National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. Institutions that are members of SARA are authorized to provide online education to students from all SARA member states. States and institutions that choose to become members of SARA operate under a set of policies and standards overseen by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements and administered by four regional higher education compacts. NUNM is authorized to provide online education to students who reside in 49 SARA member states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For more information about the SARA initiative and the progress of state and institutional membership, please visit the NC-SARA website.
While California does not currently participate in the NC-SARA initiative, NUNM is authorized to operate in California via the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Please see below for additional information.
Complaints
National University of Natural Medicine students should first seek to resolve concerns and complaints by reviewing the policy and follow procedures outlined in the Student Complaint and Resolution Policy section of the student handbook.
Students should attempt to resolve any grievances they may have with their school first. Should attempts to resolve these problems with appropriate school officials fail, or should the student be dissatisfied with the final outcome of the college complaint process, then the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), can respond to a formal complaint. Students may contact the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, 3225 25th St. SE, Salem, OR 97302 or by sending an email to complaints@hecc.oregon.gov. Students may also access our Complaints web page at https://www.oregon.gov/highered/about/Pages/complaints.aspx or visit the complaints page at NC-SARA’s website: https://nc-sara.org/student-complaints.
Complaints may also be filed with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Students from California can file a complaint with California Department of Consumer AffairsConsumer Information Center.
Professional Licensure Disclosure Statement (NC-SARA)
NUNM is not able to monitor each state’s requirements for licensure on a continuous basis. As such, NUNM is not able to make a determination if NUNM programs meet all requirements for licensure in every state.
NUNM prepares students to take licensure or certification exams in Oregon. Current and prospective students who plan to practice outside of Oregon, should research licensure or certification requirements in the state they would like to practice. Students who intend to practice outside of Oregon post-graduation, should set up a meeting with their program dean to ensure that they meet the requirements of that state. Additional information on licensure is provided in the NUNM Catalog and Student Handbook.
Naturopathic Medicine Licensure
NUNM has made a determination that the ND program meets licensure requirements to become a Naturopathic Doctor in the following states. If a state licensing agency is available, a link to the state agency may be found by selecting the state below.
| ND Licensing Board | State (A link is present if a state licensing board exists) |
| Yes | Alaska |
| Yes | Arizona |
| Yes | California |
| Yes | Colorado |
| Yes | Connecticut |
| Yes | District of Columbia |
| Yes | Hawaii |
| Yes | Idaho |
| Yes | Kansas |
| Yes | Maine |
| Yes | Maryland |
| Yes | Massachusetts |
| Yes | Minnesota |
| Yes | Montana |
| Yes | New Hampshire |
| Yes | New Mexico |
| Yes | North Dakota |
| Yes | Oregon |
| Yes | Rhode Island |
| Yes | Utah |
| Yes | Vermont |
| Yes | Washington |
| Yes | Wisconsin |
| Yes | US Territories: Puerto Rico |
In other U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions, a varying scope of naturopathic practice may be permitted or protected by court decisions, attorney general opinions, or local custom.
Naturopathic Medicine Licensure – States Without Regulatory Authorities
NUNM has made a determination that the ND program does not meet licensure requirements to become a Naturopathic Doctor in the following states:
| ND Licensing Board | State (A link is present if a State licensing board exists) |
| No | Alabama |
| No | Arkansas |
| No | Delaware |
| No | Florida |
| No | Georgia |
| No | Illinois |
| No | Indiana |
| No | Iowa |
| No | Kentucky |
| No | Louisiana |
| No | Michigan |
| No | Mississippi |
| No | Missouri |
| No | Nebraska |
| No | Nevada |
| No | New Jersey |
| No | New York |
| No | North Carolina |
| No | Ohio |
| No | Oklahoma |
| No | Pennsylvania* |
| No | South Carolina |
| No | South Dakota |
| No | Tennessee |
| No | Texas |
| No | Virginia |
| No | West Virginia |
| No | Wyoming |
| No | US Territories: U.S. Virgin Islands* |
Requirements to Becoming Licensed
Following graduation from an accredited four-year naturopathic medicine program, NDs must pass the Naturopathic Physicians License Exam (NPLEX) board examinations to receive their medical license. This tests their understanding of biomedical and clinical sciences, as well as their diagnostic and therapeutic knowledge. After passing the NPLEX exams, applicants are then required to pass exams specific to the state or jurisdiction in which they seek to practice.
The first ND licensing exam (NPLEX Part I) focuses on foundational medical sciences. It is similar to those used by conventional medical schools, testing the applicants’ knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology and pathology. The second exam (NPLEX Part II) assesses an applicant’s grasp of the clinical sciences, diagnosis, and the unique modalities of naturopathic medicine, including clinical nutrition, botanical medicine and physical medicine. After passing the NPLEX examinations, applicants are then required to pass exams specific to the state or jurisdiction in which they seek to practice.
