Council on Naturopathic Medical Education
Accrediting naturopathic doctoral programs in
the U.S. and Canada
Our Mission
Our mission is quality assurance. The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education serves the public by accrediting doctoral programs in naturopathic medicine in the U.S. and Canada that meet or exceed our educational standards.
Recent News
Upcoming Public Session
Council on Naturopathic Medical Education announces the public session of its upcoming Board meeting on Friday, October 23, 2026, beginning at 12 pm EST. The meeting will be held virtually. Items to be considered include: Amendments to CNME’s Articles of...
Purpose of Accreditation
The Council’s voluntary, in-depth accreditation process promotes high-quality naturopathic education and training, and safe and effective practice. Our educational standards provide the basis for licensing/regulating naturopathic doctors in the U.S. and Canada. CNME is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit doctoral programs in naturopathic medicine.
All CNME-accredited naturopathic doctor schools/programs (ND programs) are primarily campus-based and typically take four years to complete; CNME does not accredit programs that are delivered primarily or entirely online.
Naturopathic Medicine: An Overview
Blending modern scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine.
Naturopathic Education
ND programs educate students in a range of natural modalities as well as in biomedical and clinical sciences, and complete two years of clinical training.
Naturopathic Accreditation
Accreditation process promotes high-quality naturopathic education and training, and safe and effective practice.
CNME-Accredited Programs
Graduates of CNME-accredited programs are qualified for licensure in Canada and the U.S.
Photo courtesy of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic physicians look beyond surface symptoms to determine the underlying causes of illness and provide natural approaches for restoring health.
