How to Fill Out the Washington DOH Naturopathic Physician License Application + FAQs

The Washington naturopathic physician license application is the form you file with the Washington State Department of Health to get legal permission to practice as a naturopathic doctor in Washington. You file it with the agency’s Board of Naturopathy under the authority of chapter 18.36A RCW, and you cannot see patients, order labs, or sign prescriptions until the license posts to your provider record.

Getting this form right matters because a single missing transcript or a delayed fingerprint result can push your start date back by weeks. Washington licenses roughly 1,400 active naturopathic physicians, and the most common reason an application stalls is not a denial but an incomplete file sitting in review while the Board waits on documents that must come straight from your school or testing body.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

• 📋 Exactly what each part of the application asks and how to answer it in plain language.
• 💵 The current fees, including the new 2025 fee change that removed an old charge.
• 🧾 The documents you must gather before you open the application so nothing stalls.
• 🩺 Three full walk-throughs for a new grad, an out-of-state doctor, and a foreign-trained applicant.
• ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that delay licenses and how to avoid every one of them.

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

The naturopathic physician license application is the official request that asks the Washington Department of Health to grant you the legal right to practice naturopathic medicine. The agency that receives it is the Department of Health, working through its Board of Naturopathy, which reviews each file and approves or denies it. The license is required by RCW 18.36A.040, which makes it unlawful to practice or to call yourself a naturopathic physician without one.

You must file this form if you plan to diagnose, treat, or counsel patients using naturopathic medicine anywhere in Washington. This includes recent graduates of accredited naturopathic medical schools such as Bastyr University, out-of-state naturopathic doctors who are moving to or expanding into Washington, and internationally trained practitioners who meet the Board’s education standards. Students still in school cannot file yet, because the rules under WAC 246-836-020 require proof of graduation first.

The form connects to several moving parts that all must line up. Your school sends transcripts, the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE) sends your NPLEX scores, and the FBI returns your background check. Each piece feeds the same review file, and the Board cannot act until all of them arrive.

A common misconception is that passing the NPLEX board exam by itself lets you practice. It does not. The exam is only one of five things the rule requires, and you remain unlicensed until the full application clears and the credential shows as active on the DOH Provider Credential Search.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Open the application only after you have everything in hand, because the file goes to review the moment you submit, and missing items freeze it in place. Gathering these first turns a multi-week scramble into a single sitting. Below is your pre-filing checklist with the reason each item matters.

• Government-issued photo ID. The Board matches your name and date of birth against this, and a nickname or mismatch triggers a hold.
• Social Security number. Washington uses it for tax and child-support compliance checks, and leaving it blank stops processing.
• Official naturopathic school transcripts. WAC 246-836-020 requires these sent directly from the school, so a copy you mail yourself will be rejected.
• NPLEX score verification. NABNE must send your Part I and Part II results straight to the Board, and self-reported scores do not count.
• Fingerprint cards or appointment. A federal background check under RCW 18.130.064 is required, and prints can take weeks to clear, so start early.
• Complete work and education history. Gaps or unexplained dates draw follow-up questions that slow the review.
• Other-state license numbers. If you hold any health license elsewhere, you must list it so the Board can verify your standing.
• Payment method. You need a card or electronic payment ready for the fees, because an unpaid application is treated as not filed.
• Names of any prior disciplinary or legal matters. Hiding these is far worse than disclosing them and can become its own violation.

If any single item is missing, the Board parks your file and mails a deficiency notice, and the clock does not really start until you cure the gap. Treat this checklist as the true first step of the form, not a side task.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

You access the naturopathic application through the Department of Health’s online system, reached from the naturopath licensing page. Most applicants apply online, and the system walks you through each screen, while certain documents like transcripts and NPLEX scores must still arrive by separate direct delivery. The page also links the paper application packet for those who prefer to mail the form.

To use the online channel, you first create a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account, which is the state’s single sign-on used across many agencies. Once inside, you select the Department of Health’s online licensing service, choose “Apply for a new credential,” and pick Naturopathic Physician from the profession list. The system then opens the application screens tied to your profile.

