NCNMU is committed to excellence in higher education and healthcare proven since 1908.
NCNMU creates future leaders in higher education and healthcare combined.
NCNMU embraces innovation in science, technology, research and development.
NCNMU is dedicated to supporting equity in medical education and healthcare contributing to students’ opportunity and achievement.
NCNM University, rooted in Chicago—the birthplace of the original school of Naprapathy founded by Oakley Smith in the early 1900s, is dedicated to advancing this globally recognized field of natural, physical, and complementary medicine. Officially recognized by the state of Illinois in 1908, our institution honors its heritage by preparing graduates to become licensed Naprapaths in the United States and worldwide. Our Doctor of Naprapathy program equips students to practice in states like Nevada, California, Arizona, Louisiana, and Minnesota, and to apply their skills globally, embracing the universal principles of Naprapathy to enhance patient care across the world.
Expanded Mission Statement
NCNM University, rooted in Chicago—the historical birthplace of Naprapathy founded by Oakley Smith in the early 1900s, is dedicated to advancing this globally recognized field of natural, physical, and complementary medicine. Our mission extends beyond training top-tier healthcare professionals in physical medicine and applied health sciences. We specialize in the Doctor of Naprapathy program, employing the unique Oakley Smith Naprapathic Method® which integrates specialized connective tissue manipulation with essential human sciences. This approach not only prepares our graduates to become licensed Naprapaths in diverse states like Ohio—the first state to recognize Naprapathy with a license, followed by Illinois, New Mexico, and Nevada, but also equips them with comprehensive skills for global practice.
Licensed DNs also have the opportunity to practice in states like California, Colorado, Arizona, Minnesota, and Louisiana, with more states pending legislation to participate in these safe harbor laws, covering nearly half of the US.
Our curriculum is designed to deepen knowledge in manual medicine, Naprapathic evaluation, and treatment protocols, including nutritional counseling, principles of rehabilitation, and therapeutic exercise. Additionally, NCNM University offers expansive certification and continuing education programs that enhance professional competencies in practice management, therapeutic and rehabilitative exercise, postural counseling, and the application of various physical modalities such as massage, heat, cold, light, water, radiant energy, electricity, sound, air, and assistive devices. These programs aim to prevent, correct, and alleviate physical ailments and disabilities, preparing practitioners to meet the healthcare needs of communities worldwide.
About NCNMU
NCNM University is chartered by the State of Illinois and recognized by the Illinois Board of Higher Education to grant the degree, Doctor of Naprapathy (D.N.). As the oldest academic institution providing the Doctor of Naprapathy program, NCNM University is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Graduates of the DN program are eligible to take the Illinois Written Clinical Competency Examination to become a licensed Doctor of Naprapathy, a credential similar to the limited doctoral licenses granted to Optometrists, Podiatrists, and Dentists.
The first school, chartered in 1908 in Chicago, Illinois, was named the Oakley Smith School of Naprapathy, evolving into the Chicago College of Naprapathy in 1912. Another significant institution, the National College of Naprapathy, was founded in Chicago in 1949. The two schools merged in 1971 to form the Chicago National College of Naprapathy, later evolving into the National College of Naprapathic Medicine, and exist today as NCNM University.
NCNM University also offers a variety of certification programs and postgraduate continuing education to enhance professional skills in allied healthcare. These include certifications such as Naprapathic Assistant, Massage Therapy, Personal Trainer, Athletic Trainer, and MicroVascular professional. The certification programs range from 12-36 weeks for full completion. The pre-Naprapathy program takes one full year to complete and prepares committed students for the Naprapathic doctoral degree. The Doctor of Naprapathy program is a full-time, four-year commitment. Students take four or five classes per semester for the first three years. Upon successful completion of the coursework, students sit for the NCNM Comprehensive Clinic Entrance Examination (CCEE). After passing the CCEE, students will serve a 12-month clinical internship, allowing them to apply their knowledge, professional skill, and therapeutic techniques on patients in a supervised clinic setting.
Naprapathic Medicine is a distinctive system of therapeutic manipulation, focusing on the structural, biochemical, and emotional balance of the human body. Naprapaths believe that many functional disorders stem from distortions in this balance, impacting the body’s natural self-regulation. Initially, research and clinical applications in Naprapathy concentrated on the structural aspects of therapeutics. Studies have shown that abnormal contractures in ligaments and muscles connected to the spinal column can influence spinal nerves, which in turn affect their target connective tissues such as organs, glands, and blood vessels, thereby altering their normal functions. This understanding underscores the holistic approach of Naprapathic treatment in restoring bodily harmony and health.
The application of specific techniques to correct connective tissue abnormalities has been rigorously studied and developed within Naprapathic Medicine. A unique charting system was instituted to meticulously record specific findings and the therapeutic responses tailored to each type of connective tissue syndrome. These specific, reliable Naprapathic findings empower Doctors of Naprapathic Medicine to consistently normalize neurological functions through precise manipulative techniques. This systematic approach highlights the precision and effectiveness of Naprapathic treatment in addressing and managing connective tissue disorders.
By the mid-20th century, Naprapathic Medicine expanded to include the biochemical phase of health, recognizing the continuous biochemical processes that adjust to environmental changes, diet, exercise, posture, redundant motion, and individual stresses. This holistic approach studies a wide spectrum of biochemical components such as nutritional elements, hormones, enzymes, metabolic by-products, and end-products. These components are considered integral to achieving and maintaining the balance of the human body, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of Naprapathic treatment in promoting overall health and wellness.
Doctors of Naprapathic Medicine prioritize a person-oriented approach, dedicating time to thoroughly explain procedures and conditions to patients. They actively engage patients in their own health management, encouraging the establishment of daily healthy habits such as regular exercise, maintaining correct posture, and fostering overall sound body wellness. This patient-centric care underscores the commitment of Naprapathic practitioners to holistic health and individualized treatment plans.