_edited_ed.png)
Immediate Call to Action:
Protect Access to Naturopathic Medical Education
DEADLINE IS MARCH 2, 2026
What’s happening:
The U.S. Department of Education is proposing a rule that would exclude the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) degree from being classified as a “professional degree.”
If this rule is finalized:
-
Federal student loan eligibility for future ND students would be cut by more than half
-
Many qualified students would no longer be able to afford ND school
-
This would sharply limit the future ND workforce, reducing access to care for patients nationwide
This is not about whether NDs are licensed or recognized today.
It is about whether future students can access ND education.
​
The Department of Education has the authority to fix this, right now, if enough public comments clearly explain why the ND degree meets every standard of a professional degree.
Why your voice matters:
Federal agencies are legally required to review public comments during rulemaking.
Personal stories — especially from patients, supporters, and community members — are often the most influential.
You do not need to be an ND.
You do not need to be an expert.
You just need to explain, in your own words, why ND education matters and why access to federal student loans matters.
Before you start:
1. First of all, thank you! We know that this is something people may have never done before, and we want to thank you for being willing to help us protect ND education.
2. Review the steps to submit your comment before you go to the website. Just to familiarize yourself with the process.
3. These comments become public record, but your address will NOT.
4. We've drafted some basic responses for you to copy-paste (and edit if you like) for the fill-in spot in the prewritten letter. Feel free to use them!
5. Now you're ready to go!​
Steps to comment:
Step 01.
Go to the AANP Legislative Action Center
Visit the AANP Legislative Action Center and click "TAKE ACTION" button under "Professional Degree: Support the Future Workforce of Naturopathic Doctors".
Step 02.
Enter your location information
-
Enter your home address and ZIP code
-
This helps verify you as a real constituent and ensures your comment is properly logged
-
Your address is not shared publicly
Step 03.
Identify yourself
You’ll see options such as:
-
Supporter of naturopathic medicine
-
Current patient of an ND
-
Former patient
-
Healthcare supporter / community member
-
Student or aspiring student
Choose the option that best fits you. There is no “wrong” choice.
Step 04.
Add your personal story
You’ll see a message box with key themes.
You should:
-
Select 1-2 themes to focus on
-
Copy and paste the comment from the first box into the second box
Personal experiences are strongly encouraged. Even a short paragraph is powerful. Please avoid making negative comments, as these can take away from our efforts.
CHECK OUT THE RESPONSE OPTIONS WE DRAFTED! BE SURE TO ADD YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE!
Step 05.
Submit
​Once submitted, your comment is sent directly into the federal public record for this rule.
Drafted responses for fill-in:
Option 1: Supporter of naturopathic medicine
I strongly urge the Department of Education to maintain recognition of the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree as a professional degree. ND programs meet all statutory requirements for professional doctoral education and have been classified as a first professional degree since 1999, including in the 2024–25 Federal Student Aid Handbook. Reversing this long-standing designation would ignore both federal law and decades of consistent precedent.
​​
Option 2: Patient who sees an ND for preventive care
As a patient who relies on my naturopathic doctor for preventive care, I am concerned that this proposed change would reduce access to qualified primary care providers. The Department has recognized the ND degree as a first professional degree for more than 25 years. Removing that recognition would create an unnecessary barrier to entering the healthcare workforce at a time of national primary care shortage.
​
Option 3: Patient whose ND helped manage a complex condition
My naturopathic doctor’s ability to evaluate complex health concerns and develop a comprehensive treatment plan reflects the rigor of a true professional doctoral education. ND programs meet the legal standards for a professional degree and prepare graduates for licensed clinical practice. Restricting federal loan access would limit the number of future providers at a time when patients need more highly trained clinicians, not fewer.
​
Option 4: Patient whose ND care was life-changing or life-saving
My naturopathic doctor identified serious health issues that had previously been overlooked and played a critical role in my care. Restricting federal loan eligibility would discourage future students from pursuing this training and threaten the financial stability of naturopathic medical colleges, many of which qualify as small entities. This rule risks shrinking both the educational pipeline and patient access to care.
​
Option 5: Community member concerned about access to care
Strong communities depend on access to diverse, well-trained healthcare professionals. Naturopathic doctors are licensed clinicians whose education meets the statutory definition of a professional degree. Creating an arbitrary exclusion would worsen workforce shortages and limit access to primary and preventive care services.
​
Option 6: Aspiring student or supporter of education access
ND programs meet the academic rigor and statutory criteria required for professional doctoral education. Eliminating federal loan eligibility would disproportionately affect qualified students without independent financial means and place significant financial strain on naturopathic medical colleges that operate as small entities. This change would undermine both educational access and institutional stability.
​
Option 7: Naturopathic doctor concerned about the future of the profession
Federal student loans made it possible for me to complete a rigorous four-year, in-residence doctoral medical program and serve my community as a licensed naturopathic doctor. Without that access, I would not be practicing today, and many future qualified students will be blocked from entering the profession, worsening the national primary care shortage. Eliminating loan eligibility would make naturopathic education attainable only for those with significant financial means and place serious financial strain on the small institutions that train the next generation of clinicians. I ask that you revise the draft rule to explicitly include the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) degree in the final definition of 'Professional Degree.
​
Option 8: Short and direct
The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree has been recognized as a first professional degree since 1999. Removing that classification now would create an unnecessary barrier to entering the healthcare workforce during a national primary care shortage. The ND degree should remain recognized as a professional degree.