In compliance with the U.S. Department of Education, University of Western States (UWS) provides information pertaining to professional licensure and certification for all relevant programs. UWS is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Title IV approved institution. Additionally, NWCCU is a recognized accreditation organization by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Students should refer to the information below and contact the appropriate licensing board to determine whether the UWS program meets licensure requirements in that state. While few states offer formal approval of educational programs,  the program may meet all or a portion of the “educational” and “clinical hour” requirements. Please contact the licensing agency directly to review and compare the program requirements with those of the agency.  

Please note that licensure requirements are always subject to change. Although the University of Western States will confirm the licensure requirements on a routine basis, we strongly recommend that you inquire with the state board to confirm that you understand and will meet the requirements for licensure before enrolling in your program of choice. Additionally, while progressing through any of these programs, we recommend that you check licensing agency requirements regularly to monitor whether they have changed in a manner that impacts your licensure plans.

For individual Professional Licensure Disclosures, student location is determined by the active local address in myUWS. All students are prompted to update their local address in the myUWS each term.

Doctor of Chiropractic

UWS’s doctor of chiropractic program (DCP) is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). The DCP is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure in Oregon. Prospective students intending to secure licensure outside of Oregon should review their state’s licensure and pre-chiropractic education requirements prior to enrollment.

State Licensure and Pre-chiropractic Education Requirement Resources:

• Licensing Boards
• Bachelors Degree Requirements

The table below identifies states and territories in which:

• the DCP curriculum meets licensure requirements,
• the DCP curriculum does not meet licensure requirements,
• it is unknown if/not yet confirmed that the DCP curriculum meets licensure requirements.

When it comes to licensure requirements, not all states and territories recognize educational programs from other states and territories in the same manner. Thus, if it is identified that the program “cannot be confirmed as meeting” the educational requirements for licensure, it may nevertheless meet all or a portion of the educational requirements. As such, UWS recommends contacting the licensing agency directly for confirmation, before beginning the UWS program.

Additionally, since state and territory regulations can change, should you pursue the UWS program, students are recommended to regularly check licensure requirements throughout their studies to ensure ongoing eligibility. To help facilitate this, click the link for each state below to connect with the specified licensing agencies.

Master of Science for Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Currently, UWS’s clinical mental health counseling program (CMHC) is pursuing accreditation from the Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC). Prospective students intending to secure licensure should refer to the table below regarding the state or territory in which licensure is intended.

The table below identifies states and territories in which:

• the CMHC curriculum meets licensure requirements,
• the CMHC curriculum does not meet licensure requirements,
• it is unknown if/not yet confirmed that the CMHC curriculum meets licensure requirements.

When it comes to licensure requirements, not all states and territories recognize educational programs from other states and territories in the same manner. Thus, if it is identified that the program “cannot be confirmed as meeting” the educational requirements for licensure, it may nevertheless meet all or a portion of the educational requirements. As such, UWS recommends contacting the licensing agency directly for confirmation, before beginning the UWS program.

Additionally, since state and territory regulations can change, should you pursue the UWS program, students are recommended to regularly check licensure requirements throughout their studies to ensure ongoing eligibility. To help facilitate this, click the link for each state below to connect with the specified licensing agencies.

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Currently, 26 jurisdictions (23 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) in the United States have licensing or registration laws for naturopathic doctors (NDs/NMDs). In these jurisdictions, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from accredited four-year residential naturopathic medical programs and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license or registration. More information about the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination Board (NPLEX) and the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE) can be found here.

Licensed and registered naturopathic doctors must fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually and have a specific scope of practice as defined by their state’s law.

AANP’s Statement of Intent: Licensure of Naturopathic Physicians and Access to Natural Health Care