College for Natural Medicine

Alternative medicine is rapidly becoming more popular in America as more people are taking their health into their own hands. Many natural treatments are safe and effective at treating a variety of common conditions such as arthritis, skin problems, digestive disorders and even cancer. Naturopathic doctors and herbalists work with their patients to treat the cause of the disease, rather than trying to cover up the symptoms. Natural doctors help patients make lifestyle changes, and address many ailments with nutrition and herbs.

Requirements

• People who wish to attend a college of natural medicine are required to at least have a high school diploma. Some of the better-known schools also require that a student first have a two-year or four-year degree from another school before attending. Entrance exams and internships are also required at some schools.

Accreditation

• There are various forms of accreditation, some more highly respected than others. For instance, schools such as the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine are accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education. The licensing requirements are more stringent, but the end result is a highly trained professional natural doctor. The Council of Naturopathic Medical Education requires that a school include knowledge and coursework similar to what is found in mainstream medicine. For instance, students are required to go through extensive chemistry, anatomy and physiology courses which include dissection. Some schools are also accredited by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. Many colleges of natural medicine choose to also become accredited with the Association of Drugless Practitioners because the curriculum is based mainly on natural medicine.

Tuition

• Prices to go to a colleges of natural medicine vary greatly. The cost all depends on the type of school and the school's accreditation. The cost of tuition also depends on the program. For instance, a standard nutritional consultant program ranges from $600 to $2,500 on average. The cost of a four-year degree in Natural Medicine can be anywhere from $4,000 to $30,000 per year. Financial aid, scholarships and payment plans are available at some schools.

Programs

• Naturopathy is the most involved program at a college of natural medicine. People who study Naturopathy are seeking to become doctors and help heal patients by giving the body the tools to heal itself. Naturopathic studies are very in-depth and well-rounded. Naturopathic doctors also study homeopathy, herbs and other forms of natural medicine. However, people who attend natural medicine colleges can also opt to just focus on a particular area of study such as nutrition or herbs.

  Homeopathy involves the use of combining strong homeopathic medicines in very dilute amounts to heal a person.

  Herbal medicine is the use of home-grown herbs and herbal formulas to address certain medical conditions.

  Nutritional consultants learn the basics of nutrition and how to use nutrition to help the body heal. Vitamins and supplements are studied in depth so that they can be used in a clinical setting.

How to Find the Right College of Natural Medicine for You

• There are many colleges of natural medicine in America. Schools with higher accreditation tend to be more expensive, while some of the online schools offer affordable programs. If you plan on opening up your own practice as a naturopathic doctor, you should choose a fully accredited school because your degree will be more respected. However, if you have a limited budget you can opt for an online or less expensive school. Some of the smaller online schools offer herbalist and nutritional consultant certificates, which would allow you to work out of your home.