Practicing or Advertising Without a License
Students in training for a professional degree (e.g., ND, MSA, MSAOM, MACP, RD, etc.) may not advertise or practice under their degree designations until they have completed their program and passed all appropriate licensing exams.
Examples of prohibited activities prior to licensure include but are not limited to:
- oral advice
- written articles
- web postings
- blogs
- social media postings
Students should identify themselves by indicating the year in which they intend to graduate from a program. For example, using the term, “Naturopathic Medicine Class of 2016” is acceptable. Use of terms such as “doctor” and “physician” is governed by state professional licensure laws, such as those for Washington state and California regarding the practice of naturopathic medicine.
Students matriculated in a Bastyr University clinical program are prohibited from practicing on anyone without being supervised by approved and appropriately licensed practitioners overseeing University-approved activities. Examples include but are not limited to:
- practicing acupuncture or osseous manipulation
- prescribing or recommending herbs, drugs, diets or nutritional supplements
- counseling
- recommending treatments for a disease or medical condition
Students found engaging in such activities will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University.
Students should avoid offering any kind of medical or professional advice in person, in writing or on-line. Such advice would likely be seen as practicing without a license and put the student personally at risk for a negligence or malpractice claim.
Medical advice would include offering information concerning diet, lifestyle, herbs, supplements or therapies for a specific disease or medical condition. General information regarding health and wellness is acceptable. For example the statement, "A good diet promotes good health and prevents the onset of disease" would not be considered medical advice for a specific disease or medical condition.