The primary differences between naturopathic and conventional medicine are the philosophical approach and the therapies used. Naturopathic physicians treat patients as individuals by addressing the environmental, lifestyle, attitudinal, and emotional aspects of health. This allows naturopathic physicians to find and treat the cause of the disease rather than merely treating the symptoms. In contrast, conventional physicians generally address and treat the symptoms of disease, rather than the source of the illness, and use pharmaceutical therapies or surgery.

Naturopathic physicians are required to attend a four-year accredited graduate medical school. Included in this rigorous curriculum are biomedical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, neurology, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, cardiology, minor surgery, and others. They are also required to take a national board exam to become licensed physicians.