Institutional Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. At its meeting on Jan. 10, 2022, the Institutional Actions Council of the Higher Learning Commission voted to continue the accreditation of Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center with the next comprehensive evaluation to be scheduled for 2031-32.
For further information, contact the Higher Learning Commission at 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois 60604; or by phone at 800-621-7440.
Program Accreditations
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Any individual who believes that the OTD program may not comply with a standard of accreditation has the right to file a complaint via ACOTE’s formal complaint policy.
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
DMU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association.
See COCA’s accreditation complaint policies and complaint form.
COCA contact information for filing complaints is:
American Osteopathic Association
Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
142 E. Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60611-2864
predoc@osteopathic.org
Phone: 312-202-8124
Fax: 312-202-8424
As an accredited college, COM is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, or AACOM. We are fully accredited by the COCA through 2028. To review accreditation, approval or licensing documentation, contact the COM dean's office at 515-271-1513.
DMU is responsible for maintaining records of complaints and grievances, including those that apply to AOA-COCA accreditation standards. Therefore, any individual who believes that the College may not comply with a standard of accreditation has the right to file a complaint.
Doctor of Physical Therapy
DMU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org.
To review accreditation, approval, or licensing documentation, please contact the Program Director’s office at 515-271-1634.
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
DMU’s College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery is accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education. Accreditation is an indication of public approbation, attesting to the quality of the podiatric medical education program and the continued commitment of the institution to support the educational program. The Council is recognized as the professional institutional accrediting agency for podiatric medical education by the U. S. Department of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. For further information, contact CPME at the following address: Council on Podiatric Medical Education, 11400 Rockville Pike, Suite 220, Rockville, MD 20852; 301-581-9200.
To review accreditation, approval or licensing documentation, contact the CPMS dean’s office at 515-271-1464.
Master of Health Care Administration
DMU’s Master of Health Care Administration program is a member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration. The MHA program has been approved for a three-year accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. For further information, please contact CAHME at P.O. Box 911 Spring House, PA 19477; telephone 301-298-1820. Additional information is available within the CAHME Accredited Programs Database.
To review accreditation, approval or licensing documentation, contact the program director’s office at 515-271-1432.
Master of Public Health
DMU’s Master of Public Health program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. For further information, contact CEPH at 800 I St NW, Suite 4008, Washington, DC 20001; telephone 202-789-1050.
To review accreditation, approval or licensing documentation, please contact the program director’s office at 515-271-1432.
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Des Moines University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Des Moines University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be October 2035. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.
For further information on ARC-PA, contact:
3325 Paddocks Parkway, Suite 345
Suwanee, Georgia 30024
Telephone: 770-476-1224
Fax: 470-253-8271
To review accreditation, approval or licensing documentation, please contact the program director’s office at 515-271-1685.
Facility and Specialized Accreditation
Simulation Center
In December 2024, the DMU Simulation Center achieved full accreditation in core and teaching/education areas from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. This prestigious distinction places DMU among an elite group of simulation centers worldwide. Out of approximately 1,090 simulation centers listed in the SSH directory, about 300 have earned this prestigious recognition — and DMU is one of only five osteopathic campuses to achieve it. In addition, in May 2025, the simulation center earned full accreditation in the new human simulation standard, placing DMU among an elite group of only eight simulation centers worldwide to hold that distinction.
The SSH accreditation highlights the simulation center’s commitment to advancing health care education through innovative, high-quality simulation practices. It also distinguishes the simulation center as a leader in simulation-based education, enhancing its reputation and attracting students, faculty and collaborators who value high-quality training.