WSR 25-09-068
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(Board of Naturopathy)
[Filed April 15, 2025, 2:11 p.m., effective September 1, 2025]
Effective Date of Rule: September 1, 2025.
Purpose: Naturopathic licensure requirements for licensure and jurisprudence examinations. The board of naturopathy (board) has adopted amendments to WAC 246-836-020 Requirements for licensure, and 246-836-040 Jurisprudence examinations, to clarify, update, and simplify rules to align with RCW
18.130.077.
The adopted amendments remove the jurisprudence [examination] as a requirement for initial licensure for naturopathic physicians and instead make it a requirement for completion within the first full continuing education cycle after initial licensure. The board also updated the passing score of the jurisprudence examination from 75 to 100 percent.
To account for changes to the credentialing system, the board is delaying the effective date to September 1, 2025.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-836-020 and 246-836-040.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-02-094 on December 30, 2024.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: There was one editing change made. The board voted to change "naturopath" to "naturopathic physician" in WAC 246-836-040.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Rachel Phipps, P.O. Box, 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 564-233-1277, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email naturopathy@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: February 7, 2025.
Krystal Richardson, ND, Chair
Board of Naturopathy
RDS-5929.4
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 15-10-028, filed 4/27/15, effective 5/28/15)
WAC 246-836-020Requirements for licensure.
Individuals seeking a license to practice as a naturopathic physician ((must))shall provide the following:
(1) A completed application, with all required fees;
(2) Official transcripts sent directly from a college of naturopathic medicine approved by the board, demonstrating that the applicant has graduated as a naturopathic physician;
(3) Verification of successful passage of the national examination approved by the board under WAC 246-836-030 sent directly from the examination entity;
(4) ((Successful passage of the jurisprudence examination provided by the board;
(5))) A federal background check application, if required, including fingerprint cards and fee per RCW
18.130.064 (2)(b); and
(((6)))(5) Any other documentation, materials, or information as determined by the board or its designee.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 15-10-028, filed 4/27/15, effective 5/28/15)
WAC 246-836-040Jurisprudence examinations.
(1) ((Individuals taking the jurisprudence examination provided by the board must pay the appropriate fee when submitting it for scoring.
(2) The minimum passing score for the jurisprudence examination is seventy-five.
(3) Individuals who fail the jurisprudence examination may retake the examination provided they submit an additional fee.
(4) An individual's jurisprudence examination score is released only to the individual unless a written request is submitted that authorizes release to a specific third party.))A licensed naturopathic physician shall take and pass the board approved jurisprudence examination within the first full continuing education reporting period after initial licensure.
(2) The jurisprudence exam will be available as a category 3 continuing education credit as outlined in WAC 246-836-080.
(3) The passing score for the jurisprudence examination is 100 percent.