathic health care” or “the practice of naturopathic health care” means a system
8
of health care that utilizes education, natural substances, and natural therapies to support and
9
stimulate a patient’s intrinsic self-healing processes and to prevent and treat human health
10
conditions and injuries.
11

5-36.1-3. Scope of practice.
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(a) A license authorizes a licensee, consistent with naturopathic education and training and
13
competence demonstrated by passing the
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
licensing
14
examination, to:
15
(1) Order and perform physical and laboratory examinations for diagnostic purposes;
16
(2) Dispense or order natural substances of mineral, animal, or botanical origin, including
17
food, extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, botanicals and
18
their extracts, botanical substances, homeopathic substances, and all dietary supplements and
19
nonprescription drugs as defined by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 301 et
20
seq., that use various routes of administration, including oral, nasal, auricular, ocular, rectal,
21
vaginal, and transdermal;
22
(3) Administer natural substances of mineral, animal, or botanical origin, including food,
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extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, botanicals and their
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extracts, botanical substances, homeopathic substances, and all dietary supplements and
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nonprescription drugs as defined by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 301 et
26
seq., using transdermal routes of administration;
27
(4) Administer or perform hot or cold hydrotherapy, electromagnetic energy, and
28
therapeutic exercise for the purpose of providing basic therapeutic care services, except that if a
29
referral to another licensed provider is appropriate for ongoing rehabilitation or habilitation
30
services, the
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
shall make the referral;
31
(5) Provide health education and health counseling; and
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(6) Perform naturopathic musculoskeletal mobilization.
33
(b) If a
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
is engaged in the private practice of
34
naturopathy in the state, the
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
shall display the license

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obtained pursuant to this section conspicuously in each office where the
doctor of naturopathy

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naturopathic doctor
is engaged in practice.
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5-36.1-4. Penalty for misrepresentation.
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No person who is not licensed as a
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
may use the
5
title of “
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
” or hold themselves out as a
doctor of
6
naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be
7
punished by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars
8
($500), nor more than one year imprisonment, or by both the fine and imprisonment.
9

5-36.1-5. Prohibited acts.
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A person licensed under this chapter shall not perform any of the following acts:
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(1) Prescribe, dispense, or administer any legend medications or substances controlled
12
pursuant to the federal Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. § 812, and chapter 28 of title 21;
13
(2) Use, for therapeutic purposes, any device regulated by the United States Food and Drug
14
Administration (FDA) that has not been approved by the FDA;
15
(3) Perform surgical procedures;
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(4) Practice, or claim to practice, as a medical doctor or physician, a doctor of osteopathic
17
medicine, a primary-care doctor, a primary-care practitioner, a primary-care provider, a primary-
18
care naturopath, a dentist, a podiatrist, an optometrist, a psychologist, an advanced practice
19
registered nurse, a physician assistant, a chiropractor, a physical therapist, an acupuncturist, or any
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other healthcare professional unless licensed under this title;
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(5) Use general regional or spinal anesthetics or procedural sedation;
22
(6) Administer ionizing radioactive substances for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes;
23
(7) Perform chiropractic adjustments or manipulations that include high-velocity thrusts at
24
or beyond the end range of normal joint motion unless the licensee is also a licensed chiropractor;
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(8) Perform acupuncture unless the licensee is also a licensed acupuncturist;
26
(9) Advise patients regarding prescription drugs beyond possible dietary supplement/herb
27
— prescription drug interactions
, drug-induced nutrient depletions and safe ways to discontinue
28
medications in collaboration with their prescribing physician
;
29
(10) Practice naturopathy in this state without a valid license issued in accordance with this
30
chapter; or
31
(11) Use, in connection with the person’s name, any letters, words, or insignia indicating
32
or implying that the person is a
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
unless the person is
33
licensed in accordance with this chapter. A person licensed under this chapter may use the
34
designation
“DN” for doctor of naturopathy

"ND" for naturopathic doctor
.

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5-36.1-6. Exemptions.
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Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any of the following:
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(1) The practice of a profession by a person who is licensed, certified, or registered under
4
other laws of this state and is performing services within the authorized scope of practice of that
5
profession.
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(2) The practice of naturopathy by a student enrolled in approved naturopathic training.
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The performance of services shall be pursuant to a course of instruction and under the supervision
8
of an instructor, who shall be a
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
licensed in accordance
9
with this chapter.
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(3) The use or administration of over-the-counter medicines or other nonprescription
11
agents.
12

5-36.1-7. Reporting contagious and infectious diseases.
13

Doctors of naturopathy

Naturopathic doctors
are subject to the provisions of the law
14
relating to contagious and infectious diseases.
15

5-36.1-8. Board of licensure — Creation.
16
Within the division of professional regulation established in the department of health
17
pursuant to chapter 26 of this title there shall be created a board of licensure for
doctor of
18
naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
.
19

