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Board approves 2026 sunset review and asks Legislature for statutory fixes on scope, CE and title protections
Summary
The board approved the 2026 sunset review report and requested multiple statutory changes, including fictitious name permit authority, amendments to Labor Code 3209.3 to recognize naturopathic doctors for disability forms, expanded continuing-education authority and increases in fee caps; the report incorporated a 2025 member survey showing workforce retention concerns.
The California Board of Naturopathic Medicine voted Nov. 19 to approve its 2026 sunset review report, sending the document to the Legislature with requested edits and a set of statutory recommendations intended to modernize scope, continuing education and title protections.
Board staff presented the draft report and survey findings; after a series of targeted edits the board voted 5-0 to approve publication. "If we approve it today, we're good," a board member said during the discussion about the publication and resubmission timeline.
The report asks the Legislature to consider several statutory changes. Among the principal recommendations are: - authorization for a fictitious-name-permit program to help enforcement and clarify clinic naming (staff cited the Medical Board and Osteopathic Medical Board as models); - statutory amendments to Labor Code section 3209.3 so licensed naturopathic doctors can complete disability and workers'compensation forms like other recognized health care providers; - authority to raise statutory fee caps so the program can remain fiscally solvent; and - expanded statutory authority to charge fees for continuing-education provider review and to permit the board to set targeted CE requirements, including specialty re-certification in areas such as IV therapy and pharmacology.
The staff survey summarized in the report found licensure and practice concerns that the board said support these recommendations: "41% of respondents indicated that the practice limitations influence their decision to leave consider leaving or not renew their license in California," Rebecca said while presenting the survey results, highlighting the retention risk the board described.
Board members also discussed enforcement and cost-recovery issues, access to diagnostic tests and problems licenses encounter with pharmacies or out-of-state manufacturers, and workforce-demographic data showing a high female majority among licensees and concentration in a handful of California counties.
The board additionally chose a publication cover for the report: illustration Sample C with the text/color scheme of Sample A, a choice the board approved by roll call. After the vote staff will finalize attachments, make the agreed textual edits, and submit the report for publication and background review by the Legislature. The Legislature may request additional information and will decide whether to pursue statutory changes, seek bill authors or otherwise act on the board's recommendations.
The board directed staff to finalize the report with the amendments discussed and to prepare the background materials the sunset committees typically request during legislative review.