Efforts to enact licensing laws are underway in several states. The best sources of current information about the legal status of naturopathic medicine in a particular area are the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (818 18th St. NW, Suite 250, Washington, DC 20006 or www.naturopathic.org), state or provincial naturopathic associations, or individual naturopathic physicians in that area.
Currently, all states that license naturopathic physicians require graduation from a residential course of study offered through a college approved by the examining jurisdiction. National University of Natural Medicine meets all requirements and is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education.
Completion of the ND degree at National University of Natural Medicine or another recognized institution qualifies candidates to sit for a board licensing examination that every applicant must pass to be licensed. Similarly, National University of Natural Medicine graduates are eligible to sit for examination in Canadian provinces that license naturopathic medicine. While each jurisdiction has its own examination requirements, an increasing number use the Naturopathic Physicians License Exam (NPLEX) as part or all of the required testing.
Acupuncture with Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization Licensure
Graduates of the Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (DAcCHM, previously DSOM), Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (MAcCHM, previously MSOM), and MAc programs are eligible to apply for acupuncture licensure in the State of Oregon. MAcCHM graduates are eligible to take all exams administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), which most states use as a basis for licensure. MAc graduates are eligible to take all NCCAOM exams except the Chinese Herbology Module Exam, which is required for licensure in some states.
Acupuncture licensure regulations vary state to state among the 47 states that offer acupuncture licensure. In almost all of these states, graduates must pass the NCCAOM national board exams to obtain licensure. Graduates of the the MAcCHM and DAcCHM programs of the College of Classical Chinese Medicine are eligible to sit for all four modules of the exam.
California requires passing a separate exam, the California Acupuncture Licensing Exam (CALE), and does not currently recognize the NCCAOM exam. The California Acupuncture Board (CAB) has additional requirements for programs graduating students who wish to practice in California. The DAcCHM and MAcCHM programs satisfy all requirements of the CAB and are thus considered “CAB compliant,” so graduates of the DAcCHM and MAcCHM programs are eligible to sit for the CALE.
Because the MAc program does not include Chinese herbal medicine training, MAc graduates are not eligible to practice in some states, including California. Additionally, MAc graduates may sit for the Foundations, Biomedicine, and Acupuncture with Point Location modules of the NCCAOM exam. Graduation from an accredited program such as all of those in the College of Classical Chinese Medicine does not guarantee licensure in a state. Licensure in a given state depends upon the licensure requirements of that state. Students will need to research the licensure regulations for the state in which they intend to practice. https://www.nccaom.org/state-licensure/
The DAcCHM completion track does not by itself confer licensure or certification eligibility, as in this case, the master’s degree of DAcCHM-completion students determines eligibility. Prior master’s training and degree are required as a prerequisite for the DAcCHM completion program.
Note that state regulations regarding acupuncture licensure evolve frequently. Thus, while NUNM reviews requirements annually (please see https://nunm.edu/nc-sara/), we cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information, so students should always check the state in which they intend to practice for eligibility requirements.
Requirements for Oregon Licensure
To become licensed to practice acupuncture in Oregon, students need to have obtained a master’s or doctoral degree at the first professional degree level from an accredited college and obtained national certification in acupuncture from the NCCAOM. NCCAOM certification involves successfully passing the NCCAOM national exam modules in Foundations of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture with Point Location, and Biomedicine. NUNM students are eligible to take the exam modules after graduation, but may apply for certification 60 days prior to their graduation date.
For additional information, contact:
NCCAOM
2001 K Street, NW, 3rd Floor North
Washington, D.C. 20006
888.381.1140
info@thenccaom.org
In addition, the MAcCHM program is approved by the California Acupuncture Board, allowing graduates to sit for the California licensing exam, and is on the State of New Mexico education program approved list. The MAc program does not meet licensing requirements for the State of California or the State of New Mexico.
For additional information concerning acupuncture licensure in the State of California, contact:
The California Acupuncture Board
1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-219
Sacramento, CA 95834
916.515.5200
For additional information concerning licensure in the State of New Mexico, contact:
The Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Physical Address:
2550 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 7505
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 25101
Santa Fe, NM 87504
505.476.4500
website
The following jurisdictions use NCCAOM exams as a part of their licensure protocol.
NUNM has made a determination that the DAcCHM and MAcCHM programs meet the requirements to become licensed in the following states. If a state licensing agency is available, a link to the state agency may be found by selecting the state below.
