Entry Level Qualification 

12

Career Fields 

Medical Services

For Specially Abled 

Career Entrance Exam 

NEET UG

About Career 

As a Naturopathic Doctor (ND), you will practice Naturopathic medicine as a form of primary health care that emphasizes prevention and the self-healing process through the use of healthy living and natural therapies.

Brief Intro

Naturopathy is a preventive type of treatment rather than the traditional system of allopathy which is corrective, curative, and palliative (pain-eliminating). Naturopathy helps to keep diseases at bay and prevent it from accumulating inside our body whereas, the traditional system of prescription drugs can only act once the body is already diseased and is in pain & trauma.

Naturopathic Doctors believe that

1. All diseases, their causes, and treatment are one. The cause of all diseases is one i.e. accumulation of morbid matter in the body.

2. Bacteria and viruses enter & survive in the body only after the accumulation of morbid matter.

3. Acute diseases are self-healing efforts of the body. Hence, they are our friends, not the enemy.

4. Chronic diseases are the outcomes of wrong treatment and suppression of acute diseases.

5. The human body itself has the healing power to prevent itself from disease

6. Through Naturopathic treatment, the entire body of the patient is renewed.

7. Chronic ailments are also treated successfully in comparatively less time through Nature Cure.

8. Suppressed diseases are brought to the surface and are removed permanently through Nature Cure.

9. All the aspects physical, mental, social, and spiritual should be treated at the same time.

10. “Food is only the Medicine”, no external medications to be used.

Functional Fields of Work

1. Clinical / Diagnostic Care

Your work will involve diagnosing health conditions, based on patients' symptoms & health histories. You will be prescribing natural medicines, such as food or botanical extracts, herbs, dietary supplements, vitamins, nutraceuticals, and amino acids.

You will be administering treatments or therapies, such as hydrotherapy, oriental or ayurvedic medicine, electrotherapy, diathermy, etc.

You shall be using physical agents including air, heat, cold, water, sound, or ultraviolet light to catalyze the body to heal itself. Minor surgical services may include natal care, natural childbirth, and midwifery.

2. Medical / Clinical Research

You can pursue a career as a physician research scientist in the fields of Naturopathy, Yogic Sciences, Alternative Medicine, and nutraceuticals. Work will be completely laboratory-based sometimes involving field collections of biologic samples (human/animal) and clinical trials involving participating patients or healthy volunteers.

Depending on your interest, you can choose from laboratory science, clinical research, and health services research. Researchers often work at academic medical centers, for the pharmaceutical industry, or with the government.

3. Education and Training

Typically, in medical colleges and universities, all educators are involved in training and educating aspiring doctors. This includes diagnostic techniques & experiences as well as theoretical lectures to develop a deep understanding of clinical and basic sciences surrounding Naturopathy and its various sub-specialties including the principles of using physical agents like air, heat, cold, water, sound, or ultraviolet light, interpretation of diagnostic test results and other employed technologies.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

As a Naturopath, you will be engaged with one or more of the following roles and responsibilities: -

Clinical / Diagnostic Care

1. You will diagnose health conditions, based on patients' symptoms & health histories, and prescribe laboratory and/ or diagnostic radiology test results, or other physiological measurements, such as electrocardiograms, electroencephalographs, etc.

2. You will interview patients to document symptoms and health histories.

3. You will document patients' histories, including identifying data, major complaints, illnesses, previous medical or family histories, or psychosocial characteristics.

4. You will order diagnostic imaging procedures such as radiographs (x-rays), ultrasounds, mammograms, and bone densitometry tests.

5. You will perform venipuncture or skin pricking to collect blood samples.

6. You will obtain medical records from previous physicians or other healthcare providers for patient evaluation.

7. You will administer treatments or therapies, such as hydrotherapy, oriental or ayurvedic medicine, electrotherapy, diathermy, etc. using physical agents including air, heat, cold, water, sound, or ultraviolet light to catalyze the body to heal itself.

8. You will administer, dispense, or prescribe natural medicines, such as food or botanical extracts, herbs, dietary supplements, vitamins, nutraceuticals, and amino acids.

9. You will perform mobilizations and high-velocity adjustments to joints or soft tissues, using principles of massage, stretching, or resistance.

10. You will educate patients about health care management as well as advise patients about therapeutic exercise and nutritional medicine regimens.

11. You will consult with other health professionals to provide optimal patient care, and refer patients to traditional health care professionals as necessary.

Medical Research

1. You will plan, organize, coordinate & participate in scientific research projects, collaborative work on study/experiment design, data analysis, & manuscript preparation for various scientific projects.

2. You will be engaged in the testing of laboratory products on human patients diagnosed with chronic/ acute conditions or diseases as well as healthy volunteers.