5-36.1-9. Board of licensure.
20
(a) The director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, shall appoint
21
a board consisting of five (5) persons, all residents of the state, to constitute a board of licensure
22
for naturopathy with the duties, powers, and authority as stated in this chapter, and that board shall
23
be composed of the following:
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(1) Two (2) members who shall be licensed physicians under chapter 37 of this title who
25
have been actively engaged in the practice of medicine;
26
(2) One member who is a representative of the general public not employed in any health-
27
related field; and
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(3) Two (2) members who shall be
doctors of naturopathy

naturopathic doctors
meeting
29
the qualifications for licensure under this chapter.
30
(b) Members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years each. No member shall be
31
appointed to more than two (2) consecutive terms. Upon expiration of the term of office, a member
32
shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified.
33
(c) In their initial appointment, the director shall designate the members of the board of
34
licensure as follows: three (3) members to serve for terms of three (3) years; and two (2) members

LC004408 - Page 4 of 10
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to serve for a term of two (2) years.
2
(d) The director of the department of health may remove any member of the board for
3
cause.
4
(e) Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of any term in the same manner as
5
the original appointment.
6

5-36.1-10. Board of licensure — Powers and duties.
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(a) The board shall administer and coordinate the provisions of this chapter; evaluate the
8
qualifications of applicants; supervise any examination of applicants deemed necessary;
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recommend to the director the commencement of disciplinary hearings in accordance with chapter
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35 of title 42 and the provisions of this chapter; and investigate persons engaging in practices that
11
violate the provisions of this chapter. The board shall investigate all persons and agencies engaging
12
in practices that violate the provisions in this chapter.
13
(b) The board shall conduct hearings of a nondisciplinary nature and shall keep the records
14
and minutes that are necessary to an orderly dispatch of business.
15
(c) The board, with the approval of the director of the department of health, shall adopt
16
rules and regulations necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter and may amend
17
or repeal them.
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(d) Regular meetings of the board shall be held at any time and places that the board
19
prescribes and special meetings shall be held upon the call of the chairperson; provided, that at least
20
one regular meeting is held each year.
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(e) The conferral or enumeration of specific powers in this chapter shall not be construed
22
as a limitation of the general powers conferred by this section.
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(f) The board shall recommend to the director for registration those persons meeting the
24
criteria stated by this chapter.
25
(g) The board shall recommend to the director the revocation or suspension of the
26
registration of any
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
who does not conform to the
27
requirements of this chapter or regulations adopted under this chapter.
28
(h) The board shall approve programs for continuing naturopathic education.
29

5-36.1-11. Board of licensure — Organization and meetings — Compensation of
30
members.
31
The board shall elect its own chairperson annually and shall meet at the call of the
32
administrator, the chairperson, or upon the request of two (2) or more members of the board. A
33
majority of seats filled shall constitute a quorum, one of whom must be a
doctor of naturopathy

34
naturopathic doctor
. The board shall approve programs for continuing naturopathic education.

LC004408 - Page 5 of 10
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Board members shall serve without compensation.
2

5-36.1-12. Qualifications for licensure.
3
To be eligible for licensure as a
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
, an applicant
4
shall satisfy all the following:
5
(1) Have been granted a degree of
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
from an
6
approved naturopathy college;
7
(2) Be physically and mentally fit to practice naturopathy with or without reasonable
8
accommodation;
9
(3) Pass an examination approved by the board;
10

(4) Have in place a written collaboration and consultation agreement with a physician
11
licensed under chapter 37 of this title. The collaboration and consultation agreement shall include
12
the following:
13

(i) The name and license number of the physician with whom the applicant has a
14
collaboration and consultation agreement;
15

(ii) A statement that the applicant will refer patients to and consult with physicians and
16
other licensed healthcare providers; and
17

(iii) A statement that the applicant will require patients to sign a consent form that states
18
that the applicant’s practice of naturopathy is limited to the scope of practice identified in § 5-36.1-
19
3.
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(4) Agree to refer patients and consult with other licensed healthcare providers, when
21
medically indicated; and
22

(5) Applicants agree to have patients sign a consent form that states the applicant’s practice
23
of naturopathy is limited to the scope of practice identified in § 5-36.1-3.
24

5-36.1-14. Biennial license renewal — Continuing education.
25
(a) The license to practice naturopathy shall be renewed every two (2) years by filing a
26
renewal application on a form provided by the director. The application shall be accompanied by
27
the required fee and evidence of compliance with subsection (b).
28
(b) As a condition of renewal, a
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
shall complete
29
a program of continuing education, approved by the director, during the preceding two (2) years.
30
The director shall not require more than thirty (30) hours of continuing education biennially.
31

5-36.1-15. Unprofessional conduct.
32
The following conduct, and conduct set forth by the department of health, by a person
33
licensed under this chapter or an applicant for licensure constitutes unprofessional conduct:
34
(1) Failing to use a complete or accurate title in professional activity;

