LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeBusiness and Professions CodeDiv. 2Ch. 8.2Art. 4§ 3640 Naturopathic Diagnostic Authority

§ 3640 Naturopathic Diagnostic Authority

Business and Professions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 3640 Naturopathic Diagnostic Authority

Key Takeaways

  • •Naturopathic doctors can do basic check-ups like blood tests and physical exams.
  • •They can order X-rays or ultrasounds but must send you to another doctor to do and read them.
  • •They can give you vitamins, herbs, and some medicines, but not strong prescription drugs.
  • •They can help with small cuts or remove splinters but can't do stitches or big procedures.

Example

You go to a naturopathic doctor because you feel tired all the time.

The doctor can do a blood test to check your iron levels and give you vitamins or herbs to help. If they think you need an X-ray, they’ll send you to another doctor to take and read the X-ray.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 3640 Naturopathic Diagnostic Authority

(a) A naturopathic doctor may order and perform physical and laboratory examinations for diagnostic purposes, including, but not limited to, phlebotomy, clinical laboratory tests, speculum examinations, orificial examinations, and physiological function tests. (b) A naturopathic doctor may order diagnostic imaging studies, including X-ray, ultrasound, mammogram, bone densitometry, and others, consistent with naturopathic training as determined by the board, but shall refer the studies to an appropriately licensed health care professional to conduct the study and interpret the results. (c) A naturopathic doctor may dispense, administer, order, prescribe, and furnish or perform the following: (1) Food, extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, botanicals and their extracts, botanical medicines, homeopathic medicines, all dietary supplements, and nonprescription drugs as defined by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 301 et seq.) consistent with the routes of administration identified in subdivision (d). (2) Hot or cold hydrotherapy; naturopathic physical medicine inclusive of the manual use of massage, stretching, resistance, or joint play examination but exclusive of small amplitude movement at or beyond the end range of normal joint motion; electromagnetic energy; colon hydrotherapy; and therapeutic exercise. (3) Devices, including, but not limited to, therapeutic devices, barrier contraception, and durable medical equipment. (4) Health education and health counseling. (5) Repair and care incidental to superficial lacerations and abrasions, except suturing. (6) Removal of foreign bodies located in the superficial tissues. (d) A naturopathic doctor may utilize routes of administration that include oral, nasal, auricular, ocular, rectal, vaginal, transdermal, intradermal, subcutaneous, intravenous, and intramuscular. (e) The board may establish regulations regarding ocular or intravenous routes of administration that are consistent with the education and training of a naturopathic doctor. (f) Nothing in this section shall exempt a naturopathic doctor from meeting applicable licensure requirements for the performance of clinical laboratory tests, including the requirements imposed under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1200). (Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 497, Sec. 35. (SB 1526) Effective January 1, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, pursuant to Section 3686.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

educationprescriptionmedicaltreatmentpatientmotionhealthdiagnosis

Related Statutes

  • § 3641 Naturopathic Doctor Recordkeeping Requirements
  • § 3640.2 Naturopathic Assistant Scope
  • § 3640.3 Naturopathic Assistant Limitations
  • § 1684.5 Patient Of Record Requirement
  • § 3524.5 Physician Assistant Continuing Education

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Business and Professions Code. Section 3640.
View Official Source