Like Zala said, if you\'re serious about going to school for natural medicine choose one of the four year ND med schools.

I myself am a student at Clayton College and am enjoying my studies very much. The purpose of my studies is for personal enrichment only and I have no intentions of trying to diagnose or treat people in the same manner that a licensed ND would do.

Just for your information here is what Clayton College of Natural Health says about practice issues in the student handbook:

(page 14) ABOUT OUR PROFESSION: A professional naturopath, natural health consultant or nutritional consultant is both an educator and a coach. If you decide to practice in the natural health field, there are specific skills you must learn in order to conduct your consulting practice legally. Your language and approach must remain non-prescriptive and non-diagnostic so that you will always remain outside the boundaries of practicing medicine without a license. The CCNH curriculum includes includes courses, written materials and projects that specifically address practice issues. Some of the texts used with the required study guide may refer to \"patients\" and \"diseases\" as well as discussing allopathic technology and techniques. While these texts may contain important information for the practicing consultant, the vocabulary and approaches must clearly stay within the parameters of teaching health, not treating disease. Throughout the curriculum, the student will learn important consulting skills such as: - referring to the people that you serve as \"clients\", never as \"patients\" - using the language of health and wellness, not disease - and avoiding the use of prescriptive or diagnostic language

CONCERNING LEGALITIES You, not the college, are responsible for determining the legal issues involved in conducting a natural health practice. The laws differ in each state or locality, and our policy is not to offer detailed legal information. We recommend that you contact your state or local government for legal interpretations, conduct Internet research or visit your local public library, as it is important for you to know what your legal boundaries as a consultant are in the state where you live.

I just want people to know that in no way is CCNH trying to promote people to practice illegally. It seems that this is the common thinking about the distance learning schools or calling them degree mills. If you choose the distance learning route please do your homework and know what you\'re getting yourself into. Find out if this type of education will serve the purpose you are paying for with your time and money.

Best of Luck!! Toni