Accreditation
National University of Health Sciences is proud to be a leader
in advocating for and obtaining certification and accreditation for
chiropractic education institutions, and continues this commitment
to full accreditation of all of its programs.
Accreditation History
In 1942, National became a not-for-profit educational and
research institution in accord with the corporate laws of Illinois
and the requirements of the United States Department of the
Treasury governing tax-exempt institutions. The Office of the
Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Illinois
granted official status to National University as a degree-granting
institution in 1966 for both the bachelor of science in human
biology and the doctor of chiropractic degrees.
Also in 1966, National was fully accredited by the Commission on
Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic Education of the
American Chiropractic Association. Complaints regarding possible
non-compliance with the standards of that body should be addressed
to the Commission on Accreditation, 8049 N. 85th Way, Scottsdale,
AZ 85258-4321, 480-443-8877. The doctor of chiropractic program was
also approved by registration with the State Education Department
of the State of New York in 1972.
In 1974, the college was recognized as a Candidate for
Accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and
Secondary Schools and was accredited by North Central in 1981. The
university is accredited now by the Higher Learning Commission
(HLC), 230 S. LaSalle St., Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1413,
800-621-7440, 312-263-0456.
The chiropractic college started evolving into a university
concept between 1993 and September 2000, when the institution
officially changed from a college to a university and was renamed
National University of Health Sciences (NUHS). The Massage Therapy
Certification Program was introduced in 1999 as part of the
university plan to expand its program offerings.
In May 2004, National University submitted a request for change
to the HLC to add two master's degree programs, the master of
science degree in diagnostic imaging and the master of science in
advanced clinical practice, which received HLC approval in October
2004.
In September 2005, National University submitted a request for
change to include approval for a doctor of naturopathic medicine
program, for which it had retained a full-time program director.
The September 2005 request for change also included a request for
approval of two degree programs that had been in planning stages
for several years, a master of science in acupuncture and a master
of science in oriental medicine. In addition, National University
requested approval of an associate of applied science degree in
massage therapy to be offered in the College of Allied Health
Sciences.
In July 2016, NUHS received a full 10-year reaccreditation from
the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Massage Therapy Certification Program & Associate of
Applied Science in Massage Therapy Degree
The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), 900
Commonwealth Place, Suite 200-331, Virginia Beach, VA 23464, Phone
- 202-888-6790, Fax - 202-888-6787, granted National's Massage
Therapy Certification Program fully accredited status on October
25, 2002. The program was reaccredited by COMTA in October
2017.
The associate of applied science degree in massage therapy is
fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North
Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 230 S. LaSalle St.,
Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1413, 800-621-7440,
312-263-0456.
Naturopathic Medicine Program Accredited by
CNME
National University's Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program
was granted accreditation by the Council on Naturopathic Medical
Education (CNME) on October 13, 2012. Accreditation status allows
NUHS graduates to sit for the NPLEX examinations, which are the
gateway to practice in licensed states. The program was
reaccredited by CNME in October 2016.
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Programs Accredited by
ACAOM
The Master of Science Degree in Acupuncture and the Master of
Science Degree in Oriental Medicine of the National University of
Health Sciences are accredited under the Master's Degree standards
by the Accreditation
Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), the
recognized accrediting agency for programs preparing acupuncture
and oriental medicine practitioners. ACAOM is located at 8941 Aztec
Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347; phone, 952-212-2434; fax,
952-657-7068.
This full accreditation, which took place February 25, 2011,
assures that NUHS graduates are eligible to sit for the licensing
examinations conducted by the National Certification Commission for
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). The program was
reaccredited by ACAOM in February 2016.
Chiropractic Medicine Program Accredited by CCE
National University of Health Sciences' chiropractic degree
program in Lombard, Illinois, has been accredited by the Council on
Chiropractic Education (CCE) since 1971, and by its predecessor,
the American Chiropractic Association Committee on Accreditation
since 1966.
In December 2008, National University accommodated a focused
site visit from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North
Central Association in St. Petersburg, Florida, to seek approval
for the offering of a doctor of chiropractic medicine program on
the campus of St. Petersburg College (SPC) through its University
Partnership Center. The HLC gave approval for the program in April
2009. In August 2009, NUHS received notification from the CCE that
it had accepted NUHS' application for a substantive change to
extend its accreditation to include an identical chiropractic
program to be offered at St. Petersburg College. The program opened
in September 2009.
On July 29, 2011, the University received notice from the CCE
advising: "The Doctor of Chiropractic Degree Program at the
National University of Heath Sciences is awarded programmatic
accreditation at both the Illinois campus and the Florida site by
the Council on Chiropractic Education, 8049 North 85th Way,
Scottsdale, AZ, 85258-4321, Phone: (480) 443-8877, Website: www.cce-usa.org." The Doctor of
Chiropractic Medicine degree program at both the Florida site and
Illinois campus was reaccredited in January 2018.
Approvals
NC-SARA
The State Authorization Reciprocity
Agreement (SARA) is a voluntary agreement among its member states
and U.S. territories that establishes comparable national standards
for interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses
and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take
online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in
another state.
Additional Approvals and Listings