Institutional and Program Accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
National University of Natural Medicine is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Accreditation of an institution of higher education by NWCCU indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one that has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.
Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is not partial, but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
National University of Natural Medicine is a member institution with NWCCU. NWCCU’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on July 17, 2017, was to reaffirm accreditation. NUNM’s most recent evaluation was Spring 2023 Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review. The next evaluation will be Fall 2024 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness.
NWCCU is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Inquiries regarding an institution’s accredited status by NWCCU should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
NWCCU
8060 165th Avenue NE, Suite 200, Redmond, WA 98052
425.558.4224 | https://nwccu.org/
Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME)
The degree program in naturopathic medicine is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, a professional accrediting agency for naturopathic medicine programs.
CNME
P.O. Box 178, Great Barrington, MA 01230
413.528.8877 | https://cnme.org/
The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM)
The following programs offered by National University of Natural Medicine are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM):
(1) Master of Acupuncture
(2) Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization
(3) Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization
• including a Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization degree completion track
ACAHM does not accredit any programs at the undergraduate/bachelor level.
Accreditation status and notes may be viewed on the ACAHM Directory.
ACAHM is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the specialized accreditation agency for institutions/programs preparing acupuncture practitioners. ACAHM is located at 500 Lake Street, Suite 204, Excelsior, Minnesota 55331; phone 952/212-2434; https://acahm.org
Public Disclosure Statement Effective as of 1 July 2024.
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.
Other sources of information available to prospective students about NUNM include the Exploration Day program, campus visits and nunm.edu.
For further information regarding NUNM programs, please contact:
Office of Admissions
49 South Porter Street, Portland, OR 97201
503.552.1660 | admissions@nunm.edu
Information regarding a consumer or civil complaint can be filed with:
Oregon Department of Justice
Consumer Protection Section
1162 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301-4096
1.877.877.9392 | help@oregonconsumer.gov
Information regarding any violation of civil rights is available at:
U.S. Department of Education – Office for Civil Rights
400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202
800.421.3481 | ed.gov/ocr | OCR@ed.gov
Student complaints, or other allegations that the university has failed or is failing to comply with the provisions of any laws or rules, can be filed with the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to investigate and resolve complaints:
State of Oregon: Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC)
3225 25th Street SE, Salem, OR 97302
503.947.5716 | info.pps@hecc.oregon.gov
Equal Opportunity Statement
NUNM does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, national or ethnic origin, religion, disability, familial status, veteran or current military status, marital status or sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other protected class under local, state, or federal law. This policy complies with all federal and local laws, including with the Equal Opportunity Act of 1965, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title IV of the Higher Education Act as federally reauthorized in 1998, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
NUNM’s nondiscrimination policy covers admission and access to, and treatment and employment in university programs and activities, including but not limited to academic admissions, financial aid, educational services and employment. Title IX prohibits gender-based harassment, which may include acts of verbal, nonverbal or physical aggression, intimidation, or hostility based on sex or sex-stereotyping, even if those acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature.
NUNM adheres to guidelines set forth by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which pertain to limitations and rights of access to student records (FERPA) and patient-protected health information (HIPAA). To ensure compliance with these requirements, NUNM enacts policies and procedures, and articulates protocols in this catalog, the student and employee handbooks, and departmental policy and procedural guides.
The dean of students has been designated to handle inquiries regarding NUNM’s Title IX policies and procedures.
Title IX Coordinator
Rachael Allen, MS
National University of Natural Medicine
49 South Porter Street, Portland, OR 97201
503.552.1607
Every effort has been made to ensure the catalog’s informational accuracy. NUNM regularly reviews its policies to improve the institution and the quality of education provided. Changes to the catalog can be made without prior notice. This catalog is not a contract between NUNM and current or prospective students.
This catalog can be downloaded in PDF format at nunm.edu.
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