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(2) Failure to conform to the provisions of the collaboration and consultation agreement;
2
(3) Acts of gross misconduct in the practice of their profession or gross or repeated
3
malpractice or the failure to practice naturopathy with the level of care, skill, and treatment that is
4
recognized by a reasonably prudent similar
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
as being
5
acceptable under similar conditions and circumstances;
6
(4) Harassing, intimidating, or abusing a patient;
7
(5) Agreeing with any other person or organization, or subscribing to any code of ethics or
8
organizational bylaws, when the intent or primary effect of that agreement, code, or bylaw is to
9
restrict or limit the flow of information concerning alleged or suspected unprofessional conduct to
10
the board;
11
(6) Abandonment of a patient;
12
(7) Gross overcharging for professional services on repeated occasions, including filing of
13
false statements for collection of fees for which services were not rendered;
14
(8) Sexual harassment of a patient;
15
(9) Engaging in an inappropriate sexual act with a patient;
16
(10) Willful misrepresentation in treatments;
17
(11) Practicing naturopathy in an area or areas of specialty in which the licensee is not
18
trained to practice.
19

5-36.1-16. Refusal or revocation of a license — Process.
20
(a) The division of professional regulation of the department of health may, after notice
21
and hearing, in its discretion, refuse to grant the license provided for in this chapter to any
doctor
22
of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
who has violated any of the laws of the state affecting the ability
23
of any
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
to practice naturopathy, or who had been guilty
24
of unprofessional conduct or conduct of a character likely to deceive or defraud the public, and
25
may, after notice and hearing, revoke or suspend any license issued or granted by it for like causes
26
or for any fraud or deception committed in obtaining the license.
27
(b) The division of professional regulation of the department of health may refuse to accept
28
the return of a license tendered by the subject of a disciplinary investigation and may notify relevant
29
state, federal, and local agencies and appropriate bodies in other states of the status of any pending
30
or completed disciplinary case against the licensee, provided that notice against the licensee has
31
been served or disciplinary action against that person has been taken.
32
(c) The division of professional regulation of the department of health shall serve a copy
33
of its decision or ruling upon any person whose certificate has been revoked or refused.
34
(d) The burden of proof in a disciplinary action shall be on the state to show by a

LC004408 - Page 7 of 10
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preponderance of the evidence that the person has engaged in unprofessional conduct.
2

5-36.1-17. Complaints.
3
(a) Any person may report to the division of professional regulation in writing any
4
information the person has reason to believe indicates that a
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic
5
doctor
is, or may be, medically or legally incompetent; engaged in the unauthorized practice of
6
naturopathy; guilty of unprofessional conduct; or mentally or physically unable to engage safely in
7
the practice of naturopathy.
8
(b) Upon receiving a credible complaint or report concerning a licensee, or on its own
9
motion, the division of professional regulation may investigate any evidence that appears to show
10
a licensee may be medically incompetent; guilty of unprofessional conduct; or mentally or
11
physically unable to engage safely in the practice of naturopathy.
12
(c) Within ten (10) days of receipt thereof, the division of professional regulation shall
13
acknowledge receipt of all reports required by this section and any complaint against a licensee.
14
Within ten (10) days thereafter, the division shall inform any person or entity whose report has
15
resulted in action by the division of the final disposition of the matter.
16
(d) Any person aggrieved by the decision or ruling of the department of health, or of the
17
division of professional regulation, in regard to any of the provisions of this chapter, may appeal to
18
the superior court in the manner provided for in chapter 35 of title 42.
19

5-36.1-18. Informed consent and disclosure.
20
Prior to initiating treatment by a
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
each patient
21
must read and sign a disclosure statement containing the following information:
22
(1) Rhode Island does not recognize
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
as primary-
23
care providers and a
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
is not responsible for the overall
24
medical care of any patient.
25
(2) Naturopathic care is intended only as an adjunct to, and not a substitute for, medical
26
care from a physician, physician assistant (PA), or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), and
27
doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor
shall coordinate patient care with physicians and other
28
healthcare providers.
29
(3) Patients are urged to have a primary-care provider and to have all specialty care
30
provided by a properly credentialed physician specialist.
31
(4)
Doctors of naturopathy

Naturopathic doctors
are not licensed to prescribe drugs or to
32
advise patients regarding prescription drugs beyond
possible drug-induced nutrient deficiencies,

33
possible dietary supplement/herb — prescription drug interactions
, and safe ways to discontinue
34
medications
. All questions regarding prescription medications should be directed to the prescriber

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or to the patient’s primary-care provider or licensed registered pharmacist.
2
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- LICENSE OF NATUROPATHY ACT
OF 2017
***
1
This act would change the naming of doctor of naturopathy to naturopathic doctor within
2
this chapter.
3
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004408
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