Naturopath

Kaihaumanu Hauora Aro Tini

This job is sometimes referred to by alternative titles

Naturopaths help restore balance to the body and mind through special diets, herbal remedies, spiritual healing, massage or essential oils.

Pay

Naturopaths usually earn

$32K-$50K per year

Source: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, '2006-2013 Occupation Data', 2015.

Job opportunities

Chances of getting a full-time job as a naturopath are poor due to a limited amount of clients.

Length of training

2-3

2-3 years of training usually required

About the job

Pay

Pay for naturopaths varies depending on:

the specific therapy they practice
qualifications
experience
the region they work in
how many clients they have.

Naturopaths usually earn between $32,000 and $50,000 a year, although some may earn more than this.

Source: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, '2006-2013 Occupation Data' (prepared for Careers New Zealand), 2015.

PAYE.net.nz website – use this calculator to convert pay and salary information

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the figures and diagrams in our job information)

What you will do

Naturopaths may do some or all of the following:

examine, question and observe patients to work out their health problems
advise and treat patients
prepare or buy herbal medicines, vitamins or minerals, including homeopathic remedies, for patients
study and research the effect natural medicine has on the body and people's health
educate the public about natural health methods
work as sales representatives or consultants for natural health medicine companies or distributors.

Skills and knowledge

Naturopaths need to have:

an understanding of the human body and how it functions
knowledge of homeopathic and conventional medicines, and herbs that can be used as medicines
knowledge of using vitamins and minerals to treat disease and illness
knowledge of nutrition and diet, and how this can affect the body
knowledge of relaxation techniques and physical therapies such as massage
basic understanding of western medicine
knowledge of medical ethics.

Self-employed naturopaths also need small business skills.

Working conditions

Naturopaths:

usually work regular hours, but may work weekends and evenings when required or be on call. Many naturopaths work part time.
may work in health food shops, natural health clinics, osteopathy clinics, or medical or private practices
may travel locally to meet patients.

How to enter the job

Entry requirements

To become a naturopath it is recommended that you have a:

Diploma in Naturopathy (Level 6) or
Bachelor of Natural Medicine/Bachelor of Naturopathic and Herbal Medicine (Level 7).

The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children.

Oranga Tamariki website - information on Vulnerable Children Act requirements

Secondary education

NCEA Level 2 or 3 may be required to enter tertiary training. Useful subjects include chemistry, biology, English and maths.

Additional requirements for specialist roles:

Chinese medicine

To become a Chinese medicine naturopath it is recommended you have a:

Diploma of Chinese Herbal Medicine/Diploma of Tuina (Level 7) or
Bachelor of Health Science – Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (Level 7).

Rongoā/Māori medicine

To become a Rongoā/Māori medicine naturopath it is recommended you have a:

Heke Rongoā/Diploma of Māori Holistic Wellbeing (Level 5) or
Graduate Diploma in Māori Medicine (Level 7).

Nutrition

To become a nutritionist it is recommended you have a:

Diploma in Naturopathy and Nutritional Science (Level 6) or
Bachelor of Natural Medicine/Bachelor of Naturopathic and Herbal Medicine (Level 7).

Personal requirements

Naturopaths need to:

be good written and verbal communicators
be well organised
be aware and understanding of a range of cultures and backgrounds
have good listening skills to help them accurately assess and diagnose patients' health problems.

Useful experience

Useful experience for naturopaths includes work in health areas such as:

nursing
counselling
alternative therapies.

Business management and administrative experience can also be useful for those running their own business.

Physical requirements

Naturopaths need to be reasonably fit and healthy. Naturopaths who do massage need to have strong arms.

Registration

Naturopaths with a Diploma in Naturopathy (Level 6) or a higher qualification can register with the NZ Society of Naturopaths.

NZ Society of Naturopaths website - information on registration

Find out more about training

NZ Society of Naturopaths: (09) 483 5455 - webms@naturopath.org.nz - www.naturopath.org.nz/

Check out related courses

Job opportunities

What are the chances of getting a job?

Chances of getting full-time work as a naturopath are poor as there are limited clients and high competition for them.

Around 70% of naturopaths are self-employed and develop a customer base through advertising in their local community and online.

Demand for naturopaths may increase

Demand for naturopaths may improve due to increased demand for natural health products such as medicine, cosmetics, vitamins, food and drinks.

Naturopaths may:

be hired as consultants for the making of natural health products
develop and sell their own products
work as consultants in new retail stores.

Small range of employers

Naturopaths who are not self-employed may work for:

hospices and nursing homes
natural health care clinics
retail outlets
health supplement and cosmetic companies
education institutions as teachers.

Sources

James, L, founder of Ideal Health and Naturopath, Careers New Zealand interview, August 2016.
Jury, L, registrar, NZ Society of Naturopaths, Careers New Zealand interview, July 2016.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, '2006-2013 Occupation Data' (prepared for Careers New Zealand), 2016.
Naturopathic College of New Zealand, 'Natural Medicine in New Zealand infographic', accessed August 2016, (www.ncnz.co.nz).
Norton, M, 'Natural Health Industry Sets Sights on Exporting Products', March 2015, Pharmacy Today, (www.pharmacytoday.co.nz).
Wadey, R, 'Comvita and the Business of Making Honey', June 2016, (www.viva.co.nz).

Progression and specialisations

Naturopaths can specialise in a number of roles, including:

Chinese medicine naturopath

Chinese medicine naturopaths provide healing through traditional Chinese medicine and physical remedies such as cupping and acupuncture.

Rongoā/Māori medicine naturopath

Rongoā/Māori medicine naturopaths provide healing through Māori herbal medicine, spiritual remedies such as tapu-lifting and physical remedies such as blood-letting.