Professional Licensure Disclosure

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 the Student Gateway. Students are required to keep their personal information (e.g., address, phone number, emergency contact information, etc.) up to date in the Student Gateway.

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:

The table below identifies states and territories in which:

  • the DCP curriculum meets licensure requirements
  • the DCP curriculum does not meet 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

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

NMD Licensure By State

The NMD Curriculum meets the educational requirements for the following states

Alaska

Arizona

California

Colorado

Connecticut

District of Columbia

Hawaii

Idaho

Kansas

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Minnesota

Montana

New Hampshire

New Mexico

North Dakota

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

Utah

Vermont

Washington

Wisconsin

Virgin Islands

The NMD Program does not meet the educational requirements for the following states:

The following states are not yet regulated:

Alabama

Arkansas

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Louisiana

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

West Virginia

Wyoming

Canadian Provincial Licensing Organizations

College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta
P.O. Box 21142
#216-20 Sunpark Plaza SE
Calgary, AB T2X 3T2
Phone: (403) 266-2446
Email: [email protected]
http://www.cnda.net/

College of Naturopaths of Ontario
150 John Street, 10th FLoor
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3E3
Phone:  (416) 583-6010
Email: [email protected]
http://www.collegeofnaturopaths.on.ca/

The College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia
Suite 840, 604 Robson St.
Vancouver, BC V6B 5J3
Phone: (604) 688-8236 
Email: [email protected]
https://www.cnpbc.bc.ca/

Manitoba Naturopathic Association
971 Corydon Ave., P.O. Box 434
Winnipeg, MB R3M OYO
Phone: (204) 947-0381
Email: [email protected]
https://www.cndmb.org/

Saskatchewan Association of Naturopathic Practitioners
206-3773 Pasqua St.
Regina, SK S4S 6W8
Phone: (306) 522-0095
Email: [email protected]
http://www.sanp.ca/index.html

Canadian Naturopathic Community

Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors
Chair: Lowell Grieb, ND
Executive Director: Shawn O’Reilly
20 Holly Street, Suite 200
Toronto, ON, Canada M4S 3B1
Phone: (416) 496-8633
Toll Free: (800) 551-4381
[email protected]

College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta
President: Allissa Gaul, ND
813 – 14th St NW
Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 2A4
Phone: 403-266-2446
Fax; 403-266-2433
Email: [email protected]

British Columbia Naturopathic Association
President: Janine Fraser, ND
Executive Director: Glenn Cassie, MA
2238 Pine Street
Vancouver, BC V6J 5G4
Phone: (604) 736-6646

Manitoba Naturopathic Association
President: Cory Storm, ND
Executive Director & Registrar: Lesley Phimister
239 Buxton Road
Winnipeg, MB R3T 0H4
Phone: (204) 947-0381
[email protected]

New Brunswick Association of Naturopathic Doctors
President: Judah Bunin, ND
2278 King George Hwy
Miramichi, NB E1V 6N6
Phone: (506) 773-3700

Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Naturopathic Doctors
President: Kathleen Mercer, ND
25 Allandale Rd.
St. Johns, NF A1B 2Z6
Phone: (709) 722-4232
[email protected]

Nova Scotia Association of Naturopathic Doctors
Co-Presidents: Glenn Morris, ND & Rosalyn Hayman, ND
3514 Joseph Howe Dr., Suite 16
Halifax, NS B3L 4H7
Phone: 902-431-8001

Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors
Contact: John Wellner, CEO
789 Don Mills Road
Toronto, ON M3C 1T5
Phone: 416-233-2001
Email: [email protected]

Prince Edward Island Association of Naturopathic Doctors
President: Tracy Pollard, ND
34 Queen St., 2nd Fl.
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4A3
Phone: 902-894-3868 

Quebec Association of Naturopathic Medicine
President: Andre Saine, ND
1173 boul. du Mont Royal O.
Montreal, QC H2V 2H6
Phone: (514) 279-6629

Saskatchewan Association of Naturopathic Practitioners
President: Leshia Ferguson, ND
Registrar: Vanessa DiCicco, ND
12 Cheadle St. W Unit 315
Swift Current, SK S9H 0A9
Phone: (306) 773-4622
[email protected]

Yukon Naturopathic Association
President: Joanne Leung, ND
4133 4th Ave, Suite 203
Whitehorse, YT Y1A 1H8
Phone: (867) 456-4151