| DAcCHM and MAcCHM Licensing Board | State (A link is present if a state licensing board exists) |
| Yes | Alaska |
| Yes | Arizona |
| Yes | California |
| Yes | Colorado |
| Yes | Connecticut |
| Yes | District of Columbia |
| Yes | Hawaii |
| Yes | Idaho |
| Yes | Kansas |
| Yes | Maine |
| Yes | Maryland |
| Yes | Massachusetts |
| Yes | Minnesota |
| Yes | Montana |
| Yes | New Hampshire |
| Yes | New Mexico |
| Yes | North Dakota |
| Yes | Oregon |
| Yes | Pennsylvania |
| Yes | Rhode Island |
| Yes | Utah |
| Yes | Vermont |
| Yes | Washington |
| Yes | Iowa |
| Yes | Nevada |
| Yes | Wyoming |
| Yes | Nebraska |
| Yes | Texas |
| Yes | Missouri |
| Yes | Arkansas |
| Yes | Louisiana |
| Yes | Wisconsin |
| Yes | Illinois |
| Yes | Kentucky |
| Yes | Indiana |
| Yes | Michigan |
| Yes | Tennessee |
| Yes | Mississippi |
| Yes | Ohio |
| Yes | West Virginia |
| Yes | Virginia |
| Yes | Georgia |
| Yes | Florida |
| Yes | South Carolina |
| Yes | North Carolina |
| Yes | New York |
| Yes | Delaware |
| Yes | New Jersey |
| Unknown | US Territories: Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands |
The MAcCHM program is also specifically approved by the California Acupuncture Board and the New Mexico Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. We recommend that you contact the licensing body in the state in which you wish to practice for additional information.
Acupuncture with Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization Licensure – States Without Regulatory Authorities
NUNM has made a determination that the DAcCHM and MAcCHM programs do not meet the requirements to become licensed in the following states:
| DAcCHM and MAcCHM Licensing Board | State (A link is present if a state licensing board exists) |
| No | Alabama |
| No | Oklahoma |
| No | South Dakota |
Master of Science in Nutrition Licensure
Graduates of the Master of Science in Nutrition (MScN) are eligible to apply for certified nutrition licensure in the State of Oregon. MScN graduates are eligible to take the exam administered by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS), which most states use as a basis for licensure and sets the standard for advanced personalized nutrition practitioners via the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential.
For additional information, contact:
Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists
211 Chicago Ave,
Hinsdale, IL 60521
202.903.0267
theana.org
NUNM has made a determination that the Master of Science in Nutrition (MScN) program meets requirements to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) in the following states. If a state licensing/certification agency is available, a link to the state agency may be found by selecting the state below.
| Licensing Board | State/District | CNS eligible for license | License required to practice |
| Yes | Alaska | Yes | No |
| No | Arizona | ** | No |
| Yes | Arkansas | No | No |
| No | California | ** | No |
| No | Colorado | ** | No |
| Yes | Connecticut | No | No |
| Yes | Delaware | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Florida | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Guam | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Hawaii | No | No |
| Yes | Idaho | No | No |
| Yes | Illinois | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Indiana | No | No |
| Yes | Kentucky | *** | Yes |
| Yes | Louisiana | No | No |
| Yes | Maine | No | No |
| Yes | Maryland | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Massachusetts | No | No |
| No | Michigan | ** | No |
| Yes | Minnesota | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Nevada | No | No |
| Yes | New Hampshire | No | No |
| Yes* | New Jersey | No | No |
| Yes | New Mexico | No | No |
| Yes | New York | Yes | No |
| Yes | North Carolina | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | North Dakota | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Oklahoma | No | No |
| Yes | Oregon | No | No |
| Yes | Pennsylvania | Yes | No |
| Yes | South Dakota | No | No |
| Yes | Texas | No | No |
| Yes | Utah | No | No |
| Yes | Vermont | No | No |
| Yes | Virginia | No | No |
| Yes | Washington | No | No |
| Yes | Washington, D.C. | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | West Virginia | No | No |
| Yes | Wisconsin | No | No |
| Yes | Wyoming | No | No |
**At this time, NUNM has determined that there is neither a licensing/certification board, nor a requirement to become licensed or certified in order to practice in this state.
***Master’s degree or higher in nutrition are eligible for certification to nutritionists.
Master of Science in Nutrition Licensure- States Without Regulatory Authorities
NUNM has made a determination that the Master of Science in Nutrition (MScN) program does not meet requirements to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) in the following states. If a state licensing/certification agency is available, a link to the state agency may be found by selecting the state below.
| Licensing Board | State/District | CNS eligible for license | License required to practice |
| Yes | Alabama | No | Yes |
| Yes | Georgia | No | Yes |
| Yes | Iowa | No | Yes |
| Yes | Kansas | No | Yes |
| Yes | Mississippi | No | Yes |
| Yes | Missouri | No | Yes |
| Yes | Montana | No | Yes |
| Yes | Nebraska | No | Yes |
| Yes | Ohio | No | Yes |
| Yes | Puerto Rico | No | Yes |
| Yes | Rhode Island | No | Yes |
| Yes | South Carolina | No | Yes |
| Yes | Tennessee | No | Yes |
*Indicates that a board for nutrition has been created but the board is not currently issuing licenses or registration.
For further information regarding programs at National University of Natural Medicine, please contact:
Office of Admissions
National University of Natural Medicine
49 South Porter Street, Portland, OR 97201
Phone 503.552.1660 | admissions@nunm.edu