3. You will recruit such healthy & affected participants for a period of close monitoring of their clinical response to disease stimulants or to obtain biological samples from these participants for extensive analysis.

4. You will determine specific goals or objectives to be obtained; evaluate research data and develop & revise techniques or approaches to work problems.

5. You will function in a separate & independent manner in the design and initiation of research experiments.

6. You will design, develop, or adapt equipment used in experiments or research to obtain desired results. You will be responsible for laboratory equipment and implementing safety procedures.

7. You will independently compose abstracts, technical reports, slide presentations, posters, spreadsheets, and manuscripts for submission to corporate and federal sponsors, conferences, and scientific journals.

8. You will produce medical illustrations, scientific posters, publication graphics, and slide presentations for national & international meetings.

Education and Training

1. You will be involved in instructing/teaching a class of students pursuing graduate, postgraduate, or higher levels or study in the fields of Naturopathy, Yogic Sciences, Alternative Medicine, or related disciplines.

2. You will demonstrate techniques or handling of instruments/tools to your students and counsel / guide them to diagnose and treat various ailments.

3. You will participate in seminars, medical congresses, and conferences across the world.

Career Entry Pathway 

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS) – Class “A” registration - MD in Naturopathy (optional) – PhD (optional).

After completing Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per the scheme of studies, you can go for a 5.5-year Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS) Then you are eligible for a Class “A” registration as a Naturopath. You may as well opt for an MD in Naturopathy followed by a PhD.

After completing Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per the scheme of studies, you can go for a 4/4.5 years Diploma in Naturopathy (ND) from Osmania University or Govt of Andhra Pradesh only. Only programs from these institutes are considered for the grant of a Class “A” registration by the Government of India. A diploma from any other institute is eligible for Class “B” registration only. Thereafter, you may also go for M Phil and PhD in Naturopathy.

After completing Class 11-12 with any subject as per the scheme of studies as well as a Bachelor’s & Master’s degree in any discipline, you can self-educate yourself in Naturopathy or related disciplines, pursue clinical practice for at least 25 years in reputed established Naturopathic colleges or hospitals. Then you will be eligible for a Class “A” registration as a Naturopath if you can get an Experience Certificate from the Chief Medical Officer (or equivalent authority) of the district in which you have practiced. You will have to clear written as well as oral examinations to be registered.

After completing Class 11-12 with any subject as per the scheme of studies from the State board/ ICSE/ CBSE, you can self-educate yourself in Naturopathy or related disciplines, and pursue clinical practice for at least 15 years. Then you will be eligible for a Class “B” registration as a Naturopath if you can get an Experience Certificate from the Chief Medical Officer (or equivalent authority) of the district in which you have practiced. You will have to clear written as well as oral examinations to be registered.

Required Qualification & Competencies 

To gain entry into this field, you will have to complete at least Class 11-12, after which you may choose to be a self-educated practitioner (eligible for either Class A or B registration certificate) or an institutionally qualified practitioner (eligible for Class A registration certificate) in the following ways.

1. After Class 11-12 with Physics, Chemistry, and biology, you can complete a BNYS (Bachelor of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences) degree or ND (Diploma in Naturopathy) to get a “Class A” registration as a Naturopath.

2. You can complete graduation & post-graduation in any discipline, self-educate yourself in Naturopathy or related disciplines, and pursue clinical practice for at least 25 years to get a “Class A” registration as a Naturopath.

3. You can complete Class 11-12, self-educate yourself in Naturopathy or related disciplines, and pursue clinical practice for 15 years to get a “Class B” registration as a Naturopath.

If you want to go for a BNYS degree or ND, then the following information will be useful for you.

1. The NEET exam is not mandatory for admission to BNYS degree courses. Some BNYS degree granting institutes may have their entrance legalities including examinations & interviews. NEET exam is only applicable for MBBS, BDS, BHMS, BUMS, BAMS, and BSMS degrees.

2. After graduation with a BNYS degree, you will have to complete a 1-year compulsory rotating internship in a teaching institution or other institutions and obtain permanent registration from your College of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences under any recognized university.

3. After graduation of 5.5 years including the above-rotating internship, or a 4.5 years Diploma from designated institutes as described in entry pathways, your registration & accreditation as a Naturopathic Practitioner will be facilitated by the authority in the respective State or Union Territory. Your registration will be valid throughout the country.

4. This accreditation will be for a fixed period of 5 years and will have to be renewed after the expiry of 5 years. The national authority responsible for all registration-related activities is the Central Council for Research in Naturopathy & Yoga.

Competencies Required

Interests

1. You should have an interest in Investigative Occupations. Investigative occupations involve working with ideas and quite a lot of thinking, often abstract or conceptual thinking. These involve learning about facts and figures; involve the use of data analysis, assessment of situations, decision-making, and problem-solving.