Always confirm you are on the official DOH or Washington Legislature sites, because look-alike third-party “license help” pages charge extra and do not file anything for you. The Board only accepts applications through its own portal or mailed packet.

A misconception worth clearing up is that the online and paper paths are different applications. They are not. They request the same information under the same rules, and the only real difference is speed, since the online path timestamps your submission and fees right away.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Naturopathic Physician Application Line by Line

This section is the heart of the guide. Work through each part in the order the system presents it, and use the exact field labels shown on screen so your answers match what the Board expects.

Part 1: Personal Information (Legal Name)

This field asks for your full legal name. Enter it exactly as it appears on your Social Security card and your school transcripts, using your first, middle, and last name with no nicknames.

For example, Sarah Anne Mitchell types her name as it reads on her diploma and her SSA card, not as “Sarah Mitchell” or “Sara.” Match every letter.

A common edge case is a recent name change after marriage or divorce. If your transcript reads one name and your ID reads another, attach a copy of the marriage certificate or court order so the Board can connect the two records.

The most common mistake here is using a preferred or shortened name, which creates a mismatch when the Board cross-checks your transcript and NPLEX file. That mismatch puts your application on hold until you submit proof linking the names. The misconception is that the name on your daily mail or email is “close enough.” It is not; the Board needs your legal name on record.

Part 2: Date of Birth and Social Security Number

This field asks for your date of birth and your Social Security number. Enter the date in MM/DD/YYYY format and type the nine-digit SSN with no spaces or guesses.

For example, Sarah Anne Mitchell enters 07/22/1996 and her full SSN exactly as issued. She double-checks each digit before moving on.

An edge case applies to applicants without an SSN, such as some foreign-trained doctors. If this is you, contact the Board before filing to learn what alternate identifier they will accept, rather than leaving the box blank.

The common mistake is transposing two SSN digits, which breaks the state’s tax and child-support match and silently stalls the file. The Board may not tell you why for days. The misconception is that the SSN is optional for privacy reasons; under state law it is required for licensing.

Part 3: Contact Information and Mailing Address

This field asks for your home address, mailing address, phone, and email. Enter a current address where you can receive mail, since the Board sends deficiency notices and your license confirmation there.

For example, David Okafor lists his apartment address with the unit number and a personal email he checks often. He avoids a school email that may shut off after graduation.

The edge case is a P.O. Box. You may use one for mailing, but if the form asks for a physical residence address, provide the street address too, because some notices require it.

The common mistake is entering an outdated or soon-to-expire email, which means you miss the deficiency notice and your file sits untouched. The misconception is that the Board will call you if something is wrong; most contact comes by email or mail, so keep both current.

Part 4: Education and Naturopathic Degree

This field asks where you earned your naturopathic medical degree and when you graduated. Enter the full school name, your degree, and the graduation date, and confirm the school is Board-approved under WAC 246-836-020.

For example, Sarah Anne Mitchell enters Bastyr University, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, 06/2025 and then arranges for Bastyr to send her official transcript straight to the Board.

The edge case is a foreign or non-accredited program. If your school is not on the approved list, the Board may require an equivalency review or extra coursework before it will accept your education.

The common mistake is assuming your own uploaded transcript counts. The rule requires the transcript to come directly from the school, so a self-sent copy is rejected and you must reorder it. The misconception is that listing the school name on the form is enough proof of graduation; only the direct transcript satisfies the rule.

Part 5: National Examination (NPLEX) Verification

This field asks you to confirm you passed the national naturopathic licensing exam. You identify that you took the NPLEX and then have NABNE send your official Part I and Part II scores directly to the Board.

For example, David Okafor checks the box stating he passed both NPLEX parts and logs into his NABNE account to request a score transfer to Washington.

The edge case is an older exam record. If you passed the NPLEX years ago in another state, you can still request a transfer, but allow extra time because retrieving archived scores can be slower.

