The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC), American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), and Naturopathic Medical Student Association (NMSA) have announced the federal court’s ruling granting a preliminary injunction in their challenge to the U.S. Department of Education’s treatment of the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) degree under the RISE rule.

In a 60-page opinion issued Oct. 16, U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon of the District of Oregon granted our motion for a preliminary injunction in AANMC, AANP, NMSA v. Department of Education. The court ordered the Department to treat the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine as a “professional degree,” and students pursuing the ND as “professional students,” for federal student loan purposes. The order covers the three plaintiff organizations and their members and remains in effect while the case proceeds. According to AANMC, AANP and NMSA, the court found that AANMC, AANP and NMSA are likely to succeed on the merits of their claims, required no bond, and denied the Department’s request to put the ruling on hold in the event the Department appeals.

AANMC, AANP and NMSA brought this case because they believe students pursuing accredited naturopathic medical education should be treated fairly under federal law. The ND is a rigorous doctoral-level professional degree that prepares graduates for entry into the licensed practice of naturopathic medicine. The court’s decision signals that the ND degree satisfies the applicable statutory criteria that defines professional degree for purposes of student loans.

The court agreed with AANMC, AANP and NMSA on all the contested issues before it. It found that the Department likely exceeded its authority by adding requirements Congress never wrote, treated the ND less favorably than comparable degrees without a reasoned explanation, and departed from more than two decades of treating the ND as a professional degree without considering the harm to students and schools.

The court’s ruling will require implementation by the Department of Education and individual institutions. The Department must report to the court within 14 days on the steps it is taking to comply, and school financial aid offices will need to process this ruling along with any upcoming revisions or guidance from the Department.

AANMC, AANP and NMSA said that they will share additional information as implementation guidance becomes available.

For more information, visit https://aanmc.org, https://naturopathic.org and https://naturopathicstudent.org.