Homeopaths

Certification or Licensing

Certification indicates that a homeopath has met the standards of education and knowledge set by a particular professional association. The Council for Homeopathic Certification offers the certified classical homeopath credential to those who pass an examination and meet educational and clinical experience requirements.

The American Board of Homeopathic Medicine offers certification to applicants who are currently licensed medical or osteopathic physicians, have a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy, practiced homeopathy for at least two years, accumulated a minimum of 350 hours of approved homeopathic education credits, and met other requirements.

The Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians (HANP) grants certification in classical homeopathy as a diplomate of the HANP to naturopathic physicians who have graduated from an accredited naturopathic school. Contact these organizations for more information.

An individual can be a certified homeopath but still not be licensed to practice medicine. Licensing is a requirement established by the government. Homeopaths who are licensed health care practitioners in other fields, such as chiropractors, physicians, naturopathic physicians, nurses, and nurse practitioners, must maintain the appropriate licenses for their specific fields.

Both certification and licensing requirements for homeopaths vary according to state. Some states do not consider homeopathy to be the practice of medicine, so they do not regulate it. Other states require homeopaths to be licensed in some other form of health care. Only Arizona, Connecticut, and Nevada offer homeopathic medical licenses. Check with the office of the attorney general in your state to be sure you know its certification and licensing requirements. Although some homeopaths currently practice without a medical license, professionals in the field agree that the trend is toward certification and licensing. If you are interested in a career in homeopathy, it is recommended that you acquire a license in some related field of medicine.