Naturopath: career guide, training, salary and prospects
A naturopath supports wellbeing through natural methods: diet, plants, lifestyle and stress management. A fast-growing career, it attracts many career changers. But it is also a profession that is unregulated: here is everything you need to know before getting started.
The naturopath profession in figures
| Average salary | €1,500 to €3,500 per month (self-employed) |
| Level of study | No state qualification (private courses) |
| Training length | 1 to 3 years depending on the school |
| Status | Almost always self-employed |
| Legal framework | Profession NOT regulated in France |
| Clients | People looking for wellbeing and prevention |
What is a naturopath?
A naturopath is a wellbeing practitioner who aims to strengthen the body’s self-healing capacity by natural means. They draw on diet, herbal medicine, lifestyle, physical activity and stress management. The approach is holistic and preventive, centred on lifestyle.
What a naturopath does day to day
- Carry out a vitality assessment (lifestyle, diet, sleep, stress).
- Offer advice on lifestyle and diet.
- Recommend natural techniques: herbal medicine, breathing, relaxation.
- Support stress management and overall balance.
- Refer clients to a doctor when needed (a preventive role, not a treatment one).
- Run workshops and wellbeing prevention sessions.
Skills and qualities required
- Good knowledge of nutrition, plants and lifestyle.
- Excellent listening skills and empathy.
- Teaching skills and the ability to support people through change.
- Ethics and a clear view of the limits of the practice.
- Entrepreneurial skills (the work is self-employed).
How to become a naturopath: training and career path
There is no state qualification, so the quality of the training is decisive. Here are the key points:
Favour schools affiliated to a recognised federation (for example FENA) that offer a substantial number of hours (often 1,200 to 1,500 h).
Anatomy, physiology, nutrition, herbal medicine, manual techniques and lifestyle, supplemented by practical placements.
Accounting, legal status (micro-entreprise, liberal profession) and communication: essential if you want to make a living from the work.
A naturopath opens a practice, builds a client base and often develops a network (doctors, other wellbeing practitioners).
What does a naturopath earn?
€1,500
€2,500
€3,500
Income depends entirely on the ability to build and retain a client base, as the work is almost always self-employed. Many add workshops, talks, content sales or a second string to their bow (sophrology, wellbeing massage).
Career opportunities and places of work
- Private practice (the main way of working).
- Wellbeing centres, spas, thalassotherapy.
- Organic shops (customer advice).
- Workshops, talks, content creation.
- Companies (prevention, quality of working life).
Career progression
A naturopath can specialise (nutrition, perinatal care, athletes, stress), combine complementary approaches (sophrology, reflexology), develop a teaching activity, or build an online presence (content, remote support) to widen their client base.
Naturopath or dietitian: do not confuse the two
| Criterion | Naturopath | Dietitian |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Wellbeing practitioner (unregulated) | Healthcare professional (protected title) |
| Diagnosis | No | No (but within a medical framework) |
| Scope | Overall lifestyle | Nutrition, including medical conditions |
| Recognition | Private courses | State qualification (3-year degree) |
Frequently asked questions
Is naturopathy recognised in France?
No, it is not a regulated healthcare profession. Anyone can set up, which is why it matters to choose a reputable school and to stay within a preventive role.
Do you need a qualification to be a naturopath?
No state qualification is required, but solid training (1,200 h or more, at a school affiliated to a federation) is essential for credibility and clients’ safety.
How much does a naturopath earn?
From €1,500 to €3,500 per month depending on the client base, as the work is almost always self-employed. The early days are often modest while you build up clients.
Naturopath or dietitian: which should you choose?
A dietitian has medical recognition and can support clients with medical conditions; a naturopath offers a holistic approach to wellbeing without a medical framework. The two can be complementary.
Going further
Interested in naturopathy? Explore the other wellbeing careers: nutritional therapist, sophrologist, reflexologist or dietitian.
To feed your practice, browse our micronutrition guides, our guide to the gut microbiome and our balanced diet guides.
Salary and training figures are indicative (2025) and vary with experience, region and status. This career guide is for information only and is not personalised careers advice. Figures relate to France.