Accreditation

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences is authorized by the Washington Student Achievement Council and meets the requirements and minimal educational standards established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institutions Act. This authorization is subject to periodic review and authorizes Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences to offer specific degree programs. The Council may be contacted for a list of currently authorized programs. Authorization by the Council does not carry with it an endorsement by the Council of the institution or its programs. Any person desiring information about the requirements of the act or the applicability of those requirements to the institution may contact the Council at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430 or by email at degreeauthorization@wsac.wa.gov.

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) has authority to investigate student complaints against specific schools. WSAC may not be able to investigate every student complaint. Visit http://www.wsac.wa.gov/student-complaints for information regarding the WSAC complaint process.

In compliance with the U.S. Department of Education, PNWU is not currently required to provide direct disclosures of professional licensure and certification requirements to students for its relevant programs because all PNWU professional programs satisfy the educational requirements for licensure in all 50 states. PNWU 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).

Please note that licensure requirements are always subject to change. Although the PNWU 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.

Programmatic Professional Licensure Disclosures can be found on the PNWU Professional Licensure Website.

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements  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. PNWU seeks approval, authorization, or exemption to operate in other states as needed. To see the list of states, visit States Approved for Clinical Rotations.