Credentials
Is integrative medicine a licensed specialty?
Integrative medicine is not a separate license or state‑recognized specialty. No state licensing board issues an "integrative medicine" license, and scope of practice is set by the underlying professional license. The one physician board certification in integrative medicine is offered through the American Board of Physician Specialties for licensed MDs and DOs, and none of the 24 American Board of Medical Specialties member boards certifies integrative medicine.[1][2][11][0] Non‑physicians also use the phrase integrative medicine in marketing, where it is a description of style and carries no formal certification or legal scope on its own.
Integrative medicine is a practice style, not a license
Integrative medicine generally describes an approach that combines conventional medical care with selected complementary therapies, but it is a **practice style**, not a separate licensed profession.[15][14] No state medical, chiropractic, naturopathic, or other health board issues an "integrative medicine" license. The legal scope of what a clinician may do is determined by the board that issues their underlying license in a specific state, such as a state medical board for physicians or a chiropractic board for chiropractors, not by whether they describe their work as integrative. The phrase alone does not tell you whether the person is an MD, DO, DC, ND, or another type of clinician, and it does not expand or limit their legal scope of practice.[9]
Physician board certification in integrative medicine
In the United States, the one physician board certification in integrative medicine is offered through the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) via its American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM), and it is open only to licensed medical doctors (MDs) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs).[1][3][9] Candidates must already hold an unrestricted medical license and prior board certification in another physician specialty, and complete an approved integrative medicine fellowship, among other requirements.[3][2] This certification is a professional credential and does not replace or change the physician's state license. It is also distinct from the 24 member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties, none of which currently offers certification in integrative medicine.[0][11]
ABMS boards and recognition of specialties
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) recognizes 24 member boards that certify physicians in established specialties and subspecialties, such as internal medicine, family medicine, and surgery.[0] Integrative medicine is not a certified specialty or subspecialty of any of these 24 ABMS member boards.[0][11] Patients and families can use ABMS resources, including Certification Matters, to verify whether a physician is board certified in an ABMS‑recognized specialty, but integrative medicine will not appear as one of those certified fields.[0][13]
Use of "integrative" by non‑physicians and the role of degrees
Non‑physician practitioners, such as chiropractors, naturopathic doctors, acupuncturists, and other clinicians, commonly describe their services as integrative or use similar language in marketing, but in these cases the term is descriptive only and does not indicate a standardized certification or license in integrative medicine.[9][16] A doctoral degree and a license to practice medicine are separate: for example, the title "Dr." reflects completion of a doctoral program, while permission to prescribe drugs, perform surgery, or deliver other medical services is determined by licensure under a specific state board.[9] Scope of practice is set by state law and board rules for each license. For instance, a state medical board in Arizona or Minnesota defines the practice of medicine for MDs and DOs, while a chiropractic board in Oregon or Florida defines what chiropractors may do.[9][8] Calling a practice integrative does not change those state‑defined limits.
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FAQ
Does any state issue an integrative medicine license?+
No state issues a separate integrative medicine license.
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No state issues a separate integrative medicine license. Instead, state boards license specific professions, such as physicians, chiropractors, or naturopathic doctors, and those licenses set scope of practice in that state. For example, medical boards in Arizona and Minnesota license MDs and DOs, and chiropractic boards in Oregon and Florida license chiropractors, but none of these boards create a dedicated "integrative medicine" license category.[9][8]
Can MDs and DOs be formally certified in integrative medicine?+
Yes.
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Yes. Licensed MDs and DOs can pursue board certification in integrative medicine through the American Board of Physician Specialties via its American Board of Integrative Medicine, after meeting requirements such as prior specialty board certification and fellowship training.[1][3][2] This credential does not replace their state medical license and is separate from the 24 American Board of Medical Specialties member boards, which do not certify integrative medicine.[0][11]
How can patients check a doctor’s board certification and specialty?+
Patients can use American Board of Medical Specialties tools, including Certification Matters, to confirm whether a physician is board certified and in which ABMS‑recognized specialty, such as internal medicine or family medicine.[0] Integrative medicine will not appear as an ABMS specialty, so a physician who advertises integrative care will show an underlying specialty like internal medicine or pediatrics if they are ABMS‑certified, and any integrative medicine training or certification will be separate from this ABMS listing.[0][2]