Accreditation

Bastyr University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The NWCCU is an institutional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, all of Bastyr University's professional degree programs are accredited by their respective professional accrediting bodies.

Audit section: Form 990s are filed with the IRS annually, and are available to the public in the Bastyr University Finance Office.

NOTE: Representatives from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) will visit Bastyr University on April 2, 3 and 4, 2012. They will conduct an evaluation to determine the continued status of the University as an accredited institution. Bastyr University is currently accredited by NWCCU, and in 2010, the Commission reaffirmed the University's accreditation status by approving a name change for the certificate in holistic landscape design.

The public is invited to send comments regarding the accreditation of Bastyr University directly to NWCCU at 8060 165th Avenue NE, Suite 100, Redmond, WA 98052. Comments are considered with regard to the University's qualification for accreditation and must be written, signed and received by NWCCU by March 1, 2012.

NWCCU forwards comments, as received, to the University and the evaluation committee. For more information or to obtain a copy of Commission Policy A-5, Public Notification and Third Party Comments Regarding Full-Scale Evaluations, please visit NWCCU's website at www.nwccu.org (specifically via the Standards and Policies and then Operational Policies links) or call 425.558-4224.

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Program

The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), a specialized accrediting board recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. A copy of the CNME Handbook of Accreditation for Naturopathic Medical Colleges and Programs (2007 edition) is on reserve in the Bastyr University Library.

Dietetics Programs

The Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), the accrediting agency for the American Dietetic Association, has accredited Bastyr University's Bachelor of Science Didactic Program in Dietetics, Master of Science Didactic Program in Dietetics and Dietetic Internship.

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Programs

The Master of Science in Acupuncture (MSA), the Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MSAOM) and the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) are all accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). ACAOM is not currently recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with respect to doctoral programs in the field. However, Bastyr University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and thus all degree offerings are accredited and DAOM students are eligible for Title IV funds.

The Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and the combination of the Master of Science in Acupuncture and the Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine are approved for California licensure by the California Acupuncture Board.

Bastyr University is approved by Washington state to offer its acupuncture and Oriental medicine programs. Individuals who complete the Master of Science in Acupuncture or Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine are eligible to sit for the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) certification exams as well as various state licensing exams.

Foreign Non-Immigrant Students

Bastyr University is approved by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to accept and enroll foreign non-immigrant students. Bastyr University's academic programs are approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Board's State Approved Agency (HECB/SAA) for enrollment of persons eligible to receive educational benefits under Title 38 and Title 10, U.S. Code.

Midwifery Programs

Bastyr University has received approval from the state of Washington as a recognized midwifery training facility and provides education for midwives in two distinct programs — for naturopathic physicians who wish to earn a Certificate in Naturopathic Midwifery and for direct-entry midwifery students in the articulated Bachelors/Masters of Midwifery degree. Both programs are accredited through the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC). Individuals who complete the University's naturopathic midwifery program and pass naturopathic medicine and midwifery licensing exams have dual licensure as naturopathic physicians and midwives in Washington and other states. Graduates of the Department of Midwifery are eligible to sit for licensure in Washington and other states, apply to the Canadian bridging program for provincial registration, and graduates from both programs may sit for the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) exam to receive the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential recognized in many states for legal practice of midwifery and reimbursement for services.

Q: What is accreditation and how does it work?

A: Higher education accreditation involves both private accrediting associations and the US Department of Education (DOE). The federal government (DOE) does not directly accredit schools. Instead, the government approves accrediting agencies that are then responsible for the evaluation and oversight of colleges and universities. In order to demonstrate that they meet rigorous educational standards, US colleges and universities voluntarily seek federally recognized accreditation.

Q: What is Professional Education Accreditation?

A: There are other accrediting agencies that focus on approving particular educational programs within colleges and universities. These agencies are not federal "gatekeeper" agencies since they do not accredit the entire school. Instead, professional accrediting bodies evaluate particular programs, departments or schools within an institution.

Professional accreditation is sometimes called program accreditation and is also known as specialized accreditation. Professional agencies are voluntary associations that are not covered by federal regulations. This type of accreditation is often associated with national professional associations, such as the American Bar Association which accredits law schools, the American Medical Association which accredits allopathic medical programs and so on.

Bastyr University and the other accredited schools of naturopathic medicine along with the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education will continue to set the standards for ND training and licensure. Bastyr University is committed to the public safety of consumers and the absolute need to ensure that NDs who serve as primary care providers are fully trained and meet the educational standards that are demanded from all medical practitioners in the United States and Canada.