# "Naturalist" Designation **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [July 27, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/naturalist-designation/68120 "2025-07-27T15:01:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![paulhetland](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/paulhetland/32/62215_2.png) [@paulhetland](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/paulhetland)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/naturalist-designation/68120/1 "2025-07-27T15:01:31Z")
How does one gain the status of “Naturalist” on iNaturalist? Perhaps I was looking in the wrong place, but I couldn’t see it spelled out. It stated in a drop down, under a person’s title, that it was a number of correct species identified. How many correct species or how exactly does it work? Is it observations or confirmations or both? I certainly want to gain the title. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/naturalist-designation/68120/2 "2025-07-27T15:34:58Z")
There aren’t any formal “naturalist” titles on the platform. I wonder if you are thinking of - when someone hasn’t filled out their user profile, the default text is “(username) is a naturalist!” That text disappears when you add text to your profile. If you’re making observations of nature around you, you are a naturalist. :) ---
**Author:** ![paulhetland](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/paulhetland/32/62215_2.png) [@paulhetland](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/paulhetland)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/naturalist-designation/68120/3 "2025-07-27T20:04:58Z")
![Screen Shot 2025-07-27 at 2.55.35 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/5/d/5d2593207c5bcec4f606d1cac6f1fbd69a9cc2fa.jpeg) ![Screen Shot 2025-07-27 at 2.55.13 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/a/d/ad0e3daabcee4940f41a4fa2b9578217bd48f3e7.jpeg) ![Screen Shot 2025-07-27 at 2.53.00 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/0/9/093ae6a1d06d67e064bac90a48a1279f8e7dcaa0.jpeg) As any good scientist (and person) should admit when they are wrong. I stand corrected. You’re right. A number of people just write it in their bios. I saw a drop down for research grade and got the two mixed up. I apologize for the confusion. Thank you for the help! ---
**Author:** ![DianaStuder](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/dianastuder/32/43358_2.png) [@DianaStuder](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/DianaStuder)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 10:16pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/naturalist-designation/68120/4 "2025-07-27T22:16:28Z")
It is the default text (which tells us they didn’t bother, or haven’t yet - added **any** info). We would like to know what biodiversity interests you and where. Frogs in Honolulu. Orchids in Mexico. Whatever wherever? ---
**Author:** ![reiner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/reiner/32/1809_2.png) [@reiner](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/reiner)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 12:09am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/naturalist-designation/68120/5 "2025-07-28T00:09:32Z")
Sometimes new people come along who are obviously really knowledgeable (identifying obscure taxa better than previously) but when I go to their profile and see “… is a naturalist” I encourage them to add a bit of a profile. :) ---
**Author:** ![AdamWargon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/adamwargon/32/44649_2.png) [@AdamWargon](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/AdamWargon)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 9:00pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/naturalist-designation/68120/6 "2025-07-28T21:00:50Z")
Yes, this. If you don’t fill out your profile, then we see thousands of IDs, and we are going on blind faith that you have competence in that area. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/2X/7/7831452cf7f0d653ff1ffd34176334b7ef1b6a17.png) [@system](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/naturalist-designation/68120/7 "2025-09-26T21:01:20Z")
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