ANCB’s History

ANCB’s history dates back to the early 1980s, at a time when the practice of Naturopathy was first gaining popularity in the U.S.  ANCB’s organizational “parents” were the ANMA (American Naturopathic Medical Association) and the dual-purpose organization it helped create:  the American Naturopathic Medical Certification and Accreditation Board (ANMCAB).  The ANMCAB was the first Board in the US to grant Naturopathic certifications, while also Accrediting Naturopathic Colleges.

These tasks ultimately proved too broad a mission, and in the 1990’s it was decided to split the group into two complimentary organizations.  On one hand, ANMCAB changed its name to the American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board (ANMAB), retained the college accreditation functions, and continues to function in that capacity today.  Meanwhile, ANCB was created to focus on the professional Certification process, inheriting the certifying records from ANMCAB and “grandfathering” in those practitioners with a new Certification title: Certified Traditional Naturopath (CTN).

The philosophy and approach of ANCB’s organizational family stands in contrast to that of the nation’s allopathic-leaning “American Association of Naturopathic Practitioners,” (AANP).  While the AANP has pushed for restrictive licensing laws in many states, we believe that a traditional naturopath incorporates a philosophy of education, rather than intervention, and as such, we oppose restrictive licensing laws and support expanded access to natural health services.