The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education’s mission is quality assurance: serving the public by accrediting naturopathic medical education programs that voluntarily seek recognition that they meet or exceed CNME’s standards. Students and graduates of programs accredited or preaccredited (candidacy) by CNME are eligible to apply for the naturopathic licensing examinations administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE), and are generally eligible for state and provincial licensure in the U.S. and Canada.

Founded in 1978, CNME is accepted as the programmatic accrediting agency for naturopathic medical education by the four-year naturopathic colleges and programs in the United States and Canada, by the American and Canadian national naturopathic professional associations, and by NABNE. CNME advocates for high standards in naturopathic education, and its grant of accreditation to a program indicates prospective students and the public may have confidence in the educational quality of the program. The U.S. Secretary of Education recognizes CNME as the national accrediting agency for programs leading to the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (N.D. or N.M.D.) or Doctor of Naturopathy (N.D.) degree.

CNME’s Handbook of Accreditation, containing CNME’s standards, policies, procedures, and governing documents, is available for $20 (U.S.), prepaid. Or, download a free PDF version of the handbook. The PDF file (81 pages, 800KB) may be opened and printed with Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free download.

CNME also approves postdoctoral programs (i.e., residency programs) in naturopathic medicine. Among these programs are naturopathic residencies that provide licensed naturopathic physicians with postgraduate training in naturopathic family care and other specialties. The Handbook on CNME Postdoctoral Naturopathic Medical Education (PNME) Sponsor Recognition Process and Standards contains CNME’s standards for residency programs. You may download a free PDF version of the handbook. (29 pages, 200KB)

CNME is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA) and abides by ASPA’s Code of Good Practice. CNME is also a member of the Association of Accrediting Agencies of Canada.

The accredited and candidate naturopathic medicine programs, as well as the certified residency programs, are listed on the links page. After accessing the links page, click the name of the program or its logo to go to the Website for the college or university that offers the program.

If you have any questions, they may be answered in our FAQ section.