Accreditation and Recognition
Bastyr University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). NWCCU is a regional institutional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.
Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
Inquiries regarding an institution’s accredited status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, 8060 165th Ave. N.E., Suite 100, Redmond, WA 98052-3981, (425) 558-4224, www.nwccu.org.
As a long-standing regionally accredited, degree-granting institution in Washington state, Bastyr University is “continuously exempt” from state authorization and review. However, any institution granted exemption from the requirements for degree authorization under WAC 250-61 may be subject to periodic review by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) to ensure that all criteria for the exemption continue to be met. More information about exempt status requirements is available from WSAC located at 917 Lakeridge Way SW, Olympia, WA 98502, (360) 753-7800 or info@wsac.wa.gov.
Bastyr University is also approved to operate as an accredited institution by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Approval to operate means the University maintains compliance with California state standards. BPPE is located at 2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95833, (916) 431-6959 or (888) 370-7589 or at www.bppe.ca.gov. BPPE can be reached by mail at P.O. Box 980818, Sacramento, CA 95798-0818.
Bastyr University is also a member of NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements). This is a multi-state consortium that manages oversight of distance education, including preceptorships and practicums, in which students may engage outside of Washington and California. Bastyr seeks approval, authorization or exemption to operate in other states as needed.
The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), a specialized accrediting board recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. A copy of the current CNME Handbook of Accreditation for Naturopathic Medical Colleges and Programs is on reserve in the Bastyr University Library. For more information, please contact the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, P.O. Box 178, 342 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230, (413) 528-8877.
The Master of Science (MS) Didactic Program in Dietetics and Dietetic Internship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (800) 877-1600 ext. 5400, email: acend@eatright.org, website: www.eatright.org/acend.
The Master of Science in Acupuncture (MSA), the Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MSAOM), and the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), 8941 Aztec Dr. Eden Prairie, MN 55347, (952) 212-2434.
The Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and the combination of the Master of Science in Acupuncture and the Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine (CCHM) are approved curriculum by the California Acupuncture Board for graduates seeking California licensure.
ACAOM has placed all Bastyr University ACAOM accredited programs under a Warning sanction effective February 25, 2017 until February 2018 for non-compliance with Commission Standards / Criteria. The institution retains accredited status during this period.
Bastyr University is approved by USCIS US Citizenship and Immigration Services to accept and enroll foreign non-immigrant students. Bastyr University’s academic programs are approved by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) for enrollment of persons eligible to receive educational benefits under Title 38 and Title 10, U.S. Code.
Bastyr University has received approval from the state of Washington as a recognized midwifery training facility and provides education for direct-entry midwifery students in the Master of Science in Midwifery. This program is accredited through the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC). Graduates of the Department of Midwifery are eligible to sit for licensure in Washington and other states and apply to the Canadian bridging program for provincial registration. Graduates may sit for the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) exam to receive the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential, recognized in many states for legal practice of midwifery and reimbursement for services.
Bastyr University is approved by Washington state to offer its acupuncture and Oriental medicine programs. Individuals who complete the Master of Science in Acupuncture or Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine are eligible to sit for the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) certification exams as well as various state licensing exams.