The common mistake is forgetting to request the score transfer at all, leaving the Board with no exam proof on file. Without it, the application cannot clear. The misconception is that because you “already passed,” Washington can see your scores automatically. It cannot; you must order the transfer.

Part 6: Background and Personal History Questions

This section asks a series of yes-or-no questions about criminal history, prior discipline, malpractice actions, and health conditions that could affect safe practice. Answer each one truthfully, and where a question requires it, attach a written explanation and supporting records.

For example, Maria Delgado, who had a misdemeanor years ago, answers Yes to the relevant question and attaches a short statement plus the court disposition showing it was resolved.

The edge case is an old matter that was expunged or dismissed. Even then, read each question carefully, because some ask about charges regardless of outcome, and the safe move is to disclose and explain.

The common mistake is answering No to avoid hassle when the honest answer is Yes. A false answer can become a separate violation under the Uniform Disciplinary Act, far worse than the original issue. The misconception is that a minor or old event will automatically bar licensure; most do not, but hiding them can.

Part 7: Federal Background Check and Fingerprints

This field directs you to complete a federal background check with fingerprints, required by RCW 18.130.064. You follow the Board’s instructions to either submit fingerprint cards by mail or use the approved electronic fingerprint vendor, and you pay the fingerprint fee.

For example, Maria Delgado schedules an electronic fingerprint appointment as soon as she starts her application, knowing results can take weeks to return to the Board.

The edge case is living out of state while you apply. If you cannot reach a Washington vendor, the Board can provide hard fingerprint cards you complete at a local police station and mail in.

The common mistake is waiting until the rest of the file is done to start prints, which then becomes the single item holding up the license. The misconception is that prints clear in a day or two; in practice the FBI return can be the longest step, so start it first.

Part 8: Fees and Payment

This field totals your charges and collects payment. You pay the original application fee, the initial state license fee of $270.00, and the UW online access fee (HEAL-WA) of $16.00, all set in WAC 246-836-990. These fees are nonrefundable.

For example, Sarah Anne Mitchell pays the combined fees online by card and saves the payment confirmation as proof. She keeps a screenshot in case a charge needs to be traced later.

A key recent change matters here. Under the 2025 rulemaking in WSR 25-20-031, the state jurisprudence examination was moved from initial licensure into the ongoing maintenance requirements, so new applicants no longer pay that exam fee as part of getting their first license. Always confirm the live fee total on screen, because the portal reflects the current schedule.

The common mistake is treating the fees as refundable and abandoning a started application; the money does not come back. The misconception is that paying the fee alone grants the license. Payment only completes the filing; the Board still reviews the whole file before approval.

Part 9: Attestation and Electronic Signature

This final field asks you to attest that everything you entered is true and to sign electronically. You read the attestation, type or check your signature, and date it, which legally binds your answers.

For example, David Okafor reviews every screen one last time, then signs and dates the attestation 05/29/2026 before submitting.

The edge case is realizing after signing that you made an error. Do not ignore it; contact the Board right away to correct the record, because the signed attestation makes you responsible for accuracy.

The common mistake is rushing the signature without rereading the background answers, locking in a mistake you must later explain. The misconception is that the electronic signature is informal. It carries the same legal weight as a pen signature and the same consequences for false statements.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

The walk-throughs below show how three different filers move through the same form. Each follows one named person from the first screen to submission.

