TRANSFER STUDENTS

Applicants who wish to transfer from another accredited (or candidate) professional-level medical degree program must meet all admission and application requirements, including fees. Please see application requirements on Apply to SCNM.

In addition to the standard admission requirements, transfer applicants must also submit the following materials. These letters must be mailed directly from the references to the Admissions Office

1. Letter of recommendation from the Dean of the school or program from which the applicant is transferring, indicating the student is leaving in good academic standing.
2. Letter of recommendation from a biomedical science faculty member of the college from which the applicant is transferring, indicating the student is leaving in good academic standing.
3. SCNM Verification of Student Conduct form signed by the Dean of Students or Registrar of the previously attended institution, verifying that the student was not subject to any disciplinary actions.

Transfer applicants studying in the U.S. on a visa must work with the instituion they are transferring from to transfer their student visa to SCNM.

Enrollment Dates/Entry Dates for Transfer Students

Transfer students may matriculate at the beginning of the fall or spring quarters.

Earning a Degree from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine

In all cases, the equivalent of a minimum of two calendar years of full-time enrollment is required to receive a degree from Southwest College.

Transfer Credit

The Registrar’s Office makes determinations of acceptable transfer credits. Transfer students must submit a request for an Advanced Standing Evaluation at least one quarter prior to the date of planned matriculation. The possibility of transfer credit can be determined only during the admission process. All graduate level courses from US institutions must have been taken at an accredited or candidate institution. Foreign courses will be examined by the Academic Department. Only those courses in which a "C" or higher is earned will be considered for evaluation. All foreign course work must meet standards approved by the National Council on the Evaluation of Foreign Education Credentials. Applicants must request a subject analysis transcript evaluation by an International Transcript Evaluation Service that holds membership in the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

The Transfer Credit evaluation must include grades, hours, and equivalencies. A course description and/or syllabus must be submitted for each course being evaluated. Course work must have been taken within eight (8) years prior to application. Courses older than ten (10) years may be required to take a Challenge Examination with the appropriate fees. The College reserves the right in all cases to require a competency and/or evaluation or challenge examination, which may result in an additional fee.

Students with graduate course-work in psychology, research, biology, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, physiotherapy or any of the natural medicine modalities (transfer students) typically apply.

There is a $75 per course fee (not to exceed $300) for a Transfer Credit evaluation if completed prior to matriculation into the program. If a student decides to apply for Advanced Standing status after matriculation he/she must do so within the first week of the course in question. This fee includes a thorough transcript evaluation. The student must submit a college catalog from all schools attended. Southwest College may also require the student to submit course syllabi and/or course examinations.

Professional Degree Advanced Standing

Students entering the ND program who have graduated from an accredited professional school or program (i.e. MD, DO, DC, DDS, L.Ac, etc.) and who are legally qualified to practice that discipline, may apply for Advanced Standing Status.

There is a $300 fee for this evaluation which must be completed prior to matriculation. This fee includes a thorough transcript evaluation and customized student schedule. The student must submit a college catalogue from all schools attended. SCNM may also require the student to submit course syllabi and/or course examinations. If an applicant or student is interested in applying for advanced standing, he/she must complete and submit an Advanced Standing Petition with a non-refundable payment to the Registrar's Office.

Advanced Standing status does not guarantee that a student will graduate in less than the normal four(4) years it takes other students to complete the program. Advanced Standing prior to acceptance does not guarantee admission.