Comments about ‘Alternative medicine may get boost from Senate bill’

One qualification of the current Utah Naturopathic Physician practice act is the application of the "license by endorsement" section of the DOPL Act, that says the applicant must already have a license that required the same sort of qualifications Utah would have otherwise required. (see Section 58-1-302)

The new bill essentially serves to say that these qualifications are satisfied when so declared by a "credentialing association designated by division [DOPL] rule made in collaboration with the [State Naturopathic Physicians] board"

This change seems to make possible a loop-hole in the "License by Endorsement" criteria when it comes to it's application to the license of Naturopaths.

Even if applicants still have to take the licensing exam, and meet education requirements, it remains that this act seems to kind-of skirt the "License by Endorsement" criteria that apply to other licensed occupations.

The current license requirements appear rigorous, which is very necessary in this discipline in order to exclude those who seek DOPL license and credential merely as a platform for sales of often questionable products.

I think the law is fine the way it is, and does not unfairly exclude or burden qualified Naturopathic Physicians in the application process.