2 or 3 years ago I decided I wanted to be a naturopath, so I spent a good year researching the schools, the approaches etc. I finally got so fed up with the idea of entering this field with the politics of it all that I changed perspective. Instead I enrolled in the Certified Nutrition course at American Health Science University and the Master Herbalist program at The School of Natural Healing. I will finish the CN program in about 5 months, and probably the herbalist program in the summer of 2004. I am an American in Italy. I had no desire to become a medical doctor, nor a naturopath or herbalist trained similar to one. Here in Italy the herbalists are now being trained as pharmaceutical herbalists. The distance programs I chose are giving me and allowing me to create a much better education than what I would have gotten here. I feel that every type of practitioner has something to contribute. My calling is \"traditional\". I would not have been happy going to a 4 year naturopathy school because it doesn\'t fit into my personal philosophy on healing. The traditional approach is appreciated by certain clients, while others tend toward the more \"modern\" naturopath. Both should be allowed to thrive. I agree with you. The political environment here is still going to be hairy for me though. I can\'t legally give someone a \"diet\" for anything, to lose weight, for healing etc. Only dieticians, who are medical doctors, can do that. So I have to be careful of the wording. I will also have to work under another herbalist in order to make my own formulas because I won\'t legally be recognized as an herbalist. Moving back to the states really isn\'t a great idea because my husband has a chiropractice practice here that is doing well. I will be working with him, so we\'ll just have to play it by ear. Looks like I told you my life story :) Thanks for asking