The Accreditation Relationship
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For more information on the ABHE accreditation process, please contact coa@abhe.org or 407.207.0808, EXT. 2
Institutional Accreditation
The institutional journey toward accredited status typically has three stages: applicant status, candidate status, and accredited status. On average, the accreditation journey takes eight years, four at applicant status and four at candidate status, but the timeline can range from 2-10 years within ABHE policy parameters (see the Policy and Procedures for Institutional Accreditation in the ABHE Commission on Accreditation Standards and Policies Manual).
Applicant Status is a COA pre-membership status granted to those institutions that meet the COA’s Conditions of Eligibility and that possess such qualities as might provide a basis for achieving candidate status within a maximum of five years. Applicant institutions are required to submit annual reports demonstrating progress toward candidate status. In Year Four, self-study materials are submitted to the COA for review prior to an evaluation team visit to assess the institution’s readiness for candidate status.
Candidate Status is a preaccredited status granted to those institutions that show promise of achieving accreditation within a maximum of five years. Candidate institutions are required to submit annual progress reports demonstrating progress toward accreditation. In Year Four, self-study materials are submitted to the COA for review prior to an evaluation team visit to assess the institution’s readiness for initial accreditation.
Accredited Status is granted to those institutions that demonstrate substantial compliance with COA Institutional Accreditation Standards and give evidence of continuous improvement. During Year Five of initial accreditation, self-study materials are submitted prior to an evaluation team visit to consider reaffirmation of the institution’s accreditation. Once reaffirmed, the institution will repeat the reaffirmation process every ten years.
For additional information on the institutional accreditation process see the Policy and Procedures for Institutional Accreditation in the Standards and Policies Manual.
Programmatic Accreditation
The COA provides programmatic accreditation for institutions whose missions include programs outside the scope of biblical higher education but offer specific programs that meet the requirements of biblical higher education and lead to credentials in biblical and theological studies and/or specific ministry-related careers. Programmatic accreditation indicates that specific program offerings meet standards of excellence in biblical higher education.
A programmatic accreditation review requires that the institution offering such programs meet certain conditions of eligibility. In the United States, these conditions include a requirement that the institution holds institutional accreditation with a recognized accrediting body. In Canada, the institution must present evidence of appropriate governmental approval, prior institutional accreditation with ABHE, or a formal affiliation with a recognized Canadian University.
Institutions seeking programmatic accreditation must demonstrate that the programs to be considered are included in the institution’s assessment and planning processes. They must also present documentation that the programs are in compliance with ABHE Programmatic Accreditation Standards. Programmatic accreditation is granted for a period of ten years. While the COA monitors the programs offered on an annual basis, programs are subject to the renewal of accreditation on a ten-year cycle.
Programmatic accreditation is within ABHE’s official scope of recognition by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Programmatic accreditation is not included in ABHE’s recognition by the U.S. Department of Education.
For additional information on the programmatic accreditation process see the Policy and Procedures for Programmatic Accreditation in the Standards and Policies Manual.