CCE to Withdraw From Federal Recognition, Pursue Opportunity for Enhanced Innovation

Accreditation is the peer review process that assures educational quality and institutional integrity to students, employers, licensing and regulatory bodies, and the general public.

Like education itself, accreditation continues to evolve. Proposed requirements from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), which recognizes accrediting agencies, are accelerating that change and creating uncertainty.

The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) is the programmatic accrediting agency for Doctor of Chiropractic degree programs and chiropractic residency programs, and we have been considering whether or not these new rules will benefit chiropractic programs, students, or the public.

Two USDE policies have been key factors in our consideration:

1. Increased requirements related to the federal funding connection. Under the draft requirements developed through the Accreditation, Innovation and Modernization (AIM) negotiated-rulemaking process, a recognized accrediting agency generally would need to accredit at least one institution or program that actively relies on that accreditation to participate in a federal funding program.
2. No CCE-accredited program relies on CCE accreditation for eligibility to participate in the Title IV federal student-aid programs; this eligibility is provided via institutional accreditation. Further, no CCE-accredited programs are currently using CCE as a means to access any other federal funds.

Increasingly prescriptive federal requirements. The draft requirements include significant new provisions involving conflicts of interest, agency governance, monitoring, student outcomes, and other areas.

After careful consideration, CCE concluded that these requirements would impose substantial burdens while providing limited to no additional benefit to chiropractic programs, students or the public.

On July 10, 2026, CCE’s board unanimously voted to begin the necessary steps for withdrawing from the USDE recognition process. CCE has not yet submitted a formal notice of withdrawal to the Secretary of Education, as the process is in its early stages.

Every accreditor has unique circumstances, but the proposed changes create challenges for many agencies. The Council on Education for Public Health and the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council have already announced plans to withdraw from federal recognition, and others may follow.

For CCE, withdrawal provides an opportunity to preserve meaningful peer review, support educational innovation, and focus resources on requirements that directly advance the quality of chiropractic education. I am optimistic about a future in which CCE can devote its resources more fully to its mission.

But I know this decision raises questions for many in the field of chiropractic care. It is important to understand some key points about federal recognition.

• Recognition by USDE is not required for CCE to continue accrediting Doctor of Chiropractic degree programs. CCE will remain an independent accrediting organization and will continue its accreditation and quality-assurance responsibilities.
• Institutional accreditation – not CCE’s programmatic accreditation – is the basis on which institutions offering CCE-accredited programs participate in the Title IV federal student-aid programs. CCE is working with accredited programs to confirm that the withdrawal will not disrupt their students’ access to federal financial aid.
• CCE will maintain recognition with the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), an organization more appropriately positioned to evaluate CCE’s performance as a programmatic accreditor.

CCE has identified four states with statutory or regulatory language that refers, in varying ways, to recognition of the accreditor by USDE. CCE is working with its accredited programs, state licensing authorities, and other stakeholders to address these provisions, and believes that there is a practical and achievable path forward.

Here’s the bottom line: This change should have no negative impact on CCE programs or students. Instead, it offers an opportunity to innovate and strengthen our shared work.

Moving forward, the most important things will not change. CCE will continue to conduct accreditation activities, serve as the independent accrediting body for chiropractic programs, and develop accreditation criteria and procedures in consultation with its accredited and approved programs and the broader chiropractic community.

Our commitment to educational quality, public accountability, and continuous improvement remains unchanged, and we look forward to a future of increased innovation and opportunity for the profession.