What does accreditation mean?  It means that an organization or agency has set standards for a profession or occupation, including the educational, school design, and curriculum standards offered to those who train for that profession or occupation, and then offers a pathway to validate either the school, the graduate, or both.  This pathway includes inspection, determination of school licensure, administration of an exam for the field, requirements for continuing education annually, and possibly more. 

However, some "accreditation agencies" are such in name only, and at times those names are "credible sounding".  They do not fit the above criteria, although they will accept your (or anyone's) application and your money, and send you a "certificate".  If we do not list those agencies anywhere on this site, that is the reason- Naturopathic School of the Healing Arts is not interested in this kind of association.  Be aware, too, that this kind of activity goes across the board into numerous other professions.  

Be aware, too that a school or person could be "accredited", and that does not insure they are a good, interesting, inspiring, dynamic, evolving school or person.  It simply means they met a certain set of bureaucratic standards, which in of themselves are generally of value in insuring a certain level of integrity.

Side note:  alternative healing/medicine has grown exponentially within the heart and soul of our culture- and that through 99% " unaccredited" schools or personal educational backgrounds.  

In the realm of alternative education, accreditation agencies are developing and are established.  They are outside of traditional (such as universities) agencies because traditional education does not offer the curriculums that alternative education offers. 

For example, 'COMTA" is an agency which accredits massage schools, according to set criteria.  COMTA existed and developed for many years before receiving  U.S. Dept. of Education recognition in 2002, but that didn't stop many dozens of massage schools from pursuing COMTA accreditation for their schools.  An important point to consider, too, is that it may take easily several years for established or new schools to evolve and put in place accreditation standards, such as in the case of COMTA.  Simply allowing time for a curriculum to develop is prudent, but it does not happen overnight- it happens within the evolution of a school. 

Naturopathy education is evolving as well, and growing, and early stage accreditation offerings should not stop anyone from pursuing education in the field.  Accreditation and licensure is not required to practice naturopathy- yet we do recommend that graduates pursue voluntary accreditation among the agencies currently offered, and that they keep current on developments, politics, and legislative activity.

Independent certifying bodies may offer accreditation services to graduates of programs and to practitioners.  The process, and the actual quality,  may vary widely, and this is the crux of the matter.  Here are some caveats to consider:

~  Accreditation is voluntary- meaning individual practitioners may or may not elect to undergo the process.  They may do so after graduating. 

~  Some accreditation agencies are truly concerned about the integrity of the field, and have worked to create credible accreditation processes that Naturopathic College feels good about.  We will investigate and direct you to those agencies.  Such agencies should, among other considerations:

  1) Be composed  board of professional practitioner peers, as well as one or more members outside of the profession for balanced review.

  2) Include advisory consultants with the educational background of the profession, in each and every area of accreditation practice.

3) Administer an exam which is designed and graded by experienced practitioners in the field, along with other qualified advisory staff, and is open periodically to revision and feedback from practitioners.

4) Put forth a code of practitioner ethics, with a process by which complaints may be investigated 

5) Require approved continuing education for the professional field.

6) Be accessible to students and professionals with questions and concerns, and transparent as to their practices and policies.

We are currently evaluating several agencies, including the American
Naturopathic Certification Board, which shows promising developmental standards for the field, and which administers an exam. 

~  We stand in good faith behind our programs and the certification we convey to those who successfully achieve our programs.  Whether or not  you connect with an agency or pathway of (voluntary) accreditation, your certification and work with us conveys the status of high educational quality.  Accreditation does not necessarily guarantee or demonstrate that a particular school or practitioner is a good one.... although a high quality accreditation agency may assist in fostering educational and practitioner standards. We support the accreditation process in every way when there is a professional effort on the part of the accreditation agencies to improve and uphold the quality of our field- as educators and as practitioners.

Remember, too, that historically doctors, nurses, massage therapists, physical therapists, and other health care practitioners were once in a position to develop the standards of their field and resolve accreditation pathways.  This in recent times, too!  Trust that we as educators and practitioners are pursueing this process as well. 

Bottom line- Naturopaths and other professionals do not need or require accreditation to do well, evolve, help others effectively, and maintain professional standards- at this writing, the individuals efforts, as well as their standing within a good school, take priority over what may possibly be questionable "accreditation".