Scenario 1 — Sarah, a recent Bastyr graduate filing her first license

Form Section	What Sarah Enters
Legal Name	Sarah Anne Mitchell, matching her diploma and SSA card
Date of Birth / SSN	07/22/1996 and her full nine-digit SSN
Mailing Address	Her current apartment with unit number and a personal email
Education	Bastyr University, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, 06/2025
Transcripts	Requests Bastyr send official transcript directly to the Board
NPLEX	Confirms passing Parts I and II; orders NABNE score transfer
Background Questions	Answers No to all, since she has no history to report
Fingerprints	Books an electronic fingerprint appointment the same week
Fees	Pays original application, $270.00 license, and $16.00 HEAL-WA
Signature	Signs and dates the attestation, then submits

Scenario 2 — David, an out-of-state ND moving from Arizona

Form Section	What David Enters
Legal Name	David James Okafor, matching his Arizona license
Other-State License	Lists his active Arizona naturopathic license number
Mailing Address	His new Washington address and a personal email
Education	His accredited ND school name, degree, and graduation year
Transcripts	Has his school resend official transcript to Washington
NPLEX	Requests NABNE transfer his existing passing scores
Background Questions	Answers truthfully and notes his clean Arizona standing
Fingerprints	Completes prints, using mailed cards since he relocated
Fees	Pays the same original, license, and HEAL-WA fees
Signature	Reviews each screen, signs, and submits

Scenario 3 — Maria, a foreign-trained applicant with extra documentation

Form Section	What Maria Enters
Legal Name	Maria Elena Delgado, matching her passport
Identifier	Confirms with the Board which ID to use in place of an SSN
Education	Her international program name and degree details
Equivalency	Provides Board-requested equivalency review of her schooling
Transcripts	Arranges official transcripts sent directly to the Board
NPLEX	Confirms passing scores and orders the NABNE transfer
Background Questions	Answers Yes to an old matter and attaches court records
Fingerprints	Schedules electronic prints early to allow for delays
Fees	Pays original application, license, and HEAL-WA fees
Signature	Signs the attestation after a careful final review

How to File the Completed Form

Washington gives you two filing channels, and you should pick one and follow it fully. The faster path is online through the SecureAccess Washington portal, where you submit the application screens and pay the fees by card or electronic payment; the system timestamps your filing right away, and you should save the confirmation page as your proof of filing. Online processing generally moves quicker because payment and submission post instantly.

The mailed path uses the paper packet linked from the DOH naturopath page. You complete the packet, include a check or the accepted payment for the original application fee, the $270.00 initial license fee, and the $16.00 HEAL-WA fee, and mail it to the Department of Health address printed on the form. Keep a full copy of everything you send and use a mail service that gives you tracking as your proof of filing.

Both channels still depend on outside documents arriving separately. Your transcripts come straight from your school, your NPLEX scores come from NABNE, and your fingerprint results come from the FBI. None of these count if you forward them yourself, so arrange each one through its proper sender. Expect the full review to take several weeks once every piece is in.

What Happens After You File

Once you submit, the Board opens your file and checks that every required item is present. If something is missing, you receive a deficiency notice by email or mail telling you exactly what to cure, and the review pauses until you supply it. This is the most common holding pattern, so respond fast when a notice arrives.

When the file is complete, the Board verifies your education, exam, and background, then approves the license. Your credential then appears as active on the Provider Credential Search, which is the public proof employers and insurers check. Only at that point can you legally practice, bill, and identify yourself as a Washington naturopathic physician.

After licensure, your credential renews every year on your birthday under chapter 246-12 WAC, with the renewal fee and continuing requirements set by rule. Mark your birthday date now, because a missed renewal adds a late penalty and can lapse your right to practice.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

Each item below is a specific error and the direct outcome it causes. Read these before you submit, since most delays trace back to one of them.

• Using a nickname instead of your legal name; this creates a record mismatch that holds the file.
• Transposing Social Security digits; this breaks the state’s compliance match and silently stalls review.
• Uploading your own transcript copy; the Board rejects it and waits for a direct school transcript.
• Forgetting to order the NABNE score transfer; the Board has no exam proof and cannot clear you.
• Starting fingerprints last; the FBI return then becomes the one item blocking your license.
• Listing an expiring school email; you miss the deficiency notice and the file sits untouched.
• Answering background questions falsely; this can become a separate disciplinary violation.
• Leaving the SSN blank for privacy; state law requires it, so the application stops.
• Abandoning a started application over fees; the fees are nonrefundable and lost.
• Skipping a name-change document; the Board cannot link your transcript and ID without it.
• Assuming the NPLEX alone licenses you; you stay unlicensed until the full file clears.
• Ignoring the yearly birthday renewal; a lapse adds penalties and can stop your practice.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