2. You should have an interest in Realistic Occupations. Realistic occupations involve more practical and hands-on activities than paperwork or office work. Realistic occupations often involve physical activities for getting things done using various tools and equipment. 

3. You should have an interest in Social Occupations. Social occupations involve helping or assisting others; these involve working with and communicating with people to provide various services; these may involve educating and advising others.

Knowledge

1. You should know about Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions or disorders in humans.

2. You should know about Psychology - Knowledge of why and how humans behave the ways they behave. This includes an understanding of mental processes and Knowledge of perception, beliefs, motives, attitudes, personality, values, interests, learning styles, and abilities as well as methods to do research and understand the causes of behavioral disorders and treating them.

Skills

1. You should have Active Listening Skills - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, understanding the points being made by others, asking questions, etc.

2. You should have Critical Thinking skills- Skills in the analysis of complex situations, using logic and reasoning to understand the situations and take appropriate actions or make interpretations and inferences.

3. You should have Reading Comprehension Skills - Skills in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

4. You should have Instruction Skills - training others how to do something.

5. You should have Judgment and Decision-Making Skills - considering the pros and cons of various decision alternatives; considering costs and benefits; and making appropriate and suitable decisions.

6. You should have Problem Solving Skills - Skills in analysis and understanding of problems, evaluating various options to solve the problems, and using the best option to solve the problems.

7. You should have Persuasion Skills- persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Ability

1. You should have Oral Comprehension Ability - listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

2. You should have Oral Expression Ability - communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

3. You should have Deductive Reasoning Ability - apply general rules and common logic to specific problems to produce answers that are logical and make sense. For example, understanding the reasons behind an event or a situation using general rules and common logic.

4. You should have Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

5. You should have Inductive Reasoning Ability - The ability to combine pieces of information from various sources, concepts, and theories to form general rules or conclusions. For example, analyzing various events or situations to come out with a set of rules or conclusions.

Personality Traits

1. You are always or mostly careful about your actions and behavior.

2. You are always or mostly disciplined in your actions and behavior.

3. You are always or mostly a soft-hearted person.

4. You are always or mostly helpful to others.

5. You are always calm or generally remain calm in most situations.

6. You can always act independently or can do so in most situations.

Career - Job Opportunities & Profiles 

1. With a Degree/ institutional Diploma in Naturopathic practice, you will be a registered primary care physician (Naturopathic Doctor or Naturopathic Physician) and be engaged in education, research, or clinical services.

2. A primary care physician is the first doctor a patient sees for general health care, for advice on keeping healthy, and for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of acute & chronic conditions.

3. You can join a public/private healthcare and/ or research organization as well as practice independently. You can work with integrative clinics, drug treatment facilities, or veterans’ & correctional facilities. You can also work as a Consultant in schools.

You can be:

1. A Naturopathic doctor working in private practice or at a clinic/hospital / private wellness group / urgent care center/life style center etc. dedicated to integrative medicine.

2. A Research scientist studying natural medicine.

3. A Naturopathic consultant/advocate in industry, insurance, or the political arena.

4. Appointed to officer-level posts in Governments or private sector universities, army/navy/air force, hotels, and hospitals.

5. A Natural medicine spokesperson/advisor.

6. A Rural community doctor delivering needed services in remote communities (e.g., delivering babies, caring for the elderly, providing minor surgery).

7. A natural products specialist.

8. An owner of an NGO or join a govt/private NGO.

9. A Public health administrator/ a Public Health professional.

10. A Natural medicine author.

11. A Specialist working with big Life Sciences/ Pharmaceutical companies/drug manufacturers such as Strand Life Science or Novartis.

12. A Faculty member in naturopathic or conventional medical institution/ teaching hospitals.

Specialisation Tracks In This Career

1. Naturopath (Magnetotherapy &Chromopathy)

Magnetotherapy and chromopathy specialists are experts in the alternate therapeutic system of ‘Color Therapy’ and the therapeutic application of magnets to the body of a patient. It is a centuries-old concept that is based on the fact that the seven colors of sun rays have different therapeutic effects as magnets. Water & oil exposed to the sun for specified hours in colored bottles and colored glasses are used as devices of Chromo Therapy for treating different disorders. Alternatively, magnetic necklaces, glasses, and bracelets are also used for treatment. Therapeutic magnets are available in different powers and magnetic belts are available for different parts e.g. Abdomen, knee, wrist, etc.

2. Naturopath (Nutrition, Dietetics & Herbology)

Naturopaths may specialize in providing primary health care through kitchen spices and local herbs as well as through methods of cooking various recipes. They study dietary guidelines, diet, its nutritive value, and its effects on the body. They are expert nutrition professionals with knowledge of the role of both foods & herbs in promoting human health. They believe that the “kitchen is the first pharmacy”. They advise patients to use the many medicinal plants that are available in our surroundings and can be used for managing common health problems. They have profound knowledge of the comprehensive study of herbal pharmacology, herbal preparation, and principles of herbal therapeutics.

