Washington, DC — The American Affiliation of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) and the Affiliation of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools (AANMC) are calling on naturopathic physicians, college students, sufferers, and all allies to urgently submit public feedback opposing a proposed U.S. Division of Schooling rule that may take away the Physician of Naturopathic Medication (N.D.) from the federal definition of a “skilled diploma.” The deadline is March 2, 2026.
If finalized, the Division’s proposed “RISE” rule (Docket ID: ED-2025-OPE-0944) would slash federal scholar mortgage eligibility for naturopathic medical college students by greater than half—although accredited naturopathic medical training has been acknowledged in federal training classification programs as knowledgeable/first-
This isn’t about politics. It’s about math, drugs, and customary sense.
What’s at Stake
Beneath the Division’s proposal, ND college students could be moved from the skilled mortgage class to the graduate mortgage class:
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Annual mortgage restrict lower 59%: from $50,000 to $20,500
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Combination mortgage restrict lower 50%: from $200,000 to $100,000
This transformation would make it considerably tougher—if not inconceivable—for a lot of certified college students to afford naturopathic medical faculty, notably these from low- and middle-income backgrounds. Twin diploma and profession altering college students are prone to hit the mortgage caps earlier than diploma completion, forcing them to the non-public mortgage market – if they’ll qualify
Why This Issues to Sufferers and the Healthcare System
This proposed rule just isn’t a debate about naturopathic drugs as an idea—it’s a federal scholar help eligibility choice that may immediately influence:
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The viability of ND medical faculties, all of which qualify as “small entities” below ED definitions
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The pipeline of licensed major care clinicians at a time of nationwide supplier shortages
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Healthcare entry, particularly in rural and underserved communities the place NDs are already offering major care providers
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Financial mobility, by successfully blocking entry to a doctoral-level well being career for college students with out unbiased wealth
The Core Authorized Drawback
The Division’s proposal depends on an additional, non-statutory requirement—successfully a “majority of states” check—that doesn’t seem within the governing skilled diploma definition. Nevertheless, naturopathic drugs meets the three-part check in 34 CFR 668.2, The ND diploma satisfies all three necessities of the authorized check in 34 CFR 668.2 which was referenced within the One Massive Lovely Invoice: (1) it signifies completion of educational necessities for apply; (2) it requires expertise far past a bachelor’s diploma (over 4,100 didactic, together with 1,200 medical hours); and (3) licensure is “typically required” for apply. In each jurisdiction that regulates naturopathic drugs, licensure is required with out exception.
AANP/AANMC Name to Motion (Deadline: March 2, 2026)
We want the career, our sufferers and allies to flood messages of assist:
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Amplify the Motion Alert: Ahead the AANP Motion Alert to your allies instantly.
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Social Media Engagement: Like and repost AANP and AANMC social media content material to spice up visibility.
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Draft Your Personal Letter: Use the themes above to draft a letter in your organizational letterhead. Make it genuine—describe how this impacts your particular state’s healthcare entry or your neighborhood.
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Print out the flyer to your workplace – and encourage affected person letters.
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Knowledgeable Evaluation: Be happy to ship a draft to government@naturopathic.org and information@aanmc.org for a factual accuracy verify earlier than you submit.
Deadline: March 2, 2026
What to Say in Your Remark (Easy Model)
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ND is a full-time, four-year medical doctoral program
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ND licensure is required in regulated states
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ND meets the federal “skilled diploma” check
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This rule would lower mortgage entry, cut back enrollment, and shrink the healthcare workforce
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The rule threatens to extend the prices of training for college students
Printable Flyer for Clinics and Workplaces
We’ve created a one-page flyer that docs, clinics, and faculties can print and put up to encourage affected person participation:
Obtain right here: Obtain the flyer
Remaining Message
This rule doesn’t simply cap borrowing — it caps the healthcare workforce.
The Division of Schooling ought to revise the ultimate rule to make sure the Physician of Naturopathic Medication stays acknowledged as knowledgeable diploma for federal scholar help functions.
AANP and AANMC are urging each ND, scholar, affected person, and ally to take motion now.