Overview
Accreditation by ITAA does not, by itself, give an institution the legal authority to issue degrees.
ITAA does not grant statutory degree-awarding powers.
Whether an institution may lawfully issue a degree depends on the laws and regulatory requirements applicable to that institution and the jurisdiction in which it operates.
An institution may therefore meet ITAA's theological accreditation standards while still being required to obtain separate governmental registration, approval, authorisation, a charter, licence or other legal authority before issuing degrees.
ITAA accreditation and legal degree-awarding authority must always be treated as separate questions.
What Does ITAA Accreditation Establish?
ITAA accreditation is a theological quality-assurance process.
It evaluates whether an institution demonstrates appropriate systems and practices against the applicable ITAA standards.
Depending on the accreditation pathway, this may include review of:
institutional governance and accountability;
theological and educational purpose;
curriculum structure;
learning outcomes;
assessment practices;
academic administration;
faculty or instructional arrangements;
student support;
institutional policies;
academic and student records;
public transparency; and
internal quality assurance.
Accreditation therefore concerns the quality and maturity of the institution's educational systems.
It does not create legal powers reserved to governments or statutory authorities.
Who Determines Whether an Institution May Issue Degrees?
The applicable law determines this.
Educational regulation differs substantially between countries and, in some jurisdictions, between states, provinces or other regions.
One jurisdiction may require specific governmental authorisation before an institution can use the word degree. Another may regulate certain categories of institutions or qualifications differently.
The institution must determine the rules applying to its own circumstances.
Institutions remain solely responsible for compliance with all applicable national, state or provincial, regional, and local laws.
This responsibility exists before, during and after ITAA accreditation.
What About Certificates and Diplomas?
The same principle applies.
Institutions should not assume that certificates or diplomas are automatically unregulated simply because they are not called degrees.
Different jurisdictions may regulate educational institutions, qualification titles and educational awards differently.
An institution must determine what registrations, licences, approvals or authorisations are required for the programmes and qualifications it provides.
ITAA accreditation never overrides local law.
Changing the name of an award also does not remove an institution's responsibility to comply with applicable legal requirements.
What About Religious or Theological Degrees?
Institutions should not assume that describing a qualification as religious, biblical, ministerial or theological automatically exempts it from regulation.
Some jurisdictions may provide particular provisions or exemptions relating to religious education. Others may regulate the use of degree titles or educational operations more broadly.
Where an exemption exists, the institution remains responsible for establishing that the exemption genuinely applies to its circumstances.
ITAA accreditation does not create such an exemption.
The institution should obtain appropriate professional or governmental guidance where its legal position is uncertain.
What Must Institutions Tell Students?
Institutions should communicate clearly what their accreditation and qualification status means.
Students should be able to distinguish between:
ITAA accreditation — theological quality assurance conducted by ITAA;
governmental recognition or registration — status granted by an appropriate governmental or statutory authority where applicable; and
degree-awarding authority — the legal authority to issue qualifications described as degrees where such authority is required.
These terms should not be used interchangeably.
An institution should never imply that ITAA accreditation automatically makes its degrees government recognised.
Does Accreditation Guarantee Acceptance of a Degree?
No.
Even where an institution is legally authorised to issue a degree, acceptance of that degree for a particular purpose can be a separate decision.
Universities may establish their own admission or credit-transfer requirements. Employers may establish employment criteria. Professional or licensing organisations may determine which qualifications satisfy their requirements. Governments may apply their own recognition, equivalence or immigration rules.
ITAA accreditation does not guarantee any of these outcomes.
Students who require a qualification for a specific purpose should verify the requirements of the relevant receiving organisation before enrolling.
Institutional Responsibility
Before offering or advertising a degree programme, an institution should be able to establish the legal basis upon which it is entitled to do so.
It should also ensure that public statements concerning its accreditation, governmental status and qualifications are accurate.
ITAA-accredited institutions are expected to maintain truthful public information and must never imply governmental recognition where none exists.
Misrepresentation of accreditation or qualification authority can undermine student protection and institutional credibility.
Important Accreditation Information
ITAA is a private theological accreditation agency.
ITAA is not a governmental accreditation authority.
ITAA accreditation never overrides local law.
Institutions remain solely responsible for compliance with all applicable national, state or provincial, regional, and local laws.
ITAA does not grant statutory degree-awarding powers.
Accreditation status does not replace governmental recognition where required.
Institutional rankings measure the maturity of systems and governance, not the value of a ministry, spiritual calling, ministry effectiveness, or God’s favour.
Institutions remain responsible for ensuring that they possess every licence, registration, approval or authorisation required within their jurisdiction before issuing qualifications.
For the complete governing framework, read Important Accreditation Information.
Frequently asked questions
ITAA accreditation gives legal degree-awarding power.
ITAA accreditation confirms quality and governance but does not create or substitute statutory authority to award degrees. Institutions must secure any governmental permissions separately.
If an institution is accredited then its degrees are automatically nationally recognised.
National recognition depends on the law and recognition policies of each country; ITAA accreditation does not guarantee statutory recognition or automatic credit transfer.
ITAA's Role
ITAA's role is theological quality assurance.
ITAA may assess whether an institution's governance, academic structures, policies and educational systems meet applicable accreditation standards.
ITAA does not replace the legal authorities responsible for regulating education within a jurisdiction.
Where institutions require statutory authority to issue degrees, that authority must be obtained independently of ITAA accreditation.