3. Naturopath (Exercise Sciences)

Naturopaths may specialize in the study of the bodily movements contributing to human fitness, holistic wellness, and longevity. This is Exercise Science. They have an improved physiological understanding of how the human body responds to exercise and can identify behaviors, choices, & environments that impact our health on the whole. There are several significant adjustments required by our body to properly respond to the physical stress of exercise, including changes in carbohydrate, fat & protein metabolism, nutritional considerations, and causes of muscle soreness & fatigue. These are well-assessed and evaluated by Exercise Scientists.

4. Naturopath (Public & Community Health)

Naturopaths may be dedicated to wellness & health protection in communities to prevent epidemics, prevent the spread of diseases, protect against environmental hazards, prevent injuries, respond to disasters, and assist communities in recovery. They are engaged in analyzing the health of a population and the threats it faces. The most important challenge facing all Public Health professionals today is that of changing how health care is delivered to those who have less access to it.

5. Naturopath (Chiropractics)

Naturopaths use methods of therapeutic manipulation of soft tissue, muscles, bones, and spine. This can be achieved through the principles of chiropractics. Chiropractors perform manual adjustments (manipulations) with their bare hands to the spine or other parts of the body to correct alignment problems as well as ease pain. This is all done to support the body's natural ability to heal itself so every cell is filled to summon its healing power and participate in the healing process.

Career Growth

There are various institutes or educational units that conduct research as well as clinical trials in this field including clinical research in the uses of yogic interventions or reflexology therapy, effects of meditation, other naturopathic measures by studying & evaluating the genetic correlations, cognitive functions, EEGs, serum chemical levels, endocrine functions, glucose tolerance, lipid profiles, etc.

Salary Offered  

As per the Government prescribed salary scales at colleges and universities:

1. Assistant Professor Grade II: Rs 57,700 to Rs 1,17,200 per month.

2. Assistant Professor Grade I: Rs 1,01,500 to Rs 2,04,700 per month.

3. Associate Professor: Rs 1,39,600 to Rs 2,11,300 per month.

4. Professor: Rs 1,44,200 to Rs 2,24,100 per month.

Professionals on the faculty of private establishments have varied ranges too:-

1. Qualified BNYS/ ND: Rs. 20,000 – 35,000 per month.

2. Qualified MD/PhD: Rs. 45,000 – 60,000 per month.

Monthly Earnings In Indian Rupee

1. Entry level: 0 - 2 years of work experience

2. Junior Level: From 1 to 12 years of work experience

3. Mid Level: From 5 to 20+ years of work experience

4. Senior Level: From 10 to 25+ years of work experience (there could be exceptions in some high-end technical, financial, engineering, creative, management, sports, and other careers; also shortly, people will reach these levels much faster in many careers and some careers, these levels will have no meaning as those careers will be completely tech skill driven such as even now, there is almost no level in a Cyber Security Expert’s job)

Famous Personalities 

Not Available

Work Activities 

1. Analysing and interpreting data and information - Analysis of data and information to find facts, trends, reasons behind situations, etc.; interpretation of data to aid in decision-making.

2. Assisting and caring for people - Assisting people in availing of services; taking care of people in different situations; offering help and services to others.

3. Communicating with co-workers and others - Communicating with people in writing, verbally or otherwise inside your workplace and various other people who have professional relationships with your place of work including vendors, government officials, etc., or with people at large.

4. Developing and maintaining interpersonal relationships - Developing professional relationships with co-workers and others outside organizations and maintaining good relationships.

5. Getting Information and learning - Observing, hearing, reading, using computers, or otherwise obtaining information and learning from it.

6. Inspecting situations, events, and people - Inspecting situations, events, and people to understand the reasons and causes for the situation or events to happen; inspecting people to understand reasons behind their behavior and actions

7. Making decisions and solving problems - Analysis of data and information; evaluation of alternative decisions and results of decisions; taking the right decisions and solving problems.

8. Processing information - Compiling, tabulating, calculating, auditing, verifying, or otherwise dealing with information processing including data entry, transcription, recording, storing, and maintaining databases

9. Providing advice and consultation to others - Giving advice or consultation to others about various issues, conceptual matters, know-how, scientific matters, products, or services

10. Strategic planning - Developing visions and goals, developing strategies and action plans for achieving visions and goals.

11. Updating and using relevant knowledge - Keeping updated with the latest knowledge relevant to your fields of work and using the relevant knowledge in getting things done.

12. Using computers for work - Using computers for day-to-day office work; using computer software for various applications in day-to-day professional work; entering data and processing information; for writing.

13. Working directly with people - Working directly with people to offer them products and services, assisting, etc.