Accreditation is the act of granting approval to an institution of learning by a group of its peers after the school has met certain requirements and standards. Accreditation is a group process by which schools voluntarily agree to participate in a set of established standards in order to encourage quality education.
Theological Accreditation International has chosen not to pursue government-recognition. We understand that there is a difference between religious and secular education. Religious educational institutions are not required to obtain secular accreditation because they do not offer secular degrees and do not prepare their students for secular work. We recognize that there is a distinct separation between Church and State and fully support the freedom of Church leaders and religious educational institutions to offer programs that may lead to a Certificate, Diploma or Degree.
It must be pointed out, however, that all USA States and individual nations have different laws governing education programs especially if those programs lead to a Certificate or Degree. Each applicant is responsible for all legal compliance in this regard. However, Government-recognized accreditation is not necessary for religious vocations. People working in ministry positions do not need a government-accredited degree.
Theological Accreditation International urges all its members to make sure that they comply with the laws of their State and/or nation.
The purpose of Theological Accreditation International is to:
- certify that an institution has met the established standards of excellence
- allow institutions to evaluate the acceptability of transfer credits into their own curricula programs
Accredited status means a school has voluntarily undergone a comprehensive examination to determine that it operates at a worthy level of performance.