WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Education extended federal recognition of the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education for 12 months on a conditional basis on June 23, 2026. This decision followed a 12-0 vote by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity in March against renewing the organization's recognition.

During this 12-month period, the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education will operate under restrictions. These restrictions include an inability to grant accreditation or candidacy status to new programs. Additionally, the organization must submit monthly reports to the U.S. Department of Education.

Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent wrote that the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education has struggled to hold its accredited institutions accountable to quality measurements or any standards of success for its students. He noted serious concerns about the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education functioning as a reliable arbiter of education quality.

Kent stated that the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education has shown a fundamental lack of regard for standards of licensure exam passage or graduation rates. He also cited a pervasive lack of attention to meaningful quality indicators, including student outcomes, postgraduate earnings, and program accountability.

Failure to comply with the Education Department’s requirements, such as submitting reports on time, is grounds for immediate termination of the agency’s recognition, according to Kent. The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education is the only federally recognized accreditor for naturopathic medicine, and it has six member institutions, one of which is located in Canada.

In March, the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education argued to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity that its substandard licensure exam passage rates could be explained by the fact that most students in its member institutions' naturopathic programs are adult learners balancing work and family life. The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education recently hired two external consultants to assist with federal compliance concerns. Daniel Seitz, the Executive Director of the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, said, “The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education is committed to working diligently to address the items identified by the U.S. Department of Education within the timeframe provided, and we remain focused on our mission of ensuring quality in naturopathic medical education.”