• Gather every document before you open the form, because the file freezes the moment an item is missing.
• Match your legal name across the form, transcript, and ID, since the Board cross-checks all three.
• Order transcripts and NPLEX scores early, as both must come from the source, not from you.
• Start your fingerprints first, because the background return is often the slowest step.
• Save your payment and submission confirmation, so you hold proof of filing if a question arises.
• Answer every background question honestly, since a false answer is its own violation.

Don’t:

• Don’t use a preferred name, because it triggers a record mismatch and a hold.
• Don’t self-send transcripts, since the rule requires direct delivery from the school.
• Don’t leave the SSN blank, as state law makes it mandatory for licensing.
• Don’t wait on fingerprints, because that single step can hold the whole license.
• Don’t ignore a deficiency notice, since the clock does not restart until you cure it.
• Don’t assume payment equals approval, because the Board still reviews the full file.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Many new doctors file alone, while some use a credentialing service or an attorney for complex histories. The table-free breakdown below weighs both.

Pros of filing on your own:

• You save the cost of a service, since the state fees are the only required spend.
• You learn your own record, which helps later at renewal and credentialing.
• You control the timing and can fix issues the moment a notice arrives.
• You avoid handing your private data to a third party.
• You move as fast as your documents allow, with no middle layer.

Cons of filing on your own:

• You carry the full burden of tracking transcripts, scores, and prints.
• You may misread a background question and create a costly error.
• You absorb the stress of deadlines and deficiency notices alone.
• A foreign or complex education path is harder to navigate without guidance.
• A single missed step can quietly delay your start date by weeks.

FAQs

Do I need to pass the NPLEX before I file?

Yes. The Board requires verified passage of the national exam, and NABNE must send your scores directly, so arrange the transfer as part of your application.

Do I write my legal name or my preferred name in the name field?

Yes, use your full legal name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card and transcript, because the Board cross-checks all three records for a match.

Do I have to send my own transcripts?

No. Your school must send official transcripts directly to the Board under WAC 246-836-020, and a copy you forward yourself will be rejected.

Do I still pay the jurisprudence exam fee with my first license?

No. A 2025 rule change moved the jurisprudence exam into license maintenance, so it is no longer part of the initial application fees. Confirm the live total on screen.

Do I report an old criminal matter that was dismissed?

Yes, read each question closely and disclose when it applies, because hiding it can become a separate violation that is worse than the original issue.

Do I need fingerprints for this license?

Yes. A federal background check with fingerprints is required under RCW 18.130.064, so start the prints early since results can take weeks.

Do I enter my Social Security number even if I value privacy?

Yes. State law requires the SSN for licensing, and leaving the field blank stops your application from being processed.

Do out-of-state naturopaths use the same application?

Yes, out-of-state doctors file the same application, list their existing license, and have their school and NABNE resend documents to Washington.

Do I file online or by mail?

Yes to either; the SecureAccess Washington portal is faster, while the mailed paper packet covers the same requirements under the same rules.

Do the application fees come back if I cancel?

No. The fees in WAC 246-836-990 are nonrefundable, so do not start and abandon an application after paying.

Do I write my graduation date as a year or a full date?

Yes, enter the full month and year of graduation as the form requests, and make sure it matches the date on the transcript your school sends.

Do I have to renew this license, and how often?

Yes. The license renews every year on your birthday under chapter 246-12 WAC, and a missed renewal adds a late penalty.

Do I become licensed the moment I pay?

No. Payment only completes your filing; the Board still reviews your full file, and you are licensed only when your credential shows active on the public search.

Do I need a name-change document if my transcript and ID differ?

Yes, attach a marriage certificate or court order, because the Board cannot link the two records without it